16 Times the News Predicted the Future (Sort of)
From quirky predictions to eerily accurate foresight, these 16 moments where the news “predicted” the future show how the media has been ahead of the curve in shaping or simply foreseeing the world we live in today.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Over the years, news organizations have at times looked into the future, whether by speculation, satire, or astute observation, making unexpected and sometimes uncannily accurate predictions. From The Simpsons predicting smartwatches to The Onion suggesting a Trump presidency, these incidents demonstrate the media’s remarkable skill at catching on before things become fully realized. These 16 instances not only demonstrate media insight but also challenge us to look back at the stories we read today and ponder how they will shape the world of tomorrow.
1. The New York Times Forecasts Moon Landing – 1920
Image from Princeton Public Library
In 1920, a New York Times editorial ridiculed rocket scientist Robert Goddard for his proposal that rockets might work in the vacuum of space. The editorial said that rockets would not be able to work in a vacuum since there was no air to push against — an untrue belief. Years later, after the 1969 moon landing, the Times printed a formal retraction.
2. The Onion Forecasts Donald Trump’s Presidency – 2012
Image from TV Tropes
In a satirical piece published in 2012, The Onion had this headline: “Nation Demands New President Immediately After Finishing Inauguration Ceremony.” Though intended to lampoon political cynicism, it prophetically foretold the 2016 election, when Trump’s presidency was greeted with immediate polarization and protest. The article became an election-day reference point online.
3. The Simpsons Foresee Smartwatches – 1995
Image from IMDb
In the 1995 episode “Lisa’s Wedding,” Lisa’s fiancé talks into a watch as if it were a phone. Almost two decades later, smartwatches such as the Apple Watch and Samsung Gear appeared with remarkably similar features. The episode is now a classic demonstration of the show’s eerie prescience.
4. CNN Forecasts First Gulf War – 1990
Image from Wikipedia
Months before the Gulf War broke out, CNN broadcast a hypothetical war simulation called “War in the Gulf: Forces of Darkness.” The special included virtual tanks moving across desert terrain and ominously replicated the war’s actual images. The special was applauded and criticized at the same time for its realism when real conflict ensued shortly afterward.
5. Wired Predicts YouTube – 1997
Image from Wikipedia
In 1997, Wired published an article that foresaw “personal broadcasting,” in which anyone could broadcast themselves to the world. This idea was identical to what YouTube came to represent in 2005. The article even foresaw monetization and international audiences.
6. Time Magazine’s “Home of the Future” – 1999
Image from Jetspeed Media, Inc.
In a 1999 feature, Time envisioned a home of the future with touch walls, voice aids, and streamed-on-demand films. Much of what it proposed now exists through smart homes, Alexa, and Netflix. It was a great prognosis, considering how primitive the ’90s were.
7. The Daily Show Forecasts Facebook Data Scandal – 2004
Image from Wikipedia
In early episodes on internet privacy, Jon Stewart quipped that businesses would someday know everything about us and sell it. A decade later, Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal vindicated those fears, and the show’s humorous warnings became chillingly prescient.
8. BBC Predicts Internet News – 1981
Image from YouTube
A 1981 BBC clip depicted a system in the future that permitted individuals to “read the news on their computer screen.” It outlined a system similar to today’s RSS feeds and web-based newspapers. Only a few thousand individuals had access to such technology then.
9. Newsweek Warns About Global Warming – 1988
Image from Columbia Journalism Review
In a 1988 piece, Newsweek cautioned that human-caused global warming would lead to devastating floods, droughts, and melting ice caps. While climate change had been debated before, this mainstream piece explained it in terms eerily recognizable today. Scientists interviewed were spot on with their predictions.
10. The Economist Foresees Cryptocurrency – 1988
Image from Wikipedia
On a 1988 cover, The Economist presented a phoenix emerging from ablaze paper money, its medallion reading “2018.” The article addressed a coming worldwide digital currency to displace cash. Although not precise, Bitcoin’s push toward widespread use in the late 2010s came astonishingly near.
11. NBC Foresees Telecommuting – 1994
Image from Wikipedia
A 1994 Today Show item asked, “What is the internet, anyway?” Soon that year, NBC News wrote of workers using the home phone with dial-up to fax paperwork. They theorized that home employment could be routine. Twenty-odd years later, it became widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic.
12. The New York Times Foresees Ascendance of China – 1985
Image from LinkedIn
In the early ’80s, the New York Times published op-eds cautioning that China’s economic reforms would enable it to become a global superpower by the 21st century. The majority still regarded Japan as a threat at that time. The article now reads like a long-term prophecy.
13. 60 Minutes Predicts Biometric Surveillance – 2001
Image from Wikipedia
Soon after 9/11, 60 Minutes did a segment on facial recognition software and how it would fare in airport security. It was then clunky and costly. Now, facial recognition is commonplace in border control and public monitoring around the world.
14. NPR Forecasts the iPad – 2002
Image from Wikipedia
In a 2002 technology segment, NPR explained the vision of a thin, light, full-color touchscreen reader for reading, viewing, and surfing. It referenced prototypes and industry rumors about such a device. Eight years later, Apple introduced the iPad.
15. The Simpsons Foresee Disney Acquiring Fox – 1998
Image from Vanity Fair
In a 1998 episode, a sign behind a character indicates: “20th Century Fox, a division of Walt Disney Co.” At the time, it was a joke regarding media consolidation. Disney acquired Fox in 2019 for $71 billion.
16. Popular Mechanics Predicts Video Calls – 1956
Image from Wikipedia
In a 1956 edition, Popular Mechanics explained a “television telephone” that would allow individuals to see one another as they spoke. The mock-ups are surprisingly similar to current video chat interfaces. Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime made it happen, half a century after the fact.
- Tags:
- life
- trending
- news
- predictions
- throwback