Early 2021 saw the radical experiment of simultaneous releases. With theaters struggling, major studios (most notably Warner Bros. with HBO Max) began releasing blockbuster films on streaming services the same day they hit theaters.

Writers were leaving major publications to start their own media brands.

Despite the "binge" model popularized by Netflix, Disney+ proved that weekly releases could still dominate social media discourse and keep a show trending for months.

On January 23, 2021, TikTok was no longer just a "dance app." It had officially become a powerhouse in popular media.