Title: Internet Facts, History & Quizzes | Mental Floss
Open Graph Title: Internet Facts, History & Quizzes | Mental Floss
X Title: Internet Facts, History & Quizzes | Mental Floss
Description: Discover fun internet facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.
Open Graph Description: Discover fun internet facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.
X Description: Discover fun internet facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.
Opengraph URL: https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/internet
Domain: www.mentalfloss.com
{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"WebSite","@id":"www.mentalfloss.com","url":"https://www.mentalfloss.com","name":"Mental Floss","description":"Discover fun internet facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Mental Floss","url":"https://www.mentalfloss.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/v1541941289/frontier/sites/logos/mental-floss-logo-120px-height.png"}},"inLanguage":"en-US","mainEntity":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/internet","url":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/internet","name":"Internet Facts, History & Quizzes | Mental Floss","description":"Discover fun internet facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPageElement","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/internet#main-content","name":"Main Content","description":"Discover fun internet facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity."}}}
{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.mentalfloss.com"}]}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/countries-highest-online-gambling-rates","headline":"The Countries With the Highest Online Gambling Rates, Ranked","description":"You might be surprised to learn how low the United States ranks on the list of countries with the highest online gambling rates.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jenny Cohen"},"datePublished":"2026-11-05T15:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-11-05T15:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/countries-highest-online-gambling-rates"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/nostalgia/things-made-fall-different-before-smartphones","headline":"6 Things That Made Fall Different Before Smartphones","description":"From film cameras to playing outside until the sun went down, these six activities characterized autumn in the era before smartphones.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Chris Wheatley"},"datePublished":"2026-10-11T20:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-10-11T20:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/nostalgia/things-made-fall-different-before-smartphones"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/top-gen-alpha-slang-2026","headline":"The Top 24 Gen Alpha Slang Terms of 2026","description":"From 'mogging' to '6-7,' these are the Gen Alpha slang words people are searching for the most—and some are more concerning than others.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-09-19T23:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-09-19T23:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/top-gen-alpha-slang-2026"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/internet/experiences-internet-made-obsolete","headline":"5 Experiences the Internet Quietly Made Obsolete","description":"From rewinding VHS tapes to waiting for songs on the radio, the internet quietly wiped out these nostalgic daily experiences.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2026-09-09T15:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-09-09T15:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/internet/experiences-internet-made-obsolete"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/technology/phones/travel-experiences-people-dont-have-cellphones","headline":"9 Travel Experiences People Don't Have Anymore Because of Cell Phones","description":"Cell phones have replaced paper maps and printed tickets, and have fundamentally changed the experience of travel—making it easier in many ways, but also harder than ever to truly disconnect.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-09-01T18:00:02Z","dateModified":"2026-09-01T18:00:02Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/technology/phones/travel-experiences-people-dont-have-cellphones"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/words/why-we-call-unwanted-email-spam","headline":"Why We Call Unwanted Email “Spam”","description":"The name doesn’t come from the canned meat, but a ‘Monty Python’ sketch about the canned meat.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Tim Brinkhof"},"datePublished":"2026-08-24T18:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-08-24T18:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/words/why-we-call-unwanted-email-spam"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/folklore-mythology/slender-man-facts","headline":"6 Unsettling Facts About Slender Man","description":"This modern monster was created in 2009, but has already inspired several real-world crimes. Here's the story of Slender Man, from his humble origins to his terrifying legacy.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-08-14T22:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-08-14T22:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/folklore-mythology/slender-man-facts"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/nostalgia/things-early-2000s-computer-rooms-had","headline":"7 Things Every Early 2000s Computer Room Had","description":"The 2000s were the golden age of the computer room. From floppy discs to a mouse with actual wires, here are seven things you would have found in them.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Chris Wheatley"},"datePublished":"2026-07-31T14:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-07-31T14:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/nostalgia/things-early-2000s-computer-rooms-had"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/how-rocky-horror-picture-show-predicted-memes","headline":"How 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' Predicted Internet Memes","description":"'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' functioned exactly like modern memes decades before the rise of meme culture.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"AJ DiCosimo"},"datePublished":"2026-07-28T21:00:02Z","dateModified":"2026-07-28T21:00:02Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/how-rocky-horror-picture-show-predicted-memes"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/fun/video-games/forgotten-computer-games-millennials","headline":"5 Forgotten Computer Games Every Millennial Played","description":"Millennials were the first generation to play CD-ROM games, and these were a few of the most recognizable ones.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Chelsea Thatcher"},"datePublished":"2026-06-29T14:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-06-29T14:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/fun/video-games/forgotten-computer-games-millennials"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/nostalgia/early-internet-habits-kids-wouldnt-understand","headline":"5 Early Internet Habits Kids Today Would Never Understand","description":"From former search engines to the not-so-easy way to get online, younger generations have no idea what we once dealt with.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jane Alexander"},"datePublished":"2026-06-26T14:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-06-26T14:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/nostalgia/early-internet-habits-kids-wouldnt-understand"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/lowkenuinely-meaning","headline":"The Meaning of the Slang Term \"Lowkenuinely\"","description":"\"Lowkenuinely\" is a blend of \"low-key\" and \"genuinely,\" but its specific meaning is actually pretty nuanced.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-06-07T00:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-06-07T00:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/lowkenuinely-meaning"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/larp-meaning-explained","headline":"What Does the Slang Term \"LARP\" Mean?","description":"\"LARP\" may not always mean what you think, as its meaning has changed a bit over the years.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-06-01T23:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-06-01T23:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/larp-meaning-explained"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/what-are-the-backrooms","headline":"What Are the Backrooms?","description":"The Backrooms began as an internet post on 4chan and are now the subject of an A24 movie. But where are the real-world Backrooms, and why do they have such a hold on people's imaginations? ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-05-29T18:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-05-29T18:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/what-are-the-backrooms"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/what-is-clout-chasing-internet-term-everyone-using","headline":"What Is \"Clout Chasing?\" The Internet Term Everyone Keeps Using","description":"The social media habit everyone criticizes but secretly understands.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Logan DeLoye"},"datePublished":"2026-05-28T02:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-28T02:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/what-is-clout-chasing-internet-term-everyone-using"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/unc-meaning-explained","headline":"What Does \"Unc\" Mean? The Slang Term, Explained","description":"If you're wondering this, you probably are \"unc\"—but that may not be a bad thing.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-05-11T22:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T22:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/unc-meaning-explained"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/6-discontinued-90s-gadgets-people-still-miss-01kqfmc6zb9f","headline":"6 Discontinued '90s Gadgets People Still Miss","description":"From the Walkman to the Talkboy, these '90s classics that didn't survive the transition to the 2000s.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-05-03T00:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-03T00:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/6-discontinued-90s-gadgets-people-still-miss-01kqfmc6zb9f"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/npc-meaning-and-history","headline":"What Is An “NPC” and Where Did the Term Come From?","description":"The popular slang insult \"NPC\" actually has its roots in Dungeons & Dragons.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-04-27T20:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-04-27T20:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/npc-meaning-and-history"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/from-pos-to-gtfo-breaking-down-the-meaning-of-insult-abbreviations-01khy3qn1n0m","headline":"From \"POS\" to “GTFO,” Breaking Down the Meaning of Insult Abbreviations","description":"From \"NPC\" to \"SOB,\" these insults should be used with care.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-02-22T01:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T01:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/from-pos-to-gtfo-breaking-down-the-meaning-of-insult-abbreviations-01khy3qn1n0m"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/touch-grass","headline":"Why Do We Tell People to \"Go Touch Grass?\"","description":"The Gen Z slang term \"touch grass\" might have a deeper meaning.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-01-28T19:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-01-28T19:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/touch-grass"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/what-does-skibidi-mean","headline":"Okay, Fine, We’ll Explain it: Here’s What “Skibidi” Means","description":"If you’ve been too embarrassed to ask the Gen Alpha kids in your life, here’s a rundown of what “skibidi” means and where it came from.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2026-01-17T17:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-01-17T17:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/what-does-skibidi-mean"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/common-internet-acronyms-explained-sybau-smh","headline":"From “SYBAU” to “SMH,” Here’s What 20 Common Internet Acronyms Mean","description":"In case you aren’t caught up with the latest—or most classic—online lingo, here are 20 internet acronyms explained.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2026-01-16T16:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-01-16T16:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/common-internet-acronyms-explained-sybau-smh"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/unexpected-history-everyday-internet-terms","headline":"The Unexpected History Behind 10 Everyday Internet Terms","description":"Before we used the internet, these words meant something else entirely. Read on to learn the original meaning of 10 everyday internet terms.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2026-01-07T17:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-01-07T17:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/unexpected-history-everyday-internet-terms"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/most-googled-people-2025","headline":"The 10 Most Googled People in the World in 2025, Ranked","description":"From Donald Trump to Sabrina Carpenter, these public figures received millions and millions of Google searches this year.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Sam Hindman"},"datePublished":"2025-12-31T22:11:49Z","dateModified":"2025-12-31T22:11:49Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/most-googled-people-2025"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/most-valuable-company-every-state-map","headline":"The Most Valuable Company in Every State, Mapped","description":"Based on October 2026 market cap data, this map reveals the biggest publicly traded powerhouse headquartered in all 50 U.S. states.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jenny Cohen"},"datePublished":"2026-11-12T21:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-11-12T21:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/most-valuable-company-every-state-map"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/money/surprisingly-valuable-garage-sale-finds","headline":"20 Common Garage Sale Finds That Can Be Surprisingly Valuable","description":"From pyrex to vinyl records, here's what to look for when you're combing through somebody else's stuff.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2026-11-12T15:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-11-12T15:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/money/surprisingly-valuable-garage-sale-finds"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/folklore-mythology/real-mythology-helped-inspire-jrr-tolkien-elves","headline":"The Real Mythology That Helped Inspire J.R.R. Tolkien's Elves","description":"How Old Norse sagas, Anglo-Saxon poems, and Irish mythology helped J.R.R. Tolkien transform tiny Victorian fairies into the majestic Elves of Middle-earth.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Matt Hoffman"},"datePublished":"2026-11-11T23:00:03Z","dateModified":"2026-11-11T23:00:03Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/folklore-mythology/real-mythology-helped-inspire-jrr-tolkien-elves"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/nostalgia/1970s-household-luxuries","headline":"20 Things That Were Considered Luxuries in the 1970s","description":"Discover 20 everyday items—from microwaves and color TVs to home bars and the Sony Walkman—that were high-status luxury goods in 1970s America.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2026-11-11T21:18:52Z","dateModified":"2026-11-11T21:18:52Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/nostalgia/1970s-household-luxuries"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/advertising/why-7-eleven-called-7-eleven","headline":"Why Is 7-Eleven Called 7-Eleven?","description":"An ad agency named the chain after its store hours, but the hours didn’t last. ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Matt Hoffman"},"datePublished":"2026-11-11T19:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-11-11T19:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/advertising/why-7-eleven-called-7-eleven"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/holiday-jokes-funny-share-with-everyone","headline":"75 Holiday Jokes That Are So Funny, You'll Want to Share Them With Everyone","description":"These jokes are sure to add a little laughter to your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's celebrations! ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Logan DeLoye"},"datePublished":"2026-11-10T19:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-11-10T19:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/holiday-jokes-funny-share-with-everyone"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/why-veterans-day-originally-called-armistice-day","headline":"Why Veterans Day Was Originally Called Armistice Day","description":"The name and the meaning of Veterans Day have changed throughout history to include all those who have served in the military.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Chelsea Thatcher"},"datePublished":"2026-11-10T15:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-11-10T15:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/why-veterans-day-originally-called-armistice-day"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/most-popular-thanksgiving-desserts-by-state-map","headline":"Map Shows America's Favorite Thanksgiving Desserts","description":"DoorDash data reveals the most popular Thanksgiving desserts in every state, from classic pumpkin pie to surprising chocolate cake.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Nitya Rao"},"datePublished":"2026-11-10T01:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-11-10T01:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/most-popular-thanksgiving-desserts-by-state-map"}}
| fb:app_id | 350309542584520 |
| fb:pages | 10974002364 |
| og:site_name | Mental Floss |
| og:image:width | 1440 |
| og:image:height | 810 |
| twitter:url | https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/internet |
| twitter:card | summary_large_image |
| twitter:image:width | 1440 |
| twitter:image:height | 810 |
| theme-color | #000000 |
| og:type | website |
| og:image | https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/v1541941289/frontier/sites/logos/mental-floss-logo-120px-height.png |
| twitter:image | https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/v1541941289/frontier/sites/logos/mental-floss-logo-120px-height.png |
Links:
Viewport: width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0
Robots: max-image-preview:large