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

Public Service Announcement

This award honors the most creative and effective public service announcement run across any social media or digital platform by a brand, agency, or organization.
PSA
"Vote Because __________ Depends On It”
In 2020 the United States faced an historic election and we knew that no ordinary get-out-the-vote campaign could do everything we needed it to. The COVID-19 crisis was grinding the country to a halt. Widespread misinformation about voting and mail-in ballots threatened to suppress democratic action. And although the nation seemed hopelessly divided, it was…
PSA
#StayTheFFHome - Do's and Don'ts
Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise.  Despite warnings about COVID-19, young adults were viewing themselves as immune to the virus and not social distancing.  To speak directly to the Gen Z and Millennial audience about the importance of social distancing, Freeform launched the #StayTheFFHome campaign.
PSA
AMC Networks Black History Month PSA Campaign
Since 2014, AMC Networks has raised awareness around the historical importance and modern-day significance of Black History Month in the United States through the company’s award-winning annual PSA campaign.   The objective of the campaign is to communicate the tremendous impact of Black History Month by featuring leading members of Congress sharing i…
PSA
CARE International Women’s Day #WomenEqual PSA
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. That’s why women and girls are at the heart …
PSA
CDC Rx Awareness Campaign
Overdoses from opioids are on the rise and killing Americans of all races and ages. Every day, more than 1,000 people are treated in emergency departments for misusing prescription opioids, and more than 40 people die each day from prescription opioid overdoses (CDC). Families and communities across the country are coping with devastating health, emotional,…
PSA
Count Every Vote Project
The Voting Rights Lab was primed to identify and respond to threats to election integrity in advance of the November elections due to our in-state and national-level partnerships coupled with our in-house legal and advocacy expertise.  When our survey results about voters’ election expectations came back in September, we realized we had a major challenge…
PSA
Cover Up Queen
  The California Endowment has a strong community presence and a diverse audience that relies on its efforts to advocate for a healthier world in various ways. Last year, the Endowment was looking to motivate their younger audience to wear a mask as an essential step to protect themselves and their communities during the pandemic.
PSA
FDA "My Vaping Mistake"
AwesomenessTV and The Real Cost present “My Vaping Mistake,” giving real teens the chance to speak out and share personal stories that address the shockingly common themes and horrific experiences surrounding the vaping epidemic.
PSA
KS COVID Initiative, "Old-Schooled" Campaign
COVID-19 rates across the country exploded last fall and the State of Kansas needed to deliver a critical message telling all Kansans to get tested to help stop the spread of the pandemic. By this time, COVID messaging fatigue had set in, especially among people in their 20s and 30s — the audience responsible for some of the highest transmission rates.  …
PSA
Mask Up
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is an independent and mission-driven education, research and clinical institution based in Atlanta. The historically Black medical school is a leading educator of culturally competent clinicians and researchers dedicated to creating and advancing health equity in underserved communities. MSM ranks among the nation’s leadin…
PSA
Mat Kar Forward
  BACKGROUND   Digital footprints have real world consequences Communicating in the digital age is so constant, instant and effortless, that we forget that our messages can have real-life implications. The culture of forwarding unverified messages, hate speech and fake news has plagued India for a long time, and has led to communal tension, civi…
PSA
NO MORE Foundation's "Listening from Home" Campaign
Suddenly the world went into lockdown due to COVID-19. Home was supposed to be a safe place, but for victims of domestic violence, lockdown meant being trapped with their abusers, 24 hours a day. As a result, across the country and the world, incidents of domestic abuse rose exponentially.  The NO MORE Foundation -- a nonprofit dedicated to ending domest…
PSA
No Extra Life
Brady and Ad Council, launched the End Family Fire program in 2018 to save lives through education regarding safe gun storage. In 2020, we were asked to help promote gun suicide prevention through safer gun storage. U.S. sales of guns and ammunition are soaring, and living conditions brought on by 2020 COVID-19 regulations such as stay-at-home orders, qu…
PSA
Stay Home, Save Lives
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chicagoans were not taking the stay-at-home orders seriously. Deaths were trending up and lives were at risk. Lori Lightfoot, the Mayor of Chicago, knew that steps needed to be taken to stop the spread of the virus to prevent Chicago from becoming a “hot spot” and to prove the pandemic could be contained. We were task…
PSA
Tata Motors Safety First Ludo
Social distancing norms were difficult for people to follow even after repeated efforts by the authorities. Covid-19 cases were spiking fast (at the time of the campaign) and social distancing was not just a government recommendation but an essential life-saving skill. Community spread was a threat as large families were living together. Mask-less travel an…
PSA
The Power of Us
The Ad Council sought to reach Black Americans, which have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, in an effort to inspire the community to help stop the spread of the virus. With over 45,000 Black lives lost to the virus to date, and infection cases rising throughout the United States, a call to action was critical. To meet this goal and reach the…
PSA
VH1's RuPaul's Drag Race "Say Love" PSA
The “Say Love” PSA targeted the hyper-passionate online followers of the various RuPaul’s Drag Race social accounts. As rabid consumers of content, the audience eagerly engaged with the PSA on multiple platforms including with a cutdown-spot that ultimately transferred to broadcast. Typically, the audience is predominately accustomed to marketing content th…
PSA
Your Brand Here
Special Olympics New York has provided inclusive opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities for over 50 years. Through their hard work and extensive programming, they’ve helped athletes experience the thrill of competitive sports. Yet despite their decades of experience, the non-profit is in a constant struggle to generate the money that funds …

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!