To be fifteen in America in 2011 was to have “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele everywhere, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on every screen, and American Idol on after school. That year, gas cost $3.58 and Snapchat was the new thing. Born in 1996? You turned 15 in 2011 — a teenager from 2009 to 2015, right in the window a soundtrack bonds to you for life.
Compiled by the Original Lore archive from period charts, box-office and price records. How we build these · sources noted throughout.
The inescapable anthem of 2011 — every car radio, every talent show, every locker-room singalong. A 15-year-old learned every vocal run of that fierce kiss-off chorus; it was the song you belted with friends and felt powerful.
the year-end #1 was this very song — Rolling in the Deep by Adele.
the movies you are watching in 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The Hangover Part II
Captain America: The First Avenger
Thor
the tv shows you are binging in 2011
American Idol
The Big Bang Theory
Game of Thrones
Modern Family
The Voice
the games you are playing in 2011
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Just Dance 3
Mario Kart 7
Super Mario 3D Land
Pokemon Black and White
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
what things cost in 2011
What things cost in 2011
Gas (per gallon)
$3.58
Movie ticket
$7.93
First-class stamp
44 cents
minimum wage
$7.25/hr
the average income
$50,054
trending this year
Photo by Stock Catalog (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snapchat_filter_(43252259172).jpg · CC BY 2.0SnapchatUser:PJ and User:Piko, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSpotify (US launch)Photo by iGeeks Media Pvt. Ltd. (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_iPhone_4s.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0iPhone 4S (Siri)Corwin, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5Nyan CatWikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Minecraft_Logo-en.svg · Public domainMinecraft (1.0 release)
the gadgets you just got
MerveillePédia, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0iPhone 4SPhoto by Mono (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IPad_2_Black_Front.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0iPad 2Photo by Evan-Amos (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nintendo-3DS-AquaOpen.png · Public domainNintendo 3DSPhoto by Mariordo (Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz) (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kindle_Fire_web_browser_05_2012_1430.JPG · CC BY-SA 4.0Kindle FireKA KIT (Wikimedia user ΚΑ ΚΙΤ ΡΗΟΤΟ), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSamsung Galaxy S II
what everyone is snacking on
Bananasoldier, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPringles TortillasEvan-Amos, Public Domain, via Wikimedia CommonsLay's Wavy chipsSKopp, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Oreo (Triple Double)Evan-Amos, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Pop-TartsPhoto by HorsePunchKid (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 3.0Cheez-It
what everyone is drinking
Bxxiaolin, edited by Pittigrilli, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Can_of_Monster_Energy_drink_sold_in_China_(0.33_l),_on_white_background.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0Monster EnergyVincentLR, Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lattina_di_Red_Bull.jpg) · CC BY-SA 4.0Red BullGenoist, Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mountain_Dew.jpg) · CC BY-SA 3.0Mountain DewVikiçizer, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starbucks_frappuccino.JPG) · CC BY-SA 4.0Starbucks FrappuccinoFotonovela, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gatorade_Thirst_Quencher.jpg) · CC BY-SA 3.0Gatorade
what made the news in 2011
Navy SEALs raid a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan and kill Osama bin Laden
A magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami trigger Japan's Fukushima nuclear meltdown
Arab Spring uprisings topple longtime rulers in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dies of cancer at 56, mourned worldwide
Official White House photo by Pete Souza (work of a U.S. federal government employee) · Public DomainOsama bin Laden killed in US raid in PakistanCp9asngf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC-BY-SA 3.0Japan hit by earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima disasterRobbie Dale, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC-BY-SA 2.0Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate MiddletonDavid Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC-BY 3.0Occupy Wall Street protests sweep the USAhmed Abd El-Fatah, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC-BY 2.0Arab Spring uprisings topple regimes across the Middle East
what everyone is saying
"Winning!"Charlie Sheen's catchphrase during his 2011 media meltdown
"Planking"Viral photo fad of lying face-down stiff in odd places
"YOLO"You Only Live Once, popularized late 2011 via Drake's 'The Motto'
"We are the 99%"Slogan of the Occupy Wall Street movement
"Tiger blood"Charlie Sheen's claim about his bloodstream during interviews
