Meme Museum - A Timeline of Internet Memes
Welcome to the meme museum, where the most iconic internet memes from each year come together to highlight the evolution of humor and digital culture. This meme museum offers a look back at how each era’s jokes and trends shaped online expression and community.
From viral sensations to unforgettable classics, explore our memes timeline to see how humor has changed over time. Each meme reflects a moment in internet history, celebrating the creativity and shared experiences that define online culture.
2000
All Your Base Are Belong to Us
A poorly translated phrase from the game "Zero Wing" that became a viral catchphrase and a symbol of early internet humor.
2001
The Hampster Dance
A simple animated GIF of dancing hamsters set to a sped-up song, one of the earliest viral internet phenomena.
2002
Peanut Butter Jelly Time
An animated dancing banana set to the song "Peanut Butter Jelly Time", capturing the absurdity and creativity of early internet culture.
2003
Badger Badger Badger
A Flash animation featuring badgers dancing to a repetitive song, which became a viral hit for its catchy tune and repetitive nature.
2004
Numa Numa
A viral video of Gary Brolsma lip-syncing to "Dragostea Din Tei" by O-Zone, showcasing the early days of user-generated viral content.
2005
Chuck Norris Facts
Humorous and exaggerated statements about the toughness of Chuck Norris, becoming an early example of internet humor centered around a celebrity.
2006
Leeroy Jenkins
A World of Warcraft video where a player charges into battle, yelling "Leeroy Jenkins!" highlighting the growing influence of gaming culture on the internet.
2007
Chocolate Rain
A song by Tay Zonday that went viral due to its deep voice and socially conscious lyrics, representing the diversity of viral content.
2008
Rickrolling
Tricking someone into clicking a link that leads to Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" music video, becoming a classic internet prank.
2009
Keyboard Cat
A video of a cat playing a keyboard, often used to "play off" people who have failed, combining humor and cute animal content.
2010
Troll Face
A drawn face used to signify internet trolling, embodying the spirit of online pranks and mischief.
2011
Nyan Cat
An animated, flying cat with a Pop-Tart body, leaving a rainbow trail, epitomizing the whimsical and creative nature of internet memes.
2012
Gangnam Style
The music video by Psy that became the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views, illustrating the global reach of viral content.
2013
Harlem Shake
A meme where people dance wildly to Baauer's "Harlem Shake" after a normal scene, showing the power of participatory culture.
2014
Doge
A Shiba Inu dog with multicolored text in Comic Sans font representing its inner monologue, becoming a symbol of internet humor and cryptocurrency.
2015
The Dress
An optical illusion of a dress that people saw as either black and blue or white and gold, sparking widespread online debate.
2016
Harambe
A gorilla that was shot in a zoo, leading to widespread internet mourning and memes, reflecting the internet's ability to turn news into meme culture.
2017
Distracted Boyfriend
A stock photo of a man checking out another woman while his girlfriend looks at him disapprovingly, used to depict various humorous and relatable scenarios.
2018
Yanny vs. Laurel
An audio clip that divided the internet over whether it said "Yanny" or "Laurel," highlighting the internet's fascination with auditory illusions.
2019
Woman Yelling at a Cat
A meme combining a Real Housewives screenshot with an image of a confused cat at a dinner table, becoming a versatile format for various jokes.
2020
Among Us
The multiplayer game "Among Us" inspired numerous memes, particularly around the terms "sus" and "imposter," reflecting the game's widespread popularity during the pandemic.
2021
Bernie Sanders Mittens
A photo of Bernie Sanders sitting with mittens at the inauguration, photoshopped into various scenarios, capturing the internet's love for humorous imagery.
2022
Will Smith Slap
A viral moment from the Oscars when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage, leading to widespread memes and discussions about the incident.
2023
"That Man Is Not Real"
A viral video of a woman on a plane insisting "That man is not real," which sparked countless memes and humorous interpretations about surreal experiences.