Top 13 Internet Memes and Phenomena

Must-know Internet memes!

Got any grapes? Seen a double rainbow? Like a boss? If you don’t know what I'm talking about, read on!

Everyone loves an Internet meme: a catchphrase, captioned picture, video or idea that’s been shared so many times it becomes an inside joke for millions of Internet users. By general agreement among my Internet friends, here are 13 of the best.

1. The Duck Song

This song tells the story of an animated duck and a lemonade vendor. The video seems geared toward preschoolers yet it’s still an over-50-million-views hit among adults and young people alike.

2. Nyan Cat

A cute, happy, hypnotic video clip of a computer-pixelated cat (with a body that resembles a pop tart) trailing a rainbow through outer space to a pop synthesized beat. What's not to love?

3. “Like A Boss”

Inspired by a Saturday Night Live digital short, Like a Boss is a collection of tumblr gifs (animated images) of people doing simple tasks in a cool, “boss” way: put on clothes like a boss, park like a boss, edit your page like a boss.

4. Rage Guy Comics

Rising to popularity on 4chan, these MS Paint sketches of grumpy faces are encountered all over tumblr pages in comic strips or single captions.

5. Nigahiga and  Kevjumba

Two Youtube-channel kings create dozens of videos featuring Internet movies, music videos and blogs. Check out links to their many business partners and friends posting similar material.

6. Double Rainbow

This video features a tourist who gasps, cries and blabbers in almost indecent awe of two rainbows in the sky. (Perhaps Nyan Cat has been here?) An auto-tuned song spoofing the video turned this YouTube hit into a huge Internet phenomenon.
 

7. Rickrolling

Originally an April Fools’ Day prank by YouTube, Rickrolling is when you click a featured hyperlink on a video and are deceptively brought to Rick Astley’s hit song Never Gonna Give You Up. You’ve been Rickrolled!
 

8. Potter Puppet Pals

This is an online must-view for any Potterphile wishing to see their favourite witches and wizards as puppets acting out fan-made skits. Try "The Mysterious Ticking Noise" and "Bothering Snape" if you haven’t seen them yet.

9. “Over 9000!”

A Youtube-posted episode clip of Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z screaming out this line made it a common slang expression.  (“How many people were at the party last night?” “Over nine thousaaaaand!”)

10. Lolcats

This site features funny photos of felines with captions (mis)spelled as though the cats have written them themselves.

11. Charlie the Unicorn

Dating back to 2006, Charlie the Unicorn is truly an Internet classic. Follow the misadventures of eye-rolling, sarcastic Charlie the unicorn and his annoying, whimsical unicorn companions who drag him off to magical places like Candy Mountain.

12. Epic Fail

More Internet slang than meme but worth including, epic fails are things that are basically the opposite of success. Photos depict laughable or wince-worthy big fat epic fails.

13. Crasher Squirrel

This famous photo features a squirrel popping into a couple's snapshot in Banff National Park. Since the photo became an Internet phenomenon, fans often Photoshop him into their own photos.