The Ferguson protests are one of the defining stories of the year. Source: AFP

After Ebola, videoed executions, police violence and the Malaysia Airlines disasters, we just want it to be over.

An overwhelming number of posts using the hastag #2014in5words were some variation on: “Seriously, are we done yet?”

To counter the year of devastating news stories, the internet offered a stream of shallow escapism, with nudity, twerking and questionable prank videos at centre stage.

Selfies, bum-worshipping pop music and TV fantasy became a staple part of our lives.

It seems all we have now is hope.

Here’s how 2014 looked, in your own words:

TERROR

Extremists struck fear into hearts across the world, using social media and videoed executions to spread their vile message.

IS became the most extreme terrorist group we have seen, and the effects of their malevolent message was felt in every country.

We can only hope 2015 is the year they are defeated, and that fear won’t consume us.

POLICE VIOLENCE

The fatal shooting of unarmed black man Michael Brown triggered riots on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri.

The shockwaves were felt around the world, as the US police force was accused of institutional racism.

Protest chants “I can’t breathe” and “Hands up don’t shoot” were heard across the globe, and many Americans left a seat at their Thanksgiving tables for missing black men killed by police.

AIR CATASTROPHES

If you weren’t a little scared of flying before, chances are you’re feeling the fear after this year.

It started when flight MH370 disappeared from the skies. Conspiracy theories abounded — about the pilot, the cargo, the passengers — and the case still remains unsolved.

Then, as the world joked nervously about how safe flying would be now, another Malaysia Airlines flight, MH17, was shot down over Ukraine. Tragedy had struck once more, in the most unbelievable of circumstances.

EBOLA

The deadliest outbreak of Ebola since its discovery in 1976 hit West Africa in March, and rapidly spread to five other countries, including the US.

The epidemic has killed at least 7388 people — more than every other outbreak combined.

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, Thomas Frieden, said the outbreak in West Africa was unlike anything since the emergence of HIV/Aids.

The outbreak has been declared over in Nigeria and Senegal, but transmission remains intense in Sierra Leone and Mali.

INEQUALITY

Inequality remains high on our agenda, with many tweets highlighting the gap between rich and poor, and the ongoing challenge of austerity.

Others celebrated the progress in legalising gay marriage.

Gender was a big issue, with many calling out examples of sexism and misogyny online, sparking a furious row between computer gamers and feminists, “Gamergate”.

Nude photo leaks saw labelled 2014 “the year of the hacker”, as we all became very conscious of our lack of privacy.

MEMES

From Pharrell’s hat, to Kim Jong-Un with a vat of lube, to someone walking through New York for 10 hours, memes, trends and viral videos took over our lives in an unprecedented way.

It was the year of the booty, with Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian’s bums gaining as much attention as the biggest news stories of our time.

The ice bucket challenge and selfies for cancer research managed to gain something positive from the fads, but twerking was just irredeemable.

THE GOOD STUFF

There were some rays of light though, we promise.

We made great progress in science, with hoverboards becoming reality and our space missions taking great leaps forward.

Television was at a high, with programs like Games of Thrones and Orange Is The New Black changing our perception of what can be achieved on the small screen.

Other people named personal triumphs, like beating anorexia or a family member overcoming cancer.

2015, we’re ready for you.