Before TikTok: 10 Internet Classics Gen Z Never Knew
In this digital landscape, it is hard for Gen Z to imagine when the internet was considered a wild territory filled with many wonders. Those wonders were truly irresistible, and people were bound to make quality content for others and not just for the sake of a higher SEO ranking. Let’s explore the early internet gems that shaped the online experience introduced with the world-wide web’s infancy.
Dial-Up Connection Sounds

An IT expert stated the picture of a person sitting down at the family computer, anxiously looking forward to a world of information and connection. As you proceed to a dial-up connection, a symphony is created, which is considered its anthem. It was slow but still an internet adventure for that generation. Prior generations used to be excited about even the things that are considered usual now. We could imagine what today’s usual things meant back then for them.
MSN Messenger
The MSN messenger is considered the forefather of Instagram DMs and Snapchat streaks. A social media enthusiast mentioned that this platform defined online communication for the entire generation. The main part was considering choosing the right screen display name. BRB and ASL are secret codes for some friendships and some online romances.
GeoCities Websites
The place that was considered the digital playground before the era of personalized domain and website builders was GeoCities. A senior software engineer recounts that the GeoCities site was a rite of passage into the digital world, where users could create websites featuring colorful backgrounds, GIFs, and more. Today, the world of websites has significantly changed with more advanced technologies.
AOL Instant Messenger
The hub of online socializing was considered AIM (AOL Instant Messenger). An old American netizen commented that one of its stunning features was its notification “You’ve Got Mail,” and it was the beginning of countless late-night conversations. Another feature, the away messages, was the status update at those times.
Neopets
Before Pokemon Go, Neopets was the king of virtual pets. A Neopet gamer described it by stating that it included feeding and grooming of pets as well as playing different games. He further says that taking care of the pets was a serious responsibility, and adding to the competition, the user strived to have the coolest pers and most Neopoints.
Homestar Runner
Homestar Runner was ruling the kingdom of internet humor in the era of flash animations. An old American woman enjoyed the tenure. She says that the adventures of Homestar, Strong Bad, and The Cheat brought joy. The characters and humorous plots showed the creativity and helped it to rule.
Ebaum’s World
Before the era of YouTube, there was the kingdom of Ebaum’s World. A user describes his experience by saying it had a collection of all the viral content. Pranks, flash animations, and bizarre videos were found on it. He used to spend hours navigating the site and sharing the crazy content with his friends.
Albino Blacksheep
A hub for Flash animations, captivating audiences, was Albino Blacksheep. They used to engage the audience using their creativity and absurdity. An early member says that it was a home for classics like “The End of the World” and “Badger Badger,” which introduced meme culture.
Ask Jeeves
Before the advent of Google, Ask Jeeves was the go-to platform used as a search engine. An adult who used it at that time experienced it, and he describes its concept as very simple. People used to post their questions there, and Jeeves used to provide the responses. It made search queries look more like a conversation.
Early Internet Viruses
In the early days, computer viruses were considered more mischievous than harmful. A cyber security analyst who studied this domain states that it used to spread through email chains and came with an animation. Furthermore, the threat was real, and there was a very strange sense of humor associated with them. Viruses had personalities at that time, and he says he also encountered one, which was a weird and memorable experience.
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