It has been written elsewhere that Baby Shark is a force of nature. Here is evidence: it appears to be powering the grid. Or, more accurately, growing as fast as the grid grew, which is nearly the same thing, and slightly more alarming.
Baby Shark's view count compounded relentlessly throughout this period — it crossed ten billion views in 2020 alone as locked-down toddlers watched it on loop — while US renewable electricity generation rose steadily on policy momentum, tax credits, and falling solar panel prices. Neither drives the other; both happen to be exponential-ish curves that posted their steepest years during the same pandemic window. One trend is powered by wind; the other by tantrums.
So the correlation is two runaway numbers, agreeing by coincidence. The grid and the toddler both kept going. Only one of them ever slept.
As an Amazon Associate, getspurious.com earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
Want to learn more about why correlations like “Baby Shark YouTube views” vs “US renewable electricity output” don't prove causation? Read our guide to statistical thinking.
