Sorry, by "approval process" I meant the one where you submit (ask for approval?) your information to get a new steemit account created.

I used AnonSteem to create my account, I didn't have to wait for anyone or anything. I just created my username, paid my LTC and bam, I had a new steem account. I have no Idea how the other account creations work.

So are these spikes in new accounts because of a backlog of new accounts that get approved / released all at once or is this some kind of social phenomenon?..... I think I just answered my own question. I'll still take an answer if anyone has one.

Thanks