Blast from the Past: 20 Early Internet Memes That Defined a Simpler Time

John Summers • Contributor

Mar 20, 2023 11:30 AM EDT

Life was simpler in the early days of the internet, when online culture was just beginning to take shape and the digital world felt like uncharted territory. Before social media became a pervasive part of our lives and the meme landscape evolved at breakneck speed, the internet was a place where quirky humor and shared experiences brought people together. These early memes laid the groundwork for today's internet culture, forging a sense of community and delighting users with their wit and novelty.

As we dive into this list of 20 iconic memes from the internet's formative years, let's take a moment to reminisce about a time when animated GIFs, catchy tunes, and cheeky catchphrases ruled the digital landscape. From dancing hamsters and long cats to philosophical dinosaurs and unstoppable martial artists, these memes represent the fun, irreverent spirit that has defined the internet since its inception.
So, buckle up and let's take a trip down memory lane, celebrating the simple yet enduring charm of these early internet memes that continue to bring a smile to our faces.

01
Peanut Butter Jelly Time

via carfreak0801

The catchy tune and pixelated dancing banana of this meme were hard to resist, spreading rapidly across forums and websites.
02
Badger Badger Badger

via Weebl's Stuff

This simple yet hypnotic Flash animation looped images of badgers, a mushroom, and a snake, accompanied by a repetitive tune that became firmly lodged in our collective consciousness.
03
O RLY?

via Know Your Meme

This meme, featuring a photo of a surprised-looking snowy owl, became a popular way to express sarcasm or disbelief in online conversations.
04
Leeroy Jenkins

via J Jonah Jameson

This viral video of a "World of Warcraft" player charging headlong into battle, with his teammates following in dismay, quickly became a catchphrase and symbol of ill-advised enthusiasm.
05
I Can Has Cheezburger?

via Something Awful

This classic meme combined humorous photos of cats with intentionally misspelled captions, creating an entire subculture of feline-focused comedy. We are proud to say that the Cheezburger website remains a staple of the internet to this day.
06
Numa Numa

via Dork Daily

Gary Brolsma's enthusiastic lip-syncing and dancing to the song "Dragostea Din Tei" captivated millions of viewers, turning this webcam video into an internet sensation.
07
Super S Stussy

via Know Your Meme

This simple, stylized "S" doodle was often drawn by kids in the '90s and found its way onto the internet as an early meme, representing nostalgia for many.
08
Rickroll

via Rick Astley

This bait-and-switch meme involved misleading links that led unsuspecting users to the music video for Rick Astley's 1987 hit, creating one of the internet's most infamous pranks.
09
Longcat

via Futaba Channel

A photo of an elongated cat, Longcat became a symbol of absurdity and was often Photoshopped into various scenarios or combined with other memes.
10
Philosoraptor

via 4chan

This meme featured a contemplative dinosaur pondering deep or amusing philosophical questions, often accompanied by clever wordplay.
11
The Flying Spaghetti Monster

via Arne Niklas Jansson

This satirical deity, comprised of spaghetti and meatballs, was created to critique the teaching of intelligent design in schools and became a symbol of internet humor.
12
All Your Base Are Belong To Us

via zuchini

This meme was born from a poorly translated phrase in the 1989 video game "Zero Wing" and became a symbol of early internet humor, featuring edited images with the phrase inserted.
13
Chuck Norris Facts

via Houston Chronicle

These exaggerated, tongue-in-cheek "facts" about the legendary martial artist and actor became a staple of early internet humor.
14
Dancing Baby

via jacsejka

One of the earliest viral sensations, the Dancing Baby animation spread like wildfire through email chains and early webpages, eventually even making its way onto TV shows like "Ally McBeal."
15
Hampster Dance

via Web Design Museum

The Hampster Dance meme, featuring rows of animated dancing hamsters, was initially created as a website competition but quickly gained popularity for its infectious music and cute visuals.
16
Trollface

via DeviantArt

The mischievous grin of the Trollface character was used to represent online trolling and pranks. It is one of the original Rage Comics faces that are still with us to this day
17
Keyboard Cat

via Keyboard Cat!

This meme featured a video of a cat "playing" a keyboard, often used as a humorous way to play someone off after a failure or awkward moment.
18
Doge

via Tumblr

The "Doge" meme features an expressive Shiba Inu dog, often accompanied by colorful Comic Sans text with intentional misspellings and broken grammar, capturing the essence of a dog's internal monologue and becoming an internet sensation.
19
ERMAHGERD

via Reddit

This picture of a nerdy girl with her goosebumps collection was usually used to mock a person's over-enthusiasm over a trivial thing.
20
Success Kid

via Flickr

This meme features a photo of a young child with a clenched fist, often used to celebrate small victories or express determination in the face of challenges. (BTW, the kid is actually eating sand so… success?)