The 2020 Effect 

Refers to the distorted perception of time experienced by those particularly of the mid to late Gen Z age group as a result of the 2020-2022 Covid 19 lockdowns.

"Crazy to think 2017 was only 2 years ago, feels like forever"

"Bro 2017 was nearly 7 years ago, you're experiencing the 2020 effect. "

The 2020 Effect by anonymous October 9, 2023

the 2020 effect 

The 2020 effect is when a certain moment in time
(in this case, a whole month) can and will go completely wrong, everything bad that can happen happens on the worst degree.

Unfortunately the 2020 effect happens at complete random, that said
there is no way of telling when it will occur.

New years: "I can't believe 2020 is finally here! i feel like this year will
be a year to remember!"
August 2020: "I just want this year to be over, we had to witness the Hong Kong protests, World War III rumors, Rona, the crash of the Stock Market, the death of Kobe Bryant, the rise of the Murder Hornet, the death of George Floyd, and so much more
"lol ever heard of the 2020 effect? wait til next month"

the 2020 effect by Bo3_Bo3 August 1, 2020

The 2020 Effect 

The instinctual feeling that it is still 2020. Shared by many members of Gen Z, who feel like past events are closer than they actually are; as if it is still 2020. Probably spurred by the pandemic and isolation, but nobody really knows where it comes from.

Most years have a satisfying ending, where after Christmas and New Years you get to reset and to on to the next year. However, COVID didn't care about the holiday season, and the defining characteristic of 2020 was carried on into the following year. In a way, it felt like 2020 never really ended.

"RIP my man Harambe"
"Dude, that meme is like 4 years old."
"I think you mean almost 8 years old."
"wait..."
"that's the 2020 effect"

The 2020 Effect by TheDimensionist November 6, 2023

The 2020 Effect 

A perception that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Life for many people and corporations became dull and uneventful. Leading to people believing the years before 2020 were the most eventful and impactful. While also leading many to prefer life before the pandemic hit and the nostalgia people get from apps and memories.

"The 2020 effect really made corporations become simpler and drier."
"The 2020 effect ruined the world. I wish I could go back to the old times."

The 2020 Effect by Indubiousness July 13, 2025