2015 !!link!! Guide

Apple introduced the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, bringing "3D Touch" to the masses. While the feature is now defunct, the launch solidified the idea that the phone wasn't just a device—it was an extension of the hand. 2015 was also the year the Apple Watch launched. Initially mocked as a "nerd shackle," it normalized the idea of being permanently connected to your wrist. The quantified self movement went mainstream.

In a moment of pure, unbridled joy amidst the chaos, the US Supreme Court ruled on June 26, 2015 , that same-sex marriage was a legal right nationwide. The White House was lit in rainbow colors. It was the culmination of decades of activism and remains the high-water mark of the progressive legal movement in the 21st century. Gaming: Open Worlds and The Witcher 2015 is widely considered the greatest year in modern gaming history, rivaling 1998 and 2007. Apple introduced the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus,

In Europe, the Syrian Civil War reached a boiling point. In September 2015 , the image of three-year-old Alan Kurdi’s body washed up on a Turkish beach shocked the world’s conscience. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, opened the borders, uttering the phrase "Wir schaffen das" (We can do it). 2015 was the year Europe began its painful reckoning with national identity, borders, and humanitarian duty—a debate that still defines the continent today. Initially mocked as a "nerd shackle," it normalized

J.J. Abrams did the impossible: he made Star Wars "work" again. The Force Awakens wasn't just a movie; it was a cultural exorcism that erased the PTSD of the prequels. Earning $2 billion globally, it reminded audiences that shared cinematic experiences still mattered. The image of Rey holding a lightsaber at the end of 2015 became the defining visual of the year’s aesthetic. The White House was lit in rainbow colors

In , we stopped living in the world of the early 2010s (think skinny jeans, Gagnam Style, and the lingering hangover of the Financial Crisis) and sprinted headfirst into the confusing, curated, chaotic reality we inhabit today. From the rise of streaming overlords to the birth of the "woke" lexicon, 2015 was the year the modern world clicked into focus.

During Katy Perry’s Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, a dancer in a shark costume performed choreography that was... off. "Left Shark" became a symbol of doing your best even when you have no idea what you’re doing. It was a wholesome meme before memes turned toxic. Politics: The Year the Outsiders Won While pop culture frolicked, the political ground shifted violently in 2015 .