The "YouTube Stars and Viral Video Culture" (Episode: "The Springfield Connection", 1997)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "YouTube Stars and Viral Video Culture" (Episode: "The Springfield Connection", 1997)

• What happened: The episode features a subplot where characters become famous for doing bizarre, viral stunts, predicting the rise of internet stardom.
• Reality: By the 2010s, platforms like YouTube made it possible for ordinary people to gain massive followings and earn money through ad revenue, sponsorships, and merchandise. YouTube stars like PewDiePie, Shane Dawson, and the Paul brothers became multi-millionaire celebrities.