Across the expansive realm of internet memes, one has withstood the test of time, traversing generations and consistently eliciting laughter and nostalgia among millennials. It’s none other than the legendary “Rickroll.”

For young people who didn’t witness or experience the surge of this meme in 2007 and beyond, let’s dive into its origin, the role of 4chan, and why it became so viral and effective. Additionally, we’ll explore how millennials were more creative and adept at making memes go viral compared to the Gen Z’s primary focus on TikTok.

What is Rickrolling?

Rickrolling, in essence, is an internet bait-and-switch prank that involves redirecting someone to Rick Astley’s 1987 hit song “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

The pranksters trick the unsuspecting victim into clicking a hyperlink that promises exciting content but instead leads to the music video of this iconic song. As a result, the person has been “Rickrolled.” It’s all in good humor and has become a beloved joke among internet users.

Origin and the Role of 4chan

Rickrolling originated on the notorious imageboard website, 4chan, back in 2007. Users on 4chan’s /v/ board started sharing links that purportedly led to exclusive trailers, unreleased video games, or intriguing images. Instead, they redirected users to the music video of “Never Gonna Give You Up.” It quickly became a sensation, and the pranksters reveled in the hilarity of fooling countless individuals.

The Rickroll meme’s viral success can be attributed to its simplicity and unexpected nature. As users shared these disguised links on various platforms, the prank spread like wildfire across the internet.

Memes were more grassroots back then, and millennials were at the forefront of creatively disseminating them through social media, forums, and email chains.

Millennials’ Creative Approach to Making Memes Viral

One key reason for the success of memes like Rickrolling among millennials was their resourcefulness and wit. Memes weren’t as mainstream as they are today, and creating one required a certain level of internet savviness.

Millennials had to tap into their creativity to come up with clever ways to spread these pranks without the luxury of modern-day meme-making tools.

Today’s internet meme culture has shifted significantly with the rise of TikTok. While millennials dominated the meme-making scene in the late 2000s and beyond, Gen Z’s main achievement lies in their proficiency on TikTok.

The platform’s short-form video format and vast user base have revolutionized meme creation, making it more accessible and widespread. While the internet meme landscape has evolved, Rickrolling remains a timeless classic, cherished by millennials and continuing to leave its mark on the world of internet humor.

Examples of Rickrolling

• Trick your friends by sharing a link to a supposed leaked trailer of a highly-anticipated movie, but lead them to Rick Astley’s music video instead.
• Send a disguised hyperlink in a work-related email, promising essential information, only to lead your colleagues to the iconic dance moves of Rick Astley.
• Post an intriguing headline on social media with a link that promises to reveal the latest gossip, but surprise your followers with a blast from the past as they get Rickrolled.

Rickrolling is a beloved and enduring internet meme that has withstood the test of time, thanks to millennials’ ingenuity in making it viral and the unexpected twists that continue to delight internet users.

While Gen Z’s meme culture may be centered around TikTok, the legacy of Rickrolling remains as a testament to the creative and humorous spirit of the internet’s earlier days. So, the next time you come across a link that looks too good to be true, brace yourself—you might just get Rickrolled!