The film organization in the UK is preserving internet memes and viral videos. Among them is "Charlie bit my finger."

      Old memes have become a part of internet history

      The internet's quirkiest little creations are receiving archival attention. The British Film Institute has saved approximately 430 online videos as part of a collection aimed at preserving culturally significant moments from the internet. This selection spans nearly thirty years of British online culture, documenting everything from early livestreaming experiments to viral memes that eventually integrated into everyday vernacular.

      Memes as a facet of modern history

      Included in the collection are some well-known classics. One example is "Charlie Bit My Finger," a 2007 home video where toddler Charlie bites his brother's finger, unintentionally becoming one of YouTube’s earliest viral sensations. The original posting is reported to have nearly 900 million views, transforming a family video into a global internet landmark.

      The BFI’s compilation also features "Badgers," an odd and endlessly looping Flash animation adorned with dancing badgers, a snake, a mushroom, and a catchy, repetitive soundtrack that occupied the minds of early-2000s viewers. Before platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Reels emerged, much of internet culture circulated through email chains, forums, personal websites, and individuals sharing quirky links, as there were few alternatives.

      The archives encompass more than just memes

      This collection extends beyond a mere list of humorous videos; it also includes the Trojan Room Coffee Pot, remembered as an important early livestreaming milestone. Researchers at the University of Cambridge set up a camera to monitor a shared coffee pot remotely to see if it was full, a feat that is both endearingly nerdy and oddly prophetic.

      Additionally, the collection features "Online Caroline," an interactive web drama from 2000 that experimented with webcam-style storytelling and email updates long before binge-watching became commonplace. Even the Liz Truss lettuce livestream is included, preserving the Daily Star joke that questioned whether a head of lettuce would last longer than the then-prime minister in office.

      Why are popular memes being archived?

      The straightforward reason is that we tend to forget. Despite numerous viral moments becoming globally recognized, the internet often moves on more swiftly than anticipated. It struggles to preserve these instances, particularly after platforms shut down, formats become obsolete, links break, and sizable portions of culture can disappear because no one deemed them worthy of preservation.

      A prime example of this is Flash, which is already extinct. Vine vanished, taking countless videos with it. Even videos that once seemed permanent can be deleted, geo-blocked, or absorbed by shifting platforms.

      Vikhyaat Vivek is a tech journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience in consumer hardware coverage, focusing on...

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