NewsBite

What your favourite internet sensations look like today

These faces were once all over the internet, but now, you’d probably walk straight past them without a second glance.

Miranda Wang
November 16, 2025 - 10:22AM
news.com.au
The internet has given us a lot: instant communication, vast information access, the ability to work remotely, yada, yada, yada. It’s amazing, really. But memes? Well, in my humble opinion as a Gen Z (okay, fine, Zillenial), memes are the real heroes. Picture: X
1/56The internet has given us a lot: instant communication, vast information access, the ability to work remotely, yada, yada, yada. It’s amazing, really. But memes? Well, in my humble opinion as a Gen Z (okay, fine, Zillenial), memes are the real heroes. Picture: X
To be honest, I’m very familiar with them. They just know exactly how to convey how I’m feeling. Hearing my partner tell me he doesn’t want to get dessert? Blinking Guy. Checking the bank account after a big night? Hide the Pain Harold. Trying to figure out which days to wash my hair so I can line it up with my pilates classes? Math Lady. Picture: X
2/56To be honest, I’m very familiar with them. They just know exactly how to convey how I’m feeling. Hearing my partner tell me he doesn’t want to get dessert? Blinking Guy. Checking the bank account after a big night? Hide the Pain Harold. Trying to figure out which days to wash my hair so I can line it up with my pilates classes? Math Lady. Picture: X
And there are certain reaction faces that just completely ruled the internet, taking over Facebook feeds, being turned into Instagram reels, even dropped into work chats. But there’s one thing about the internet you can’t forget: it moves fast. One minute you’re the world’s go-to reaction, the next you’re just someone’s co-worker, parent, or dog with its own cryptocurrency. Picture: Reddit
3/56And there are certain reaction faces that just completely ruled the internet, taking over Facebook feeds, being turned into Instagram reels, even dropped into work chats. But there’s one thing about the internet you can’t forget: it moves fast. One minute you’re the world’s go-to reaction, the next you’re just someone’s co-worker, parent, or dog with its own cryptocurrency. Picture: Reddit
Which begs the question: where do you go when the internet hype dies down? We’ve tracked down the biggest viral sensations of the past decade, and spoiler alert, some are almost entirely unrecognisable. Get ready to feel old. Picture: X
4/56Which begs the question: where do you go when the internet hype dies down? We’ve tracked down the biggest viral sensations of the past decade, and spoiler alert, some are almost entirely unrecognisable. Get ready to feel old. Picture: X
You’ve definitely seen Drew Scanlon’s face, aka, Blinking Guy. The now-famous clip came about during a moment when, while playing a game involving farming, Scalon’s team member said he was “farming with my hoe here”. The iconic slow blink became the global reaction to anything that was even mildly shocking or absurd. Picture: X
5/56You’ve definitely seen Drew Scanlon’s face, aka, Blinking Guy. The now-famous clip came about during a moment when, while playing a game involving farming, Scalon’s team member said he was “farming with my hoe here”. The iconic slow blink became the global reaction to anything that was even mildly shocking or absurd. Picture: X
And to be honest, it took on a life of its own. Picture: X
6/56And to be honest, it took on a life of its own. Picture: X
These days, he co-hosts two podcasts – one about movies with his wife, Sara, and another centred on Formula 1 – and is passionately committed to funding MS research. Picture: X
7/56These days, he co-hosts two podcasts – one about movies with his wife, Sara, and another centred on Formula 1 – and is passionately committed to funding MS research. Picture: X
He also rides around 160km across San Francisco on his bike every year to raise funds for the National MS Society as part of the charity cycling group Big El West. Picture: X
8/56He also rides around 160km across San Francisco on his bike every year to raise funds for the National MS Society as part of the charity cycling group Big El West. Picture: X
Ah, the little girl with the world’s most iconic side-eye. Chloe Clem’s unimpressed glance from the back seat of a car, captured while her sister sobbed with happiness on the way to Disneyland, went bonkers on the internet. Picture: X
9/56Ah, the little girl with the world’s most iconic side-eye. Chloe Clem’s unimpressed glance from the back seat of a car, captured while her sister sobbed with happiness on the way to Disneyland, went bonkers on the internet. Picture: X
Over a decade later, Chloe is now a teenager, and looks back with pride. “I’m in the What Do You Meme game, so I would always bring my card from that game to show people,” Chloe revealed in an interview earlier this year with People. “It’s super cool.” Picture: Instagram
10/56Over a decade later, Chloe is now a teenager, and looks back with pride. “I’m in the What Do You Meme game, so I would always bring my card from that game to show people,” Chloe revealed in an interview earlier this year with People. “It’s super cool.” Picture: Instagram
“Chloe was 2, and people were coming up to her,” Katie, Chloe’s mum, says. “They were freaking out. They were taking pictures of her.” In 2021, Katie sold the image as a NFT for $US74,000 ($A113,034), and the money was used to help the family. Picture: Instagram
11/56“Chloe was 2, and people were coming up to her,” Katie, Chloe’s mum, says. “They were freaking out. They were taking pictures of her.” In 2021, Katie sold the image as a NFT for $US74,000 ($A113,034), and the money was used to help the family. Picture: Instagram
We’ve all seen Success Kid. There’s nothing quite cuter than little Sammy Griner, who became the face of triumph in 2007. It all started when mum Laney Griner took a photo just as 11-month-old Sam was about to eat a handful of sand (classic kid behaviour). She uploaded the picture of the 11-month-old to Flickr, captioning it “I hate sandcastles”. Picture: X
12/56We’ve all seen Success Kid. There’s nothing quite cuter than little Sammy Griner, who became the face of triumph in 2007. It all started when mum Laney Griner took a photo just as 11-month-old Sam was about to eat a handful of sand (classic kid behaviour). She uploaded the picture of the 11-month-old to Flickr, captioning it “I hate sandcastles”. Picture: X
The virality also ended up being lifesaving. Sammy and his parents turned to the internet in 2015 to help raise funds for his dad’s kidney transplant. Their GoFundMe page in 2015 raised over $US100,000 ($A153,000). Picture: X
13/56The virality also ended up being lifesaving. Sammy and his parents turned to the internet in 2015 to help raise funds for his dad’s kidney transplant. Their GoFundMe page in 2015 raised over $US100,000 ($A153,000). Picture: X
Sam, who turned 19 this year, looks very different these days. “It’s weird being famous as a baby. There wasn’t really a before…really my whole life has been me being Success Kid,” he said in a Buzzfeed video in 2020. Picture: Instagram
14/56Sam, who turned 19 this year, looks very different these days. “It’s weird being famous as a baby. There wasn’t really a before…really my whole life has been me being Success Kid,” he said in a Buzzfeed video in 2020. Picture: Instagram
Long-time Facebook users will undoubtedly be familiar with Zoe Roth, aka, Disaster Girl. Her meme career began when her dad took a photo of her in front of a burning house, and while it looks like she had something to do with it, it was actually part of a controlled training exercise for the local fire department. Picture: X
15/56Long-time Facebook users will undoubtedly be familiar with Zoe Roth, aka, Disaster Girl. Her meme career began when her dad took a photo of her in front of a burning house, and while it looks like she had something to do with it, it was actually part of a controlled training exercise for the local fire department. Picture: X
And in 2021, she sold the original photograph at an auction as a NFT for $US473,000 ($A724,546). Not bad. Picture: Getty
16/56And in 2021, she sold the original photograph at an auction as a NFT for $US473,000 ($A724,546). Not bad. Picture: Getty
These days, Zoe works as a Research Analyst at S&P Global. Picture: Instagram
17/56These days, Zoe works as a Research Analyst at S&P Global. Picture: Instagram
In 2012, Laina Morris recorded a parody video of herself for a Justin Bieber song contest, and then watched on as a screenshot taken from the clip grew into a global internet sensation. Her wide-eyed stare was turned into the Overly Attached Girlfriend meme, plastered in all corners of the internet throughout the 2010s. Picture: X
18/56In 2012, Laina Morris recorded a parody video of herself for a Justin Bieber song contest, and then watched on as a screenshot taken from the clip grew into a global internet sensation. Her wide-eyed stare was turned into the Overly Attached Girlfriend meme, plastered in all corners of the internet throughout the 2010s. Picture: X
Poor girl. Picture: Reddit
19/56Poor girl. Picture: Reddit
But she turned lemons into lemonade when she turned her fame into an online career, and despite quitting social media in July 2019, Morris has made a recent return, mostly on TikTok, where she’s amassed over 560,000 followers with her funny videos. Picture: Instagram
20/56But she turned lemons into lemonade when she turned her fame into an online career, and despite quitting social media in July 2019, Morris has made a recent return, mostly on TikTok, where she’s amassed over 560,000 followers with her funny videos. Picture: Instagram
What’s worse than taking a bad school photo? Having your bad school photo go viral on the internet. Braces, sweater vest, big smile makes up Bad Luck Brian, or Kyle Craven, as is his government name. Picture: X
21/56What’s worse than taking a bad school photo? Having your bad school photo go viral on the internet. Braces, sweater vest, big smile makes up Bad Luck Brian, or Kyle Craven, as is his government name. Picture: X
His face even appeared on merch sold at Walmart and Hot Topic. Picture: Reddit
22/56His face even appeared on merch sold at Walmart and Hot Topic. Picture: Reddit
Kyle’s life today is far from unlucky. He studied Construction Management at Kent State University, and now serves as Vice President at his family’s company, Craven Construction, in Ohio. Picture: Instagram
23/56Kyle’s life today is far from unlucky. He studied Construction Management at Kent State University, and now serves as Vice President at his family’s company, Craven Construction, in Ohio. Picture: Instagram
Imagine this: you get approached to create some stock photos of yourself sitting at a computer, drinking coffee. They get uploaded online. Then, your face is everywhere. That’s exactly what happened to retired Hungarian engineer András Arató, who had quite the shock when in 2022, the internet dubbed him Hide the Pain Harold. Picture: X
24/56Imagine this: you get approached to create some stock photos of yourself sitting at a computer, drinking coffee. They get uploaded online. Then, your face is everywhere. That’s exactly what happened to retired Hungarian engineer András Arató, who had quite the shock when in 2022, the internet dubbed him Hide the Pain Harold. Picture: X
But some are born for the spotlight, and Arató is one of those people. He’s spoken at social media events, worked on commercial campaigns, and has even featured in a music video by Hungarian hard rock band Cloud 9+. Picture: Instagram
25/56But some are born for the spotlight, and Arató is one of those people. He’s spoken at social media events, worked on commercial campaigns, and has even featured in a music video by Hungarian hard rock band Cloud 9+. Picture: Instagram
After his image took off, he launched his own social media accounts, going by the username “painharold”. Picture: Instagram
26/56After his image took off, he launched his own social media accounts, going by the username “painharold”. Picture: Instagram
Ah yes, First World Problems Woman. The woman dramatically wiping a tear is Silvia Bottini, and she became the face of - you guessed it - first world problems. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve sent this one a decent number of times. Picture: X
27/56Ah yes, First World Problems Woman. The woman dramatically wiping a tear is Silvia Bottini, and she became the face of - you guessed it - first world problems. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve sent this one a decent number of times. Picture: X
It’s just so good, yaknow? Picture: Reddit
28/56It’s just so good, yaknow? Picture: Reddit
And almost ten years after it went viral, Silvia now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, where they founded the Rebelot Theatre Company. Silvia still works as an actor. Picture: Instagram/Getty
29/56And almost ten years after it went viral, Silvia now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, where they founded the Rebelot Theatre Company. Silvia still works as an actor. Picture: Instagram/Getty
In 2011, a picture of 16-year-old Blake Boston went viral. Unfortunately for him, he was wearing a backwards fitted cap and a fur coat, so naturally, the internet nicknamed him Scumbag Steve. It’s used for anything, err, well, scummy, so think someone freeloading, crashing on your crash, basically anything you’d roll your eyes at. Picture: X
30/56In 2011, a picture of 16-year-old Blake Boston went viral. Unfortunately for him, he was wearing a backwards fitted cap and a fur coat, so naturally, the internet nicknamed him Scumbag Steve. It’s used for anything, err, well, scummy, so think someone freeloading, crashing on your crash, basically anything you’d roll your eyes at. Picture: X
Though he didn’t like the fame at first, he went on to lean into his meme-status, launching a cryptocurrency coin called $STEVE, and even sold a Scumbag Steve NFT. Picture: Instagram
31/56Though he didn’t like the fame at first, he went on to lean into his meme-status, launching a cryptocurrency coin called $STEVE, and even sold a Scumbag Steve NFT. Picture: Instagram
He now works as a cook and is the father of three children. Picture: X
32/56He now works as a cook and is the father of three children. Picture: X
This one will probably go down (in my humble opinion), as one of the most iconic viral memes of all time. It’s actually a scene from a webseries HoodDocumentary, where British actor Kayode Ewumi plays a character called Roll Safe. It’s used to poke fun at bad decision-making or dumb life hacks. Picture: X
33/56This one will probably go down (in my humble opinion), as one of the most iconic viral memes of all time. It’s actually a scene from a webseries HoodDocumentary, where British actor Kayode Ewumi plays a character called Roll Safe. It’s used to poke fun at bad decision-making or dumb life hacks. Picture: X
Peak internet humour. Picture: X
34/56Peak internet humour. Picture: X
I had to throw this one in for my fellow dog parents. Picture: X
35/56I had to throw this one in for my fellow dog parents. Picture: X
Nowadays, Ewumi works as a writer. Picture: Instagram
36/56Nowadays, Ewumi works as a writer. Picture: Instagram
Aww, our first (and I think only) animal meme! Meet Kabosu, the shiba inu from Japan whose sideways glance became the iconic Doge meme. You’ll often see it captioned with rainbow-coloured Comic Sans text such as “very meme”, “much fun”, “such wow”. Picture: Instagram
37/56Aww, our first (and I think only) animal meme! Meet Kabosu, the shiba inu from Japan whose sideways glance became the iconic Doge meme. You’ll often see it captioned with rainbow-coloured Comic Sans text such as “very meme”, “much fun”, “such wow”. Picture: Instagram
Yes, that is Kabosu’s face edited onto a body. Picture: X
38/56Yes, that is Kabosu’s face edited onto a body. Picture: X
Sadly, Kabosu passed away from leukaemia and liver disease in 2024. She was 18 years old. Rest in peace, sweet girl. Picture: Instagram
39/56Sadly, Kabosu passed away from leukaemia and liver disease in 2024. She was 18 years old. Rest in peace, sweet girl. Picture: Instagram
Young Mia Talerico starred as Charlie Duncan in the hit Disney Channel sitcom Good Luck Charlie, and the one scene where she gives a bewildered look became a popular meme to say “what do you want me to do with this?”
40/56Young Mia Talerico starred as Charlie Duncan in the hit Disney Channel sitcom Good Luck Charlie, and the one scene where she gives a bewildered look became a popular meme to say “what do you want me to do with this?”
Now at 17 years old, Mia is balancing high school and acting. In August this year, she posted a photo marking her first day of Junior Year, which attracted more than 200,000 likes. Feel old yet? We sure do. Picture: Instagram
41/56Now at 17 years old, Mia is balancing high school and acting. In August this year, she posted a photo marking her first day of Junior Year, which attracted more than 200,000 likes. Feel old yet? We sure do. Picture: Instagram
Back in 2013, Michael McGee found himself immortalised in one of the most uncomfortable (literally) memes of all time. It shows him in class, visibly tense, with the caption “Trying to hold a fart next to a cute girl in class”. It was posted to Twitter, and it blew up on Reddit and 9 GAG (throwback, much?) in March 2014. Picture: X
42/56Back in 2013, Michael McGee found himself immortalised in one of the most uncomfortable (literally) memes of all time. It shows him in class, visibly tense, with the caption “Trying to hold a fart next to a cute girl in class”. It was posted to Twitter, and it blew up on Reddit and 9 GAG (throwback, much?) in March 2014. Picture: X
There’s little public information about his life nowadays, as he decided to keep his life pretty low-key. He says in his Instagram bio he’s a “retired meme”. Picture: Instagram
43/56There’s little public information about his life nowadays, as he decided to keep his life pretty low-key. He says in his Instagram bio he’s a “retired meme”. Picture: Instagram
Retired maybe, but these will live on forever. Picture: Buzzfeed
44/56Retired maybe, but these will live on forever. Picture: Buzzfeed
You’ve seen that tight-lipped, pursed-smile face captioned “this how people smile at you when you pass them on the street” - that’s David “Vuj” Vujanić. He went viral after it got reposted in 2015, and after that, his face became the automatic reaction for “I must look friendly but I’m dying inside”. Aka me when I make eye contact with the server. Picture: X
45/56You’ve seen that tight-lipped, pursed-smile face captioned “this how people smile at you when you pass them on the street” - that’s David “Vuj” Vujanić. He went viral after it got reposted in 2015, and after that, his face became the automatic reaction for “I must look friendly but I’m dying inside”. Aka me when I make eye contact with the server. Picture: X
And he looks very different nowadays at 33-years-old. He’s carved a niche for himself on the internet as a content creator and presenter. Picture: Instagram
46/56And he looks very different nowadays at 33-years-old. He’s carved a niche for himself on the internet as a content creator and presenter. Picture: Instagram
Back in 2017, Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe uploaded a video of himself slicing a steak and sprinkling salt in a very extravagant fashion. The dramatic action, sunglasses and ponytail were all the ingredients needed to give the whole thing instant virality, and thus, Salt Bae was born. Picture: Reddit
47/56Back in 2017, Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe uploaded a video of himself slicing a steak and sprinkling salt in a very extravagant fashion. The dramatic action, sunglasses and ponytail were all the ingredients needed to give the whole thing instant virality, and thus, Salt Bae was born. Picture: Reddit
Nowadays, he’s busy behind the scenes, focused on expanding his global restaurant chain, Nusr-Et. Picture: Instagram
48/56Nowadays, he’s busy behind the scenes, focused on expanding his global restaurant chain, Nusr-Et. Picture: Instagram
Ah, the universal face of confusion. Math Lady is actually a grab from a Brazilian soap where actor Renata Sorrah plays a villain trying to work out a complex maths problem. Picture: Reddit
49/56Ah, the universal face of confusion. Math Lady is actually a grab from a Brazilian soap where actor Renata Sorrah plays a villain trying to work out a complex maths problem. Picture: Reddit
Almost twenty years later, Sorrah is 78 years old and is still working as an actor. She made headlines in 2023 after she came out as bisexual at 76. Picture: Instagram
50/56Almost twenty years later, Sorrah is 78 years old and is still working as an actor. She made headlines in 2023 after she came out as bisexual at 76. Picture: Instagram
Before TikTok was a thing, there was Ermahgerd Girl. Clutching her books and rocking the pigtails, Maggie Goldenberger became the iconic face of 2012, giving internet users a way to express their nerdy excitement. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she revealed that the picture came about when she was “just being goofy. It wasn’t even Halloween.”
51/56Before TikTok was a thing, there was Ermahgerd Girl. Clutching her books and rocking the pigtails, Maggie Goldenberger became the iconic face of 2012, giving internet users a way to express their nerdy excitement. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she revealed that the picture came about when she was “just being goofy. It wasn’t even Halloween.”
These feel like a step back in time, huh? Picture: Reddit
52/56These feel like a step back in time, huh? Picture: Reddit
And nowadays, Goldenberger works as a cardiac nurse in Arizona. Because of course the internet’s most chaotic child now saves lives. Picture: YouTube/Instagram
53/56And nowadays, Goldenberger works as a cardiac nurse in Arizona. Because of course the internet’s most chaotic child now saves lives. Picture: YouTube/Instagram
In 2014, toddler Ava Ryan looked straight into her mum’s camera and said, “I smell like beef”. That’s it. That’s the video that went nuts on Vine. And honestly, I think she deserves an Oscar for it. Picture: Facebook
54/56In 2014, toddler Ava Ryan looked straight into her mum’s camera and said, “I smell like beef”. That’s it. That’s the video that went nuts on Vine. And honestly, I think she deserves an Oscar for it. Picture: Facebook
Little Ava isn’t so little anymore at fifteen years of age and with over 1 million followers on Instagram, but her mum Katie still regularly posts throwbacks of them on Facebook. Too sweet. Picture: Facebook
55/56Little Ava isn’t so little anymore at fifteen years of age and with over 1 million followers on Instagram, but her mum Katie still regularly posts throwbacks of them on Facebook. Too sweet. Picture: Facebook
So there you have it. If you recognised all of them, congrats! You’re officially online way too much. But don’t worry, so are we. And honestly, the internet is obsessed with finding new people to meme-ify. In other words, enjoy these ones while you can, because the next batch of “where are they now’s” is on its way. Stay tuned, gang. Picture: X
56/56So there you have it. If you recognised all of them, congrats! You’re officially online way too much. But don’t worry, so are we. And honestly, the internet is obsessed with finding new people to meme-ify. In other words, enjoy these ones while you can, because the next batch of “where are they now’s” is on its way. Stay tuned, gang. Picture: X
More related stories

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/technology/online/what-your-favourite-internet-sensations-look-like-today/image-gallery/9bf241b3ba3256b9f8f059497b3e4ef2