Early Memes
Long before memes dominated social media, early internet communities were experimenting with humor and visual content. Animated GIFs, text-based jokes, and quirky images circulated widely on forums and email chains, creating shared cultural touchstones among early web users. The "Dancing Baby" and "Hamster Dance" were among the first examples to capture widespread attention.
These early memes were notable for their creativity and simplicity, often requiring minimal technical skill to participate. Users became active contributors, reshaping content and sharing it with peers, which set the stage for the collaborative nature of internet culture that thrives today.