13th Annual Shorty Awards Categories

The Shorty Awards honor the talented agencies, brands, and industry leaders behind the best and most innovative work on social media and digital channels, campaigns, websites and applications.

By Campaign
By Design
By Industry
By Overall Presence
Campaign by Platform
Content and Media
Influencer & Celebrity Brand Partnership
Strategy & Engagement
Video by Platform
Video Content
Virtual
Websites & Apps

Best Online Event/Activation

This award honors the most creative and innovative event or activation produced for an online audience. Creative use of filters, visual effects, live streaming, and interactive elements are all eligible.
Online Event/Activation
#BuyBlack Friday Show
Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities and many are facing an economic crisis, due to the pandemic. Black-owned businesses have been disproportionately affected, closing at 2X the rate of non-diverse businesses due to COVID-19. So, we wanted to redistribute focus during the biggest retail season and day of the year toward celebrating and s…
Online Event/Activation
2020 iHeartRadio Music Festival
In a year like no other, iHeartRadio had to find new and innovative ways to continue its tradition of producing the iconic iHeartRadio Music Festival. Since iHeartRadio couldn’t host an in-person concert event, the brand had to reinvent its approach to contesting, fan experiences, content captures, brand activations, and more. In addition, with no social me…
Online Event/Activation
AD: The Iconic Home — A Virtual Showhouse
Showhouses and showrooms are the heartbeat of the design industry. But when the COVID-19 pandemic forced us all to stay home, the team at Architectural Digest was faced with a unique challenge: how could they spotlight talented designers and create an intimate experience when we’re all stuck behind our screens? To answer that question, AD teamed up with the…
Online Event/Activation
Adult Swim and Ben and Jerry's Presents Run The Jewels Holy Calamavote
Run The Jewels is the rap super group led by Killer Mike and El-P. Killer Mike has long been an Atlanta-based activist voice calling for social justice. Their fourth studio album RTJ4, was originally scheduled to drop June 5, 2020. Due to the ongoing protests against police brutality sparked by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, …
Online Event/Activation
Allergan x Girls Inc. Mentorship Initiative
Allergan, a global leader in pharmaceuticals and aesthetics, partnered with Girls Inc., a non-profit organization delivering life-changing programs to help girls navigate social, economic and gender barriers as they look to higher education and career paths, to launch a national mentorship initiative in 2019 that empowers future female leaders in STEM. To p…
Online Event/Activation
Amway’s Artistry Studio™
Looking good and feeling good often go hand in hand. But when you’re someone who is always on-the-go, finding the time to build up that confidence is much easier said than done. So when Amway’s Artistry Studio Skin sought to promote their new skincare product line, we knew we needed to give consumers a way to turn their skincare routines into a moment of pe…
Online Event/Activation
Chipotle Together
Before March 2020, approximately 20% of Chipotle’s sales were digital. But with a global pandemic shutting down in-restaurant dining rooms across the country, we knew that had to change, fast. So we took to social to get the word out about online ordering and delivery.
Online Event/Activation
ComplexLand
Complex Networks champions the people, brands and new trends you need to know now (and will obsess over next), and builds consumer universes around them. It is what a modern entertainment company looks like and what others have followed since 2002—from pop culture and style (Complex), food entertainment (First We Feast), music discovery (Pigeons & Planes), …
Online Event/Activation
DC FanDome
Are you ready to explore the Multiverse? DC and WarnerMedia brought the sights, sounds, and excitement of a convention to the homes of fans across the globe with DC FanDome, a first-of-its-kind immersive digital experience unlike anything seen before. DC FanDome offered fans 24-hour access to never before seen content, trailer drops for upcoming films and t…
Online Event/Activation
DRIVING RECORD RATINGS BY COLLIDING GAMERS AND NASCAR DRIVERS
Fox Sports tasked Mediahub with using the 2020 Super Bowl to draw viewers to their NASCAR Daytona 500 broadcast two weeks later with the specific goal of increasing the TV rating YOY.
Online Event/Activation
Dell Small Business Podference
Small business owners are always looking for expertise and knowledge to improve their businesses. And conferences, all across America, bring experts together to provide small businesses with the knowledge they need. But for many Small Business Owners, keeping their business going is a 24/7 job, making it hard to find the time and money to attend these ev…
Online Event/Activation
Disney+ Launch in India: Red Carpet Premiere
The launch of Disney+ came bundled with a unique proposition in India, since it was going to be paired with the Hotstar subscription here. It was naturally the biggest news in entertainment, and our campaign had to mirror that scale and more, with ATL, BTL, Digital, PR and every mass touchpoint in the mix. But we were faced with another big challenge – the …
Online Event/Activation
FreeWheel Connects
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US in March 2020, FreeWheel quickly rethought and shifted its entire campaign strategy. With client and employee safety our #1 priority, our team pivoted to a fully virtual event approach and increased our digital marketing efforts.   In the beginning of May 2020, FreeWheel launched its first quarterly virtual speake…
Online Event/Activation
FunimationCon 2020
FunimationCon 2020 is one of the first anime conventions to offer a completely free,all-virtual experience during the 2020 shutdowns. In-person anime conventions (affectionately called Cons) are a cornerstone of the fan experience. When these were no longer a safe option, fans longed for that sense of connection to their community and the content they love.…
Online Event/Activation
GLAAD's "Together in Pride: You are Not Alone"
GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, operates to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ community through advocacy and activism. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, GLAAD recognized the unique and disproportionate challenges facing LGBTQ people during this unprecedented crisis. Fr…
Online Event/Activation
Get Got by a Gran
Senior loneliness is more than a sad reality. It's a medical minefield, increasing the likelihood of dementia, heart disease and stroke. In 2019, a staggering 1 in 3 seniors reported feeling lonely. In 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, senior loneliness became an even bigger problem. So we turned to an obvious solution. E-sports. E-sports? 
Online Event/Activation
Global Pride Crossing
The Parade Must Go On(line) Pride Month (June) – a celebration of equality, dignity and acceptance – had lost its biggest stage and moment of the year due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Hundreds of IRL celebrations were cancelled, and millions of LGBTQI+ people lost their most cherished opportunity to come together and celebrate whoever they are and wh…
Online Event/Activation
HBO Insecure S4 - Virtual Block Party
Each year, fans of the Emmy-nominated HBO comedy series, Insecure, look forward to the new season and the festivities that come along with it. Dating back to the show’s 2016 debut, HBO has launched each season with an annual block party premiere experience combining themes from the show with live performances and celebration of community. Season one kick…
Online Event/Activation
Holiday Even Brighter - Virtual Cooking Classes
2020 was tough - but the Texas spirit is tougher, and there's nothing more Texan than H-E-B, a much beloved grocery store and brand focused on making the lives of Texans better since 1905. As the holiday season of 2020 grew near, H-E-B was determined to be the light at the end of the tunnel - helping, inspiring and empowering Texans to "Holiday Even Brighte…
Online Event/Activation
Honda Virtual Adventures - Niagara Falls
In the early days of the pandemic, the world was full of uncertainty. From our perspective, people didn’t want to be hearing brands talk about product features or deals. However, we still wanted to deepen engagement and increase loyalty for Honda, but in a way that was sensitive and honest to the moment. We needed to provide actual value, not just promote o…
Online Event/Activation
I May Destroy You - Gathering the Pieces
To create a campaign to promote HBO’s new series, “I MAY DESTROY YOU,” which premiered on June 7, 2020.  Tasked with how to amplify a never-before-seen series that tells a very personal story of Michaela Coel’s sexual assault and trauma, we knew we had to do something groundbreaking and seemingly contradictory: we wanted to create a safe space to explore…
Online Event/Activation
Julia Child Week
The early days of pandemic lockdown put a premium on virtual community, binge-worthy media and sourdough starters. For many, social media became the only way to connect; streaming old favorites provided an escape from a brutal news cycle; and developing new skills in the kitchen became a necessity for people who never imagined their favorite restaurants wou…
Online Event/Activation
MTV's 2020 Video Music Awards Stan Cam
In 2019, the VMA Stan Cam launched as a first-of-its-kind, real-time interactive streaming experience on Twitter. After a successful debut, the 2020 VMA Stan Cam had some challenges to overcome - not only the expectation to be bigger & better, but certainly Covid-19 introduced unprecedented changes to production that saw the entire digital team working remo…
Online Event/Activation
MTV's 2020 Video Music Awards Virtual Photo Booth
In lieu of a traditional red carpet for the MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Brand social team partnered with production company Good Co. and creative director, Alexandre Moors (the team behind Beyonce’s Lemonade) to create an entirely remote, red carpet virtual photo booth. We wanted to give our social audiences a unique spin on attending celebrities and pe…
Online Event/Activation
MTV's Friday Livestream
MTV’s Friday Livestream is a 24-hour, interactive music video livestream event combining classic throwbacks with the hottest songs now. Shot entirely remotely, the ever-evolving livestream takes the form of both a hosted and non-hosted show. MTV favorite Kevan Kenney kicks off the show on Fridays at 5-8pET and at 8pET the show continues into the night and t…
Online Event/Activation
MUCINEX® DISRUPTS THE OTC LANDSCAPE BY GOING DTC | Launching with Live-Streamed YouTube Fashion Show
MUCINEX® is America’s #1 doctor recommended cough and cold brand that consumers trust to help improve their journey from sickness back to wellness. Typically, consumers have found relief with Mucinex by purchasing the product at drug, supermarket and mass merchandisers. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mucinex elevated its brand purpose – “To Be A H…
Online Event/Activation
Microsoft Windows Ugly Sweater – Softwear 3.0
Since 1995 the percentage of female computer scientists has dropped from 37% to 23%. That comes as a shock to everyone…except Girls Who Code, a non-profit whose mission is to close the gender gap in technology. To raise money for a cause that impacts the entire tech industry, Microsoft took it back to 1995 for a little inspiration from the time when the gap…
Online Event/Activation
New York Fashion Week Goes Home with Lowe’s | #FashionGoesHome
From resetting routines to resetting expectations, how people connect, create and communicate underwent considerable changes in 2020. Amid these shifts, the role of the home transformed dramatically and became the singular most important place in their lives.  With this sharpened focus on home came a newfound appreciation for comfort, authenticity and ac…
Online Event/Activation
PERFECT MARC JACOBS Virtual Global Launch Event
PERFECT MARC JACOBS, the newest fragrance from Marc Jacobs Fragrances, is a celebration of self-love, originality, and you – inspired by Marc Jacobs’ personal mantra: “I am perfect as I am,” which is symbolized by a tattoo of the word “PERFECT” on his wrist. The concept, which supports the belief and positive affirmation that everyone is perfect in their ow…
Online Event/Activation
Planet Fitness 2000th Location Celebration
Planet Fitness has a goal of being the leader in accessible fitness. This isn’t just a philosophy they have with their “no judgement” workouts, it also informs their brick and mortar strategy - bringing gyms to people wherever they are.  So, when Planet Fitness opened its 2000th club, they set out to celebrate all the members who helped them get there. N…
Online Event/Activation
Porsche x Puma: Two Icons of Fast Sneaker Launch
For the last five decades, the Porsche 911 Turbo has been known for its iconic design, speed and uncompromising performance. Despite its storied history, the brand keeps its eyes on the future. That means staying relevant with new and younger audiences. For "Icons of Fast," Porsche partnered with another iconic German-owned and global sports brand, PUMA.…
Online Event/Activation
Red Rocks Unpaused
Visible is a new phone service with a uniquely relevant offer - it’s entirely digital (sign up, pay, and do everything right from your phone). Considering Visible is still new to the market with minimal awareness, our primary objective was to gain national brand awareness. We did this through a branded virtual experience via Twitter’s social platform and a …
Online Event/Activation
STARZ's Countdown to #PowerGhost Pre-Show Event
After the explosive series finale of the legacy series, fans of the STARZ’ hit series Power were eagerly anticipating the launch of the Power franchise’s first spinoff. The goal was eventize the show’s premiere – celebrate the start of the next chapter in the Power story with fans, and encouraging tune-in to the series premiere on the STARZ App.
Online Event/Activation
Santa Calling
2020 was a year of really grown-up stuff. A global pandemic. Schools closed. Jobs lost. And with COVID-19 case-rates surging with the onset of winter, there was a distinct possibility that the holiday reprieve kids were looking forward to would be cancelled along with everything else.   Our objective:  T-Mobile wanted to help. As a customer-obsesse…
Online Event/Activation
Stand Up for Heroes 2020
New York’s most anticipated night of hope, healing and laughter, returned for its 14th annual celebration as a virtual event to honor our nation’s impacted veterans and their families, yesterday, Wednesday, November 18th. The event was streamed on ABC News Live, Facebook, HLN, TikTok, Twitch, and the American Forces Network. 
Online Event/Activation
THE CRAFT: LEGACY Twitter Watch Party Event
2020 was a tough witch. To summon some excitement, THE CRAFT: LEGACY sought out to create a day-long social media pre-party and live watchalong event on Twitter in celebration of its On Demand and Digital release. Sony Pictures brought the glamour of a red carpet event, with the full cast and filmmakers, and provided all the spells for a magical, immersive …
Online Event/Activation
The #FENTYSKINLAUNCHPARTY Has Entered The Chat!
As a brand launching at the height of a global pandemic, we knew that an in-person activation just wasn’t a feasible option for our launch. So we pivoted and brought the same great energy that we would’ve displayed at an in-person event to an online, digitalplatform where we could get to know one another a little better from the comfort of our own homes!
Online Event/Activation
The Farm Must Go On
Farmers are the backbone of our nation. Even when faced with insurmountable challenges, one missed harvest can have a cascade of ripple effects across their livelihoods and the food supply chain. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all Americans, but particularly those who can never push pause – where taking time off due to illness could affect their means a…
Online Event/Activation
Transhood TRANSlation
Celebrate the release of the HBO Original Documentary Transhood with an activation that highlights and serves the Transgender community, specifically Trans youth and parents raising Trans children in a COVID-safe manner while encouraging discussion and engagement with important issues effecting the community in the Unites States today.
Online Event/Activation
Virtual Experience Hub
We began our innovation journey developing the Virtual Experience Hub in May 2019 with the intent to scale our Cisco Live Global Physical Events.  COVID-19 hit the United States in March 2020 shutting down all gatherings including in-person meetings, conferences and large-scale events industry wide.  Suddenly, we became the most popular kids on the block an…
Online Event/Activation
Virtual HBCU Homecoming
Some might say COVID-19 caused a triple pandemic across Black America – impacting health, housing, and employment.  But it has also severely impacted 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities that educate more than 228,000 students across America. A core component of HBCUs is undeniably Homecoming. This annual event is a time for students, faculty, a…
Online Event/Activation
Woke Art Fest
Inspired by the life and work of artist Keith Knight, comedy series WOKE takes an absurdly irreverent look at identity and culture as it follows Keef, an African-American cartoonist finally on the verge of mainstream success when an unexpected incident changes everything. With a fresh outlook on the world around him, Keef must now navigate the new voices an…
Online Event/Activation
Xero on Air
Xero On Air was a new type of Xero experience. It was a Netflix-style video series designed to update, inspire, and connect our global and local communities of accountants, bookkeepers and small business owners around the world.  Given the COVID-19 situation, we made the decision to cancel our live events early in 2020. Xero On Air was born out of the ne…
Online Event/Activation
YouTube Brandcast Delivered
During the IAB Newfronts, digital platforms and publishers show off new programming, formats, and advertising capabilities to advertisers. For the past decade, YouTube's NewFront, Brandcast, has entertained thousands of clients in iconic New York City venues with special guests, presentations, and musical performances to showcase the platform’s content and …
Online Event/Activation
Zales #PrideTogether
Zales, know for bold jewelry and self expression was looking for a way to tap into culture that was organic to the brand.  Every year the Pride Parade is a cultural event that is a beacon of joy, inclusiveness and acceptance. It is also the epitome of self expression and seemed like the perfect fit and opportunity for the brand.  But, in 2020 with Cov…
Online Event/Activation
philosophy, the wellbeing beauty brand, launches self-care cinema nights virtual watch party series
In December 2020, philosophy partnered with Scener, the virtual theater destination, to host a first-of-its-kind series of interactive self-care cinema nights with the objective of driving awareness around mental health, reaching a younger consumer base, and celebrating the iconic purity made simple franchise. The virtual experience served to entertain, tal…

About the Shorty Awards

The Shorty Awards honor the best of social media.

Millions of people participate in The Shortys to recognize individuals and organizations producing great content on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitch, TikTok, Snapchat, and the rest of the social web.

shorty awards finalists will be announced in mid-march!