Top 10 Internet Overnight Sensation Events

Since the development of the Internet, those wildly popular phenomena that have become widely known are called Internet Memes. In fact, some people might tell you that if you don't know their most talked-about online events, you're not a true netizen. Below is a list of what I consider to be the top ten.

Before we begin, let me briefly introduce the concept of "Internet memes": they are digital works that spread quickly and extensively among netizens online. A meme refers to a self-replicating information package similar to a virus.

1. Lolcat [Wikipedia]

(The caption on the image reads: What did you take my pants?)

Lolcat (a portmanteau of laughing out loud and cat) features a picture of a cat paired with a humorous or strange caption. The content of the captions mimics the handwriting of children and often resembles a text message or is filled with spelling errors. For example: "Call the offis. I iz gonna be latez." (Call the office. I'm going to be late.) Captions are usually cleverly matched with images; please see the example above.

This parody has become so popular that it has sprouted on a large number of websites - the most famous phrase being "I can has cheezeburger?" Lolcats now frequently appear on social networking sites and forums.

Check out I can has cheezeburger?

2. All Your Base [Wikipedia]

All your base became a phenomenon starting in 2001, originating from the opening animation of the Japanese video game Zero Wing, which was developed by Toaplan in 1989. The game's popularity mainly stems from the "pidgin English" subtitles in this clip (such as Japanized English). For example...