A History Of Internet Fads And Trends

Timeline Tracks Culturally Significant Moments Since The Earliest Days Of The Web

(CNET)  Timeline creator Dipity has finally been put to a completely awesome use: a user called "tatercakes" has created a timeline of fads and memes that have surfaced on the Internet since its earliest days. And, as far as I can see, almost nothing has been left out -- if you're a Dipity member, you can add to the list.

Among the chronological listings are some memes that pre-date my knowledge of the Internet ("Trojan Room coffee pot"); a few classics like All Your Base, Hampsterdance, and Peanut Butter Jelly Time; and more recent ones like lolcats and Rickrolling. Don't know what those are? Check out the timeline.

There are also a few culturally significant moments that go beyond the Web, like Stephen Colbert's White House Press Correspondents Dinner speech in 2006. The pirated C-SPAN clip of that speech taught the media industry that it's tough to put a lockdown on video that everybody wants to see, taught the White House that you should really be familiar with a comedian's schtick before booking him for a speaking engagement, and taught millions of erstwhile American Luddites about the possibilities of YouTube.

Aside from that, the list does not yet include many of the people who have arguably turned into Internet memes themselves: digitally beloved politicians like Howard Dean in 2004 and Ron Paul earlier this year, a smattering of YouTube stars, and over-the-top bloggers like Perez Hilton.

But Sen. Ted Stevens' parodied, mocked, and dance-remixed "Series of Tubes" speech was the only really glaring omission I saw, aside from a few memes that are entirely too disgusting to mention in a family-friendly context (though be warned, a few gross-outs like "Goatse" are already on the list).

It also fails to mention, at least at this point, the latest Internet meme: the Internet meme timeline.

[barbaram99]

Also the military. Ye see a white cane and yes I use one. It was made for the blinded war vets in the 30s.
Now windows have made it so we can use the computer. Love XP. Now Vista. XP is the longest platform in MS history. I have windows open to find out things and I will ask.
I find computer interresting and as the only user in our home it is a tool. Ye can learn more than that article saids. By digging into the history. It is there.

[barbaram99]

Sir, I have to say I do learn from the regs. I have been posting on the site for over 2 years. I do know that the internet was called Arpanet and that was a network. The first network. 69. Sir we are running more power on the computer we have today than what they had in the apollo missions. In fact we would not have many things we use in our daily lives if it was for the space program. I use the terms the web,the net, the internet,on line for the network that is the interent. Ye have an isp that gets ye on the net be it dial up or DSL. DSL is broadband. We all do who use the the net. Check out* Interent Tutorial What is the Internet*. I will talk to a computer and learn. I am 53. Really I could not dream of what we have today when I was young. I was in my 20s talked about a means recording that did not use a needle. I did not know what it was. CDs.