43 Fun Facts About Viral Internet Moments

What video, uploaded to YouTube in 2007, features two young British brothers, one of whom famously bites the other's finger?

The video 'Charlie Bit My Finger' shows a toddler biting his older brother's finger, leading to a memorable reaction. It was a YouTube sensation and one of the most-watched videos of its time, though it was eventually removed as an NFT was sold.

Which internet prank, originating around 2007, involves an unexpected appearance of Rick Astley's music video for 'Never Gonna Give You Up'?

Rickrolling became a popular internet meme and prank where a hyperlink, seemingly unrelated, leads to the music video for Rick Astley's 1987 hit 'Never Gonna Give You Up.' It originated on 4chan in 2007.

What internet phenomenon from 2013 involved a group of people suddenly dancing wildly to a short segment of a song, usually after one person started dancing alone?

The Harlem Shake videos typically start with one person dancing alone, often masked, while others ignore them, followed by a sudden cut where everyone joins in with wild, chaotic dancing.

Which social media campaign from 2014 encouraged people to dump a bucket of ice water over their heads to raise awareness and funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

The Ice Bucket Challenge went viral globally in 2014, raising significant funds and awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

What feline internet celebrity, whose real name was Tardar Sauce, gained widespread fame in the early 2010s for her perpetually displeased expression?

Grumpy Cat, whose real name was Tardar Sauce, became an internet sensation due to her unique facial expression caused by feline dwarfism and an underbite. She passed away in 2019.

Which internet meme, popular in late 2013, features a Shiba Inu dog with internal monologue captions in Comic Sans font?

The Doge meme, based on a 2010 photograph of a Shiba Inu named Kabosu, became popular in late 2013. It is characterized by colorful text in Comic Sans font, often expressing fragmented internal monologues.

What meme, featuring a man looking back at another woman while holding hands with his girlfriend, became a popular way to represent distraction or disloyalty?

The 'Distracted Boyfriend' meme features a stock photo of a man looking back at another woman while his girlfriend stares at him disapprovingly, widely used to illustrate various forms of distraction or preference for something else.

Which Turkish chef and restaurateur became an internet meme for his distinctive method of preparing and seasoning meat, particularly his flamboyant salt-sprinkling technique?

Nusret Gökçe, better known as Salt Bae, gained internet fame in 2017 for his unique style of seasoning meat, especially his signature move of dropping salt from his fingertips onto his forearm before it sprinkles onto the dish.

What phrase, popularized by then-teenager Danielle Bregoli on a 2016 Dr. Phil episode, became an iconic meme?

Danielle Bregoli, who later became known as Bhad Bhabie, gained viral fame after her appearance on Dr. Phil in 2016, where she challenged the audience with the phrase 'Cash me outside, how 'bout dat?'

The viral video 'Damn Daniel' from 2016 repeatedly featured a compliment about a specific type of white footwear. What brand were these shoes?

The 'Damn Daniel' video, which went viral in 2016, featured a high school student named Daniel Lara, with his friend Josh Holz complimenting his outfits, particularly his white Vans sneakers.

What emotional YouTube video from 2007 features a fan passionately defending pop star Britney Spears?

In 2007, Chris Crocker uploaded the viral video 'Leave Britney Alone!' in which he emotionally defended Britney Spears amidst public criticism, particularly after her MTV VMA performance.

The 'Numa Numa Dance' video, which became an early viral hit, features a person lip-syncing and dancing to a song by what Moldovan musical group?

Gary Brolsma's 'Numa Numa Dance' video, uploaded in 2004, shows him enthusiastically lip-syncing and dancing to the song 'Dragostea Din Tei' by the Moldovan pop group O-Zone.

What 2012 music video by South Korean artist Psy became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views?

Psy's 'Gangnam Style' music video was released in 2012 and quickly became a global phenomenon, making history as the first video on YouTube to surpass one billion views.

What children's song, originally from South Korea, achieved global viral fame in the late 2010s with its catchy tune and repetitive lyrics?

'Baby Shark' is a children's song produced by Pinkfong, a South Korean entertainment company, that became a global viral phenomenon in 2018, known for its repetitive chorus and accompanying dance moves.

Which Norwegian comedy duo was responsible for the 2013 viral hit song 'What Does the Fox Say?'

'What Does the Fox Say?' is an electronic dance novelty song and music video by the Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis, released in 2013, which quickly became a viral hit.

The internet debate known as 'The Dress' centered on whether a particular garment was seen as what two primary color combinations?

'The Dress' became a viral internet phenomenon in 2015 when viewers disagreed over whether the garment was blue and black or white and gold, sparking widespread discussion about optical illusions and color perception.

In 2018, an audio illusion went viral asking listeners whether they heard the word 'Yanny' or 'Laurel.' What was the nature of this illusion?

The 'Yanny or Laurel' audio illusion, which went viral in 2018, demonstrates how different people can perceive distinct words from the same auditory stimulus due to variations in frequency perception and individual hearing.

Which infamous 2017 music festival, promoted by celebrities and influencers, was billed as a luxury event but descended into chaos and became a viral disaster?

The Fyre Festival was a disastrous 'luxury music festival' scheduled for 2017 in the Bahamas, co-founded by Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule. It gained viral infamy for its poor organization, lack of promised amenities, and widespread fraud.

What meme features a young boy clenching his fist with a determined expression, often used to convey triumph or achievement?

The 'Success Kid' meme features a photo of a toddler, Sammy Griner, on a beach with a determined facial expression and a clenched fist, originally taken in 2007. It's often used to express triumphant or successful situations.

Which meme features a young girl standing in front of a burning building with a mischievous smirk, representing chaos or destruction?

The 'Disaster Girl' meme features a photo of a young girl, Zoë Roth, smirking while a house burns in the background. The photo was taken in 2005 during a controlled burn exercise, but it went viral years later to symbolize mischievous destruction.

Which Hungarian electrical engineer and stock photography model gained internet fame for his facial expression that seems to mask pain with a smile?

András István Arató, known as 'Hide the Pain Harold,' is a Hungarian retired electrical engineer who became an internet meme around 2011 due to his unique facial expressions in stock photos, often interpreted as a forced smile concealing inner sadness.

What meme features a young girl with a side-eye expression, often used to convey skepticism or disapproval?

The 'Side-Eyeing Chloe' meme features a still image of a young girl named Chloe Clem looking to the side with a slightly worried and skeptical expression, captured during a surprise trip to Disneyland.

Which controversial meme, originating from the game VRChat, depicts a low-polygon, red echidna character with a distinctive accent?

Ugandan Knuckles is a controversial internet meme that originated from the game VRChat in 2017. It features a distorted, low-polygon 3D model of Knuckles the Echidna from the Sonic franchise, often associated with specific phrases and a Ugandan accent.

What phrase, popular on the now-defunct short-form video platform Vine, encouraged users to perform daring or outrageous acts for their videos?

'Do It For The Vine' was a popular catchphrase on the Vine app, encouraging users to perform stunts, pranks, or other attention-grabbing acts for the sake of creating viral content on the platform.

The 'Renegade' dance, which became a hugely popular TikTok trend, was choreographed by what then-14-year-old dancer?

The 'Renegade' dance, a complex routine that went massively viral on TikTok in 2019, was originally choreographed by then-14-year-old Jalaiah Harmon, though credit for her work was initially overlooked.

Which country music-hip hop crossover song by Lil Nas X, featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, broke numerous streaming records in 2019?

Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road,' featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, became a viral sensation in 2019, topping charts worldwide and breaking records for its unprecedented run at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

During the 2021 U.S. Presidential Inauguration, a photograph of Bernie Sanders sitting with oversized mittens became a widespread internet meme. What was his role at the event?

During the 2021 U.S. Presidential Inauguration, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders attended as a guest, and a photo of him sitting bundled in a parka and distinctive mittens quickly became a viral meme due to his relaxed posture and attire.

What viral video from 2020 features a man skateboarding to Fleetwood Mac's 'Dreams' while drinking Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice?

The viral video features Nathan Apodaca (Doggface208) skateboarding, sipping Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice, and lip-syncing to Fleetwood Mac's 'Dreams.' It became a symbol of calm during uncertain times in 2020.

What satirical Facebook event from 2019, proposing a mass raid, became a viral meme and led to real-world gatherings?

The Facebook event 'Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us' was created in 2019 as a joke, proposing a mass raid on the secretive U.S. Air Force facility to 'see them aliens.' It went viral, leading to both humorous memes and actual, smaller gatherings near Area 51.

What early 2010s fad involved people lying face down in unusual or public places, often with their hands by their sides, and having their photo taken?

Planking was a viral photo fad that emerged in the early 2010s, where participants would lie rigidly face down in odd or unexpected locations, like a plank of wood, and photograph themselves.

What dangerous internet challenge from 2018 involved people intentionally ingesting laundry detergent packets?

The Tide Pod Challenge was a dangerous viral trend in 2018 where participants filmed themselves attempting to ingest colorful laundry detergent packets, leading to warnings from health officials and manufacturers.

The 'Kiki Challenge' or 'In My Feelings Challenge' from 2018 involved people dancing outside of a slow-moving car to a song by what artist?

The 'Kiki Challenge,' also known as the 'In My Feelings Challenge,' went viral in 2018. It involved people exiting a slow-moving car and dancing alongside it to Drake's song 'In My Feelings.'

What popular web series features host Sean Evans interviewing celebrities while they eat increasingly spicy hot wings?

'Hot Ones' is a popular YouTube web series where host Sean Evans interviews celebrities as they consume a series of chicken wings (or plant-based alternatives) doused in hot sauces of progressively increasing Scoville ratings.

What viral video features a cat, named Fatso, seemingly playing a musical keyboard?

The 'Keyboard Cat' meme features an orange tabby cat named Fatso, filmed in 1984 by owner Charlie Schmidt, appearing to play a keyboard. The video went viral in 2007, often used to 'play off' embarrassing moments.

The music video for Drake's 2015 hit 'Hotline Bling' became a source of numerous memes due to its distinctive and often simple dance moves. What was the song's genre?

Drake's 'Hotline Bling' is primarily an R&B and hip hop song released in 2015. Its minimalistic music video featured Drake performing unique dance moves that quickly became fodder for countless internet memes and parodies.

Which advertising campaign, featuring a debonair man with the tagline 'I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis,' became a popular internet meme?

The 'Most Interesting Man in the World' was an advertising campaign for Dos Equis beer, featuring actor Jonathan Goldsmith. The character's exaggerated exploits and distinctive catchphrases quickly turned him into a popular internet meme.

What internet meme, created by artist Matt Furie in 2005, depicts a green anthropomorphic frog with a humanoid body?

Pepe the Frog is a comic character created by artist Matt Furie in 2005 for his webcomic Boy's Club. It gained widespread popularity as an internet meme, though it later became associated with controversial groups.

What viral video from 2007 features a University of Florida student being subdued by a taser while shouting a memorable phrase?

The 'Don't Tase Me, Bro!' video, from 2007, shows University of Florida student Andrew Meyer being tasered by campus police during a public forum, while repeatedly pleading the now-famous phrase.

What viral video from 2010 features a man reacting with intense awe and emotion to the sight of a rare atmospheric optical phenomenon?

The 'Double Rainbow Guy' video features Paul 'Bear' Vasquez reacting with overwhelming emotion and philosophical wonder to the sight of a double rainbow in Yosemite National Park in 2010.

What viral video from 2007 features a prairie dog suddenly turning its head with a dramatic zoom and musical sting?

The 'Dramatic Chipmunk' video, uploaded in 2007, features a five-second clip of a prairie dog (often misidentified as a chipmunk) abruptly turning its head towards the camera, accompanied by a zoom effect and a dramatic musical sting.

Who is the singer-songwriter known for the viral 2007 YouTube song 'Chocolate Rain'?

Tay Zonday is the singer-songwriter behind the viral 2007 YouTube hit 'Chocolate Rain,' known for his deep bass voice and unique performance style.

What viral video from 2009 features a young boy recovering from dental surgery, expressing confusion and distress?

'David After Dentist' is a viral video from 2009 featuring a young boy named David DeVore Jr. experiencing the effects of anesthesia after dental surgery, leading to humorous and confused reactions.

What early YouTube video, uploaded in 2006, showcases a performer demonstrating a chronological history of dance styles?

The 'Evolution of Dance' is a popular YouTube video created by Judson Laipply and uploaded in 2006, featuring him performing a continuous medley of various dance moves and styles from different eras.