You Can Put “TIME Person of the Year” on Your CV
And technically...
It's true.
In 2006, TIME made an unusual choice for its famous Person of the Year.
It didn't choose a president.
It didn't choose a billionaire.
It didn't choose a celebrity.
It chose:
YOU.
Yes.
The actual title was essentially:
“You — Yes, You — Are TIME's Person of the Year.”
So Could You Put It on Your CV?
Technically, you could write:
TIME Person of the Year — 2006
And the statement wouldn't be completely false.
Because TIME really did choose “You”.
In fact, former TIME managing editor Richard Stengel later recalled that some college seniors actually put:
“TIME Person of the Year, 2006”
at the end of their résumés.
He said it still made him laugh.
But There's a Catch.
TIME wasn't personally selecting every individual person on Earth.
The “You” represented the millions of people who were using the emerging internet to create and share content.
In 2006, people were:
Creating YouTube videos.
Writing blogs.
Editing Wikipedia.
Making podcasts.
Uploading photos.
Building online communities.
Creating software.
Sharing opinions.
And participating in the rapidly developing world of Web 2.0.
TIME's argument was that ordinary internet users were changing how information, media and culture were created and distributed.
So “You” was a collective Person of the Year.
The Cover Was Literally Designed for You
TIME made the concept even more obvious.
The 2006 cover contained a reflective surface.
When you looked at it, you could see your own reflection.
It was TIME's way of saying:
You are the person on the cover.
The magazine even described the internet as a place where millions of individual contributions could suddenly become influential.
And Think About the Timing
This happened in 2006.
Facebook had only recently launched.
YouTube was only about a year old.
Twitter didn't exist yet.
Instagram didn't exist.
Snapchat didn't exist.
TikTok was more than a decade away.
The idea that ordinary people could become major creators was still relatively new.
TIME was recognizing a fundamental shift:
The audience was becoming the media.
People weren't just consuming information anymore.
They were creating it.
That's Why the Joke Is Actually Clever
Imagine putting this on your CV:
Awards & Recognition
TIME Person of the Year — 2006
A recruiter might think:
“What did this person accomplish?”
Then they look closer.
You were alive.
You used the internet.
Congratulations.
You're technically part of the group TIME was recognizing.
Is It Misleading?
Yes — if you present it as though TIME personally awarded you an individual honor.
No — if you clearly explain the context.
For example:
TIME Person of the Year, 2006 — recognized as part of the “You” collective representing the rise of user-generated content.
Now you're being accurate.
You're not claiming that TIME personally called you into its office and handed you an award.
You're explaining what the 2006 selection actually meant.
The Funny Part Is That TIME Knew This Would Happen
The former managing editor Richard Stengel later wrote about the reaction to the decision.
He explained that the choice was controversial and was mocked by some people.
But years later, he argued that the decision had actually captured something important:
User-generated content became a foundation of modern media.
And that's what makes the story more than just a résumé joke.
The Real Meaning Behind “You”
TIME wasn't saying:
“Every individual person is extraordinary.”
It was saying:
“The individual internet user has become powerful.”
One person could now:
Publish.
Broadcast.
Create.
Comment.
Build an audience.
Start a community.
Influence culture.
And potentially reach millions of people.
That prediction turned out to be remarkably important.
So, Can You Put It on Your CV?
Technically? Yes.
Literally? Yes, TIME chose “You.”
As a personal award? Not really.
With the proper explanation? Absolutely.
And if someone asks:
“When did you become TIME's Person of the Year?”
You can answer:
“2006.”
Then explain the rest.
MAACAT Perspective
Sometimes the most technically truthful statement can also be the most misleading one.
“TIME Person of the Year — 2006”
sounds like an extraordinary personal achievement.
But the real achievement was something much bigger:
TIME recognized that ordinary internet users were becoming powerful enough to shape the information age.
And ironically...
that means the person reading this really was part of the story.
You just weren't the only one.
