And the Shorty goes to....
February 10, 2026 3:48 PM
With awards ceremonies for seemingly everything that goes on in our world these days, it should come as no surprise to anyone that Twitter has its very own ‘Oscars’. This is the description that is given on the website of The Shorty Awards, said to honour “the very best people and organizations on Twitter and social media.”
While to some, awarding a person who simply types in 140 characters or less into a box on a website, may seem pointless and somewhat stupid, there is no denying the influence that this media outlet has on culture. It has now become the fastest and most immediate way to keep up to date and in touch with those who we take interest in. It also has its more serious uses, such as the current situation in Egypt. It can be used as a way for citizens and journalists to have a voice, when many other outlets are controlled, filtered, and banned.
The Shorty Awards, now in its third year, is just starting to grow and become relevant, just as Twitter itself has matured. Presenting awards to recipients in 30 official categories, the ceremony (organized by Sawhorse Media) will this year take place on March 28, at the Times Center in New York City.
What makes these awards special is that anyone on the social networking site could be a winner. One simply has to be nominated by other users to be eligible for one of the categories. The winners are determined by those who have garnered the most nominations in the form of a tweet from their supporters, and also by the members of the Real-Time Academy of Short Form Arts & Sciences.
The leading nominees for this year’s awards range from the rich and famous, to those who are only stars of the net. Here is a breakdown of some of the leading candidates in the more hotly contested of the 30 categories.
Celebrity
The top ten among celebrities are filled with those of the younger generation, which is very reflective of the target audience of Twitter and the Shorty Awards. The Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, and Justin Bieber are all in contention, however there are a few which would not be familiar to Canadians. Currently in fourth position is 17 year old Irish singer Niall Horan. Horan was discovered on the British Talent show, The X-Factor, and is now a member of new boy band One Direction, along with four other teen boys who were also discovered on the show. Currently in first place, to the surprise of some is Asian superstar pop singer and actor. Kim JaeJoong (a.k.a. Hero).
Humour
Straight from the world of Harry Potter is a user known as The Dark Lord. The user has gained fans and left them in stitches due to his tweets in the persona of iconic Potter villain Voldemort. His sarcasm, and aggressive nature have put him into third place, but the question remains, will he or one of his Death Eaters show up to accept the award should he win? Other contenders include friend of Justin Bieber, Christian Beadles, and another member of the boy band One Direction, Louis Tomlinson.
Charity
The leading charity so far has been in the news a lot this year, through its work through another social medium. The Trevor Project has gained recognition through its series of “It Gets Better” videos featuring celebrities counselling troubled youths in the LGBTQ community. It gained further recognition after the rash of tragic gay teen suicides in 2010. Another contender is Echelon House. Established in 2008, the charity is powered by fans of the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars in tandem with Habitat for Humanity. They alone have already built 24 houses through hard work and donations in the span of two years.
Actor/Actress
While some would simply assume that this category would be dominated by A-list superstars who we are all accustomed to seeing in summer blockbusters, this could not be further from the truth, as the most recognizable name among leading contenders for actor, Leonardo Dicaprio, currently places in a mediocre 20th position. Higher up on the list in fifth spot is How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris, Ian Somerhalder in second position gained fame as Boone on Lost, while the leader is Nathan Fillion, star of ABC’s Castle. For top actress, trying to make it a sweep for Castle is Fillion’s on screen love interest, Stana Katic. Other leading candidates include Hilary Duff, Ashley Tisdale, and Selena Gomez, once again. While none of these women could be mistaken for an A-lister, they have all clearly developed a connection with their fans, which in this case proves more important than sheer talent alone.
To see the full list of categories and nominees and to tweet for your favourite, go to shortyawards.com.
