As 2023 comes to an end, we often reflect on forgotten New Year’s resolutions, events that happened throughout the year, and predictions made at the start of the year. But do we look back at any predictions to see if they are correct?
I wrote an article at the start of the year predicting what would happen in 2023. Some of my guesses were right and others were far off. I never could have predicted the OceanGate submarine or the success of the “Barbie” movie, but I did predict some things that happened this year.
To review, the predictions I made included:
- Sheer fabric and silver jewelry would make a comeback.
- Artificial intelligence would be more accessible to everyone.
- The off-season for tourist attractions would disappear, and there would always be an on-season.
- TikTok would get banned and Vine would come back.
- President Joe Biden would die.
The predictions I got right
Sheer fabric and silver
Sheer fabric and silver jewelry were a staple in the spring and summer 2023 collections. Fashion designers like Kernemilk and REMAIN owned the runway while showing off sheer and silver fabrics.
Silver jewelry was in style with mostly wide hoop earrings and thick necklaces. If you decided to wear or buy silver this year, it was most likely thick and wide jewelry pieces. These pieces are often inspired by the early ’70s and ’80s.
I did predict the thick jewelry pieces for this year because of the color schemes and fashion trends in clothing. Cool and neutral colors were very popular, which pairs nicely with silver. I hope this trend continues into 2024.
AI
It comes without fail to say that AI is more accessible now than ever before. With tools like ChatGPT for writing or coming up with ideas and Gencraft for generating art, it is now a staple in everyday life. It’s interesting because AI wasn’t this accessible this time last year. So much new technology has changed over this year alone.
Even Google AI has made an appearance at the top of search bars. This year has not only opened up doors to AI, but it has also opened up many concerns. Even I have concerns about the extent to which AI could go. AI will only evolve and will continue to be more easily accessible for everyone.
The off-season
My prediction of the rise and fall of the off-season was kind of right. The off-season for tourism is supposed to be when not as many tourists visit an area.
Now with social media influencers, climate change and marketing, it is starting to come to an end. Social media influencers are giving out secrets and tips on when to go to specific destinations.
The economy is often forcing companies to quickly get people to tourist attractions. We will have to see how this trend continues in the future.
The predictions that didn’t happen
Biden’s death
At the end of 2022 and the start of 2023, Biden was under harsh speculation about his overall health. At the time, Biden was falling off bikes and stumbling his words.
According to a poll conducted in June 2023 by The Hill, 68% of Americans are concerned for Biden’s mental health. He is 81 years old, and at the time, I was convinced he was going to die sometime this year.
Being president is stressful and takes a physical and mental toll on a person, so it is only a matter of time before he dies. If Biden is re-elected in the upcoming election, I do think that he will die in office.
TikTok vs. Vine
TikTok has been in hot waters for the last year. Multiple countries, especially the United States, have tried to get it banned. Obviously, TikTok is still here and relevant today. As of October of this year, there are 1.1 billion users on TikTok, with 220 million of them from the U.S. There are no legitimate signs that TikTok will be leaving the U.S. anytime soon.
Utah has been one of the many states to try to ban TikTok. Over 30 states have enacted or have announced to ban TikTok from government devices. The only state in the U.S. to have public restrictions is Montana.
It is interesting to see how trends and topics evolve over one year. Looking back, this year seemed to come and go so fast. As we approach the new year, it is exciting to see what future predictions we can make. What trends will be in style? What movies will be a hit at the box office?
I don’t know what 2024 will bring, but I do wish it brings everyone a safe and happy New Year.
