12 Internet Trends That Aged Horribly
These once-huge online moments now feel awkward, outdated, or downright embarrassing.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
The internet has always been a breeding ground for quick trends, but not all of them have stood the test of time. Some were funny in the moment, while others left us wondering what we were thinking. Here is a look at the internet trends that have aged in the worst way possible.
1. Planking Everywhere
5chw4r7z on Wikimedia Commons
People once took pictures lying stiff like a board in random spots, thinking it was peak humor. It spread fast but quickly felt forced and even unsafe. Looking back, it feels more awkward than entertaining.
2. The Harlem Shake
Siono89 on Wikimedia Commons
For a few weeks, everyone was making wild dance videos to the same song. At first, it was funny, but it quickly got repetitive and overdone. Now, it feels more like internet chaos than comedy.
3. The Ice Bucket Challenge
slgckgc on Wikimedia Commons
While it started as a fundraiser for ALS research, it turned into a viral stunt. Many people focused more on posting videos than donating. It feels like a trend that lost its real purpose.
4. YOLO Spam
CanadianDude1 on Wikimedia Commons
The phrase “you only live once” flooded captions, memes, and hashtags. It was overused to the point of losing any meaning. Today, it feels more like a punchline than motivation.
5. The Dress Debate
Carissa Rogers on Wikimedia Commons
Everyone argued about whether the dress was black and blue or white and gold. It consumed the internet for weeks but now just feels silly. It is remembered more as a headache than a fun moment.
6. Gangnam Style Obsession
Eva Rinaldi from Sydney, Australia on Wikimedia Commons
The dance went global and broke YouTube records, but it was everywhere for too long. It was fun at first but quickly became exhausting. Now it feels like an overplayed joke.
7. Flash Mobs
Dimmkim1 on Wikimedia Commons
Groups suddenly breaking into dance in malls and airports felt groundbreaking once. However, the novelty has faded, and now, they seem staged and cheesy. What was once exciting now feels cringy.
8. Vine Compilations
Thank you for visiting my page from Canada on Wikimedia Commons
Six-second clips were funny in their time, but most jokes do not land anymore. Humor evolved, and many of the videos feel outdated. It shows how fast internet comedy can age.
9. Dab Craze
RatCurator on Wikimedia Commons
Athletes, celebrities, and kids were dabbing nonstop for a while. It felt cool then, but now it just looks awkward. Even the people who made it popular stopped doing it quickly.
10. Overused Doge Memes
Euterpia on Wikimedia Commons
The Shiba Inu with captions like “such wow” was everywhere. It started as harmless fun but quickly got old. Even though Dogecoin kept the image alive, the original meme feels dated.
11. Mannequin Challenge
Husam Abualshaikh on Wikimedia Commons
Videos of groups frozen in place while a camera panned around were all over social media. It was creative at first but got old fast. Watching them now feels boring instead of impressive.
12. Cinnamon Challenge
TheDeliciousLife on Wikimedia Commons
Swallowing a spoonful of cinnamon was dangerous but went viral anyway. The trend led to coughing fits, messes, and even hospital visits. Now, it is remembered as reckless rather than funny.