AboutWhat does the meme depict?
The "Welcome to The Internet" meme is often used to highlight someone's introduction or reaction to Internet culture. Typically, it features an image or GIF with the catchphrase either as a genuine welcome to newcomers or as a sarcastic comment towards someone's naivety about the web. The meme may sometimes include the additional phrase, "I will be your guide," to enhance the mock-instructional tone of the greeting.
OriginWho did it first?
The phrase "Welcome to The Internet" originally appeared in a February 15, 1998 episode of The Simpsons titled "Das Bus." In the episode, Homer Simpson, who is cluelessly running an internet provider from his home, uses the phrase to greet a customer, uttering, 'Welcome to the Internet, my friend, how can I help you?' This scene can be viewed on YouTube. The expression later evolved into a meme with a slightly exclusionary tone, first seen in a January 2000 blog post by redpaw. In this blog, which was archived and can be viewed here, redpaw described the internet as a 'meritocracy' and laid out 19 guidelines for interacting online. The concept spread through reposts across various platforms including LiveJournal, online message boards, and Usenet groups.[1]
Origin: 2000