If the words "Rick roll," "LOLCats," "Disaster Girl," "Fail," or "Oh hai" mean anything to you, chances are you're familiar with the concept of an Internet meme. What follows are 30 of our favorite Internet memes and pranks that went viral from past and present.
From art shows curated on the LOLCats theme to Rick rolling parades, the Internet meme is clearly here to stay.
Implications - In today's incredibly integrated online community, social media has the ability to turn any video, song or article 'viral' in a mere few hours. Companies or products that seek to make a big splash that could dominate the online cycle are apt to take heed of how these trends spark. By jumping on or creating a viral meme, companies and products can benefit from an intensive Internet obsession.
30 Viral Internet Memes
From Rick Rolling to 'I Accidentally,' Online Pranks Are Here to Stay:
Marissa Brassfield — Jun 7, 2009 — Pop Culture
27
Social Personality Tagging
Facebook Meme Is All About Tagging Photos With Insults or Whimsey
26
Starring in Strangers' Photos
PhotoBombing
25
Angry Baby Memes
Photoshoppers Go Crazy Over Incensed Infant
24
The Next LOLCats?
Fail Dog
23
Verb Omission Memes
‘I Accidentally' Builds Momentum With Geektastic Spoofs
22
Viral Peekaru Parodies
The Baby Snuggie Hits Official Internet Meme Status
21
Photoshopping Pranks
Yearbook Employee Alters 30 Students, Hillarity Ensues
20
Photobombed Infomercial Products
Snuggies Won't Go Away But At Least They're Official
19
Bowdacious Virtual Headwear
Aretha Franklin's Mega Bow Hat Rocks World Through Photoshop
18
Animal Internet Memes
LOLCats, Meet Upsidedown Dogs
17
Photobombing Politicians
Obama, Biden, Their Wives + Woman on Floor
16
Wall Street Pranks
Jokers Make Light of Bankruptcy on CNN
15
Internet Memevertising
Lentheric Solo Ads Feature ‘Fail' Bikini Girls to ‘Up You
14
Viral Compassion Through Photoshop
'Disaster Girl'
13
Political YouTube Pranks
Nancy Pelosi's Rick Roll + Senate and House Launch Own Channels
12
Portrait Photobombing
‘I Dream About Being You' Places Artist in Photos Throughout Tim
11
Art Shows from Internet Memes
LOLarts Show
10
Bizarre Sharktography Memes
‘F*ck Yeah Sharks' Catalogues Daily Predatory Photobombing
9
Edible Internet Memes
Rick Rolling Spreads to Cakes
8
Impatient Apple Memes
Outcry Over Wait Cursor Inspires "Spinning Rainbow" Frustration
7
Viral Political Pranks
Barack Obama Rolling (Like Rick Rolling)
6
Dizzying Photo Memes
Get All Shook Up Over 'Shake Face' Photography
5
Memories of Misery
'The Saddest Place on Earth' Boxed Set of Melancholy Mementos
4
Oil Paintings of Internet Memes
Jeremiah Palecek the Next Web Warhol?
3
YouTube Rick Rolling its Own Users
2
Internet Memes in the News
‘25 Random Things About Me' Makes the New York Times
1
Finger-Pointing Cancer Memes
‘Blame Drew's Cancer' Lets You Tweet Your Anger
Related Ideas
Social Personality Tagging
Facebook Meme Is All About Tagging Photos With Insults or Whimsey
50 Shocking, Eccentric Photography Collections
10 Photoshop Disasters
From Missing BellyButtons to Giant Heads
Sexy 'Booth Babes' Banned at Game Trade Show
Rear Projection Poses
‘Vilena-Style' Modeling Goes Viral in Russia
58 Twitter Innovations
Starring in Strangers' Photos
PhotoBombing
Gloomy Fashion Illustrations
Cassandra Rhodin's Watercolors Mix 1920s Style and Sadness
Angry Baby Memes
Photoshoppers Go Crazy Over Incensed Infant
The Next LOLCats?
Fail Dog
Blogs About Bad Image Editing
PhotoshopDisasters.com
Automatic Blanket Remover
The Ultimate Alarm Clock?
40 Facebook Innovations
From Luke Worrall's Viral Status Change to Facebook Dipping
High-Profile Facebook Breakups
Chris Brown and Rihanna Change Relationship Status to 'Single'
Doggie Dress-Up
10 Brutal Pet Halloween Costumes
14 Year Old YouTube Superstars
Fred is #1 Most Viewed Channel
Dark and Dreadful Calendars
Jennifer Aniston's Manic-Depressive 2009 Calendar
Competitive People Painting
World Bodypainting Asian Awards
40 Modern Ways to Raise Cancer Awareness
From Jade Goody's Reality Show to Rihanna's Leukemia Supp
Animal-Inspired Hair Sculptures
Nagi Noda's Hair Hats Are Freakishly Wild
Celebrating Hats & 1930s Fashion
‘It's a Madcap World' in Vogue by Steven Meisel
Snuggies for Babies
The Peekaru Totes Your Babe in a Pouch
Computers of the Future
The Curved iMac
Humanimal Hybrid Photography
Wolf Boy and Bunny Girl Artwork by Isabelle Levenez
Transparent iMac Design
Mac of the Future
Fashion Photography Bibles
S Magazine Is All About Sexy, Stylish Photoshoots
13 Viral Pranks and Internet Memes
Remote Controlled Sharks
New ‘Stealth Spies' Act as Underwater Surveillance Vehicles
Mocking ESL Signs
LOL Cats Launches EngrishFunny.com
Feline Couture
Cat Prin Tailored Clothing
Custom Avatar Paintings
Matt Held Paints Your Facebook Profile Picture (If You're Friends)
13 Viral Photography Memes
Feline Humiliation Helmets
Hello Kitty Costumes for Cats
Photobombed Infomercial Products
Snuggies Won't Go Away But At Least They're Official
Depressing Recession Fashion
Obscur SS 2009 Clothing for Dark and Gloomy Days
Las Vegas Fashion Trade Show
Spring 2008
Animal Internet Memes
LOLCats, Meet Upsidedown Dogs
17 Quirky Cancer Treatments
Weird Science Gives New Hope for Patrick Swayze & Farrah Fawcett
Internet Memevertising
Lentheric Solo Ads Feature ‘Fail' Bikini Girls to ‘Up You
Extreme Tourism
Swimming With Sharks
Viral Political Parodies
Hillary Clinton is Fcking Obama
Iconic Polaroid Photography Exhibits
Andy Warhol Still-Life Retro Images
Vending By Mood
Sadness Gets More Ice Cream
Massive Hat Photoshoots
Wonderland Magazine ‘Head Won't Stop' Shoot
Automated Friend Finders
‘Facebook Friend Adder' Software Makes You Pay To Be Popular
Viral Virtual Vilification
'I Want to Fight Chris Brown' Facebook Group Has Over 3,800 Members
Royalty on YouTube 2
Queen Rania of Jordan
Printed Facebook Albums
HotPrints Photo Book is Comprised of Tagged Online Snaps
YouTube as a Fighting Ground for Rappers (Part 2)
Soulja Boy Trashes Ice-T
Giant Bow Hats
Aretha Franklin's Surprising Headwear at Obama's Inauguration
Sleek Laptop Skins
Wild Iamhuman Covers Set Your Mac Apart from the Pack
Eccentric Pop Culture Photography
Step Into the Strange, Brilliant Mind of Olaf Bruening
Bizarre Sharktography Memes
‘F*ck Yeah Sharks' Catalogues Daily Predatory Photobombing
Edible Internet Memes
Rick Rolling Spreads to Cakes
Impatient Apple Memes
Outcry Over Wait Cursor Inspires "Spinning Rainbow" Frustration
Viral Political Pranks
Barack Obama Rolling (Like Rick Rolling)
Scarecrow Couture
Chic Straw Hats And Mash-Up Layers At Marc Jacobs S/S RTW '09
Twitter TV Petitions
‘My Name is Earl' Cancellation Sparks Online Outrage
Real Life Twitter
CollegeHumor Video Proves Tweets Don't Translate Offline
Shark Shield
Protects You from Sharks While You Surf
Dizzying Photo Memes
Get All Shook Up Over 'Shake Face' Photography
Trekkie Feud
YouTube Gives Shatner a Shot At George Takei
Online Divorce Feuds
Air Your Dirty Laundry On YouTube
Logo-Branded Blankets 2
Corporate Security Blankets
Recreating Record Covers for Fun
Sleeveface
Disaster Baby Naming
Chinese Earthquake Names
WRITERS WANTED: Trend Hunter Blogger Bailout Program
Earn Cash Hunting Trends
Wearable Blankets
Buttercup Picnic Dress
Eco-Friendly Recession Blankets
Snuggies Gain Popularity Due To Ridiculous Branding
Economic Depression Influencing Design?
The Noose Hanging Lamp
Fleetography
'Running Fools' Photo Series Masters the Art of the Auto-Timer
Oil Paintings of Internet Memes
Jeremiah Palecek the Next Web Warhol?
Emergency Blanket Bags
Silver Space Totes
YouTube Rick Rolling its Own Users
Measuring Tape Bedsheets
Designwise Sheets Stop Blanket Stealing
WRITERS WANTED: Fast Path to Fame and Fortune?
Gain Exposure, Become a Rockstar Trend Hunter
Internet Memes in the News
‘25 Random Things About Me' Makes the New York Times
Finger-Pointing Cancer Memes
‘Blame Drew's Cancer' Lets You Tweet Your Anger
Twitter Personal Ads
Radaroo Microblogs the Language of Love
Social Networking Psych Studies
Research Shows Teen Facebook Users Prone to Depression