The internet meme began as a notion in the mid-nineties, but with the advent of the internet and social media, so did it. We might trace the meme’s origin to YouTube’s debut in 2005 – with it, ordinary people’s faces became overnight online celebrities. Even though the memes you’ll be reminded of are ageless, we tend to forget about their star – what are they up to now, and what do they look like? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered!
Success Kid
Laney Griner uploaded a photograph of her son Sammy attempting to eat sand to Flickr in 2007, arguably the first global meme to gain popularity (and perhaps the ‘greatest’).
Laney Halkett, the mother of the eponymous kid, disliked the original caption “I Hate Sandcastles” because it made her child appear like a bully. The “Success Kid” caption was much preferred, but Sammy still gets embarrassed by his connection to the meme.