Over the past week, we asked our community a big-picture question:

Which event has had the greatest global impact over the past 50 years — and which most affected your personal life?

A total of 2,550 people shared their thoughts. The results reveal not only how history is remembered but also how it’s felt.

Greatest Global Impact

Which of the following had the greatest global impact over the past 50 years?

• 41% – COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)

• 28% – The Rise of the Internet / World Wide Web (1990s)

• 18% – 9/11 Attacks & the War on Terror (2001)

• 4% – End of the Cold War / Collapse of the Soviet Union (1991)

• 3% – Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)

• 2% – Global Financial Crisis (2007–2008)

• 2% – Arab Spring (2010–2011)

• 3% – Other

 COVID-19 Comes Out on Top

With 41% of the vote, the COVID-19 pandemic was seen as the most globally impactful event of the last half-century. It disrupted health systems, economies, education, travel, and daily life on every continent. For many, it reshaped how we think about work, public health, and community.

One member, Chickytina, shared:

“I would have to say that COVID-19 had the greatest impact for the world because it affected everyone except maybe remote tribes in the Amazon forest. It affected the way that people thought of health, learning, schools, working remotely, etc. It was also the one that affected me the most personally because it cost me my lungs. The world and I will never be the same.”

Her comment highlights something numbers alone can’t capture: for some, the impact wasn’t just abstract but also permanent and deeply personal.

 The Rise of the Internet: A Close Second

Coming in at 28%, the rise of the Internet was the second most-selected answer for global impact , which sparked strong opinions. Unlike many historical events that feel contained in a specific moment, the Internet continues to evolve and shape nearly every aspect of modern life: communication, commerce, entertainment, politics, and even relationships.

Member mabearsky explained:

“I chose the rise of the internet because it has touched almost every person in the world in one way or another. Without it, there would be no smartphones, streaming services, work-at-home opportunities, and social media, just to name a few examples.”

 

Another member, 1joyinlife, offered a more cautionary perspective:

“I voted for the rise of the Internet because it's still affecting us globally today. Covid was devastating true enough and I'm sorry for the lives lost. But research, vaccines, prayers and safety measures helped to bring conditions under control. No such luck with the Internet. That Pandora's box has been opened and there's no closing it now.”

For many respondents, the Internet is a permanent structural shift in how society functions.

 9/11 and the War on Terror

With 18% of the vote, the September 11 attacks and the War on Terror ranked third overall — but for some, it was the most emotionally defining event.

Member sadiemiss shared:

“9/11 affected me much more intensely, I lived across the river from NYC, could see the twin towers from a block away from my house that day. Nothing was the same afterwards.”

 

Another member, Scottyork, reflected on broader societal change:

“The 911 attacks changed the attitude of a lot of things from rights we lost to feeling safe in our homes.”

For many respondents, 9/11 marked a shift in global politics, security policies, and a collective sense of safety that continues decades later.

 Which Event Most Affected Personal Life?

Interestingly, when we asked which event most affected respondents personally, the results shifted slightly.

• 54% – COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)

• 20% – The Rise of the Internet / World Wide Web (1990s)

• 9% – 9/11 Attacks & the War on Terror (2001)

• 4% – Global Financial Crisis (2007–2008)

• 2% – Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)

• 2% – End of the Cold War / Collapse of the Soviet Union (1991)

• 10% – N/A

The personal impact of COVID-19 grew even stronger here — jumping from 41% globally to 54% personally. That difference suggests something important: while many events shape history books, fewer reshape everyday life on a global scale simultaneously.

What These Results Tell Us

Three clear themes emerged:

1. Recency matters. Events within the past 25 years dominated responses.

2. Direct experience shapes perception. Those who lived through 9/11 in close proximity felt its impact more intensely.

3. Ongoing influence counts. The Internet continues to divide opinion 

History isn’t just measured in policy changes or economic shifts. It’s measured in how safe we feel, how we connect, how we work, and how our bodies and lives are altered. And according to 2,550 voices, the events that changed the world most are also the ones that changed us.