National nonprofit Connected Nation has officially earned the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the ‘longest internet literacy live stream’, marking its milestone 25th anniversary with a continuous 25-hour broadcast dedicated to digital skills education.
What Changed
Connected Nation, Inc. completed a continuous 25-hour live stream event that began at 9 a.m. ET on September 24, 2026, and concluded at 10 a.m. ET on September 25, 2026. Broadcast live from Hatfield Media’s studios in Louisville, Kentucky, the marathon event featured 25 consecutive hour-long training sessions.
According to Guinness World Records, the record recognizes the marathon as the longest continuous live stream in which participants learn to use digital devices, AI tools, and the internet safely. Additionally, the event earned the first ‘Record of Good’ distinction ever awarded by Guinness World Records in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Context and Background
The broadcast served as a centerpiece for Connected Nation’s 25th-anniversary celebrations. The organization designed the marathon to bring together participants, trainers, and partners spanning six continents.
AT&T served as the lead collaborator for the event. The broadcast also received additional support from Amazon, Netflix, and more than 25 partner organizations, awareness partners, and sponsors, including the Muhammad Ali Center, Americana World Community Center, Accredible, and Educating for Leadership.
Tom Ferree and Heather Gate, alongside representatives from numerous participating organizations, helped shape an initiative focused on digital inclusion. Participating entities ranged from local chapters like the Bowling Green/Warren County AARP Chapter #1967 to international and domestic groups such as the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, Human-I-T, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP, Murray State University, United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), LBJ Presidential Library, Compudopt, Common Sense Media, Digital Connect Initiative — Gila River Indian Community, Tech Savvy Teens, The Hacking Games, Fizzics Education, Australian Virtual Astronaut, Aimers Foundation, Orissa State Volunteers and Social Workers Association, Tunisian Association for Educational Initiatives, Angaza Center, Impact Hub Harare, Causas XXI, Fundación Tecnológicas Conectadas, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Moonshot, Newby Ventures, ACUTAS, and Virtual Excursions Australia.
Business and Sector Impact
Tom Ferree reflected on the organizational milestone and collaborative effort:
“We are tremendously proud of this achievement, and it simply would not have been possible without the extraordinary partners who came together around a shared mission: helping people thrive in a connected world. We are deeply grateful to our lead collaborator, AT&T, and incredible partners and sponsors, including Netflix, Amazon, the Muhammad Ali Center, Hatfield Media, Americana World Community Center, and dozens more, who brought their expertise, energy, and heart to this effort. To celebrate 25 years of Connected Nation by accomplishing something this meaningful together is a source of pride for our entire team.”
Heather Gate emphasized the global reach and core objectives of the record-breaking broadcast:
“Our greatest pride comes from bringing people together across six continents and shining a global spotlight on our mission. This record gave us a powerful platform to champion the digital skills people need to pursue opportunities, improve their lives, and navigate the internet safely. Seeing that message resonate around the world is what makes it so meaningful. We are grateful to our awareness partners and to everyone who hosted watch parties that drew viewers to the live stream and sparked curiosity and excitement.”
Limitations and Public Availability
While the live broadcast concluded on September 25, 2026, Connected Nation has taken steps to ensure long-term accessibility for educational purposes. All 25 sessions have been fully recorded and are being made available to the public at no cost. Furthermore, sponsors Accredible and Educating for Leadership provided digital credentials for participants, supporting verified completion of the training modules.
What to Watch Next
As Connected Nation moves past its 25th-anniversary milestone, the organization continues to leverage the recorded curriculum from the record-breaking stream to advance internet literacy, safe AI tool usage, and digital device proficiency across global communities.