5 moments from the Shorty Awards that show the power of new media

"Sh*t, I have got to get on Vine."

That was one reporter's sentiment within five minutes of arriving at the red carpet for the 8th Annual Shorty Awards, where creators of snack-sized online media are honored for their ingenuity and influence. (Hint: The reporter was me.)

"Entertainment is changing," said Periscoper Africa Miranda. "The culture is changing. I haven't had cable since 2010; I watch everything on my phone or my iPad. If that's how we're consuming entertainment and information, this is the future."

The ceremony awarded users of Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Vine, Snapchat and YouTube, as well as new platforms Periscope and YouNow -- which didn't even exist a year ago, showing a powerful shift toward live streaming. If the night was evidence of anything, it was that social media is more important than ever.

Katie Couric will "block your ass"

The NBC anchor poked fun at her own journey with social media, pulling a clip from 1994 in which she asked, "Can you explain what Internet is?" Despite her love of social media and connecting with her fans, she was unapologetic about blocking trolls.

Victory for "girls in the margins"

Whether it was Janet Mock winning for activism or Jessamyn Stanley for healthy living, the winners reflected how new media pays tribute to girls who "often haven't seen themselves, and who despite that invisibility often create stories and spaces for them to be the heroines of their own narratives."

"When I was a little kid I always needed somebody who would be fat and queer and totally cool with themselves," Stanley said in her acceptance speech. "So I'm glad I am that for some people."

Snapchat: A rising star

The social medium you use to send morning selfies and puke rainbows is an engaging platform for people around the world. In its second year at the Shorty Awards, Snapchat's exponential growth was clear.

"It's really organic," Snapchatter of the Year DJ Khaled told Mashable. "There's only so much you can do, and if you capture something that the people can connect to and love, that's special because that means you have a special energy, a special force, a special glow." 

"We're the new media properties and we control the distribution platform, so there are less barriers to entry," Snapchatter Harris Markowitz said. "If you wanna start doing stuff, if you wanna get a following... you can reach a lot of people really quickly. Also it's a meritocracy. If you have great content -- even Kanye West said it -- if it's good, people will see it."

Rhett and Link win multiple awards, talk about edible testicles

The YouTube duo won for their podcast, Ear Biscuits, and for the webseries Good Mythical Morning. Both speeches included their virally self-deprecating humor, though the latter took a turn for the weird.

Pizza Rat is surprisingly inspiring

"I think a lot of us get nervous in public, and if you're the sort of person that just is worried when you go out -- if you're scared, just know that everyone else is, too," said Matt Little, who won GIF of the Year for discovering Pizza Rat. "Keep your head up and be confident, and like a Pizza Rat you will do things that astound the world."

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.