Rickrolling is an internet phenomenon that involves redirecting someone to the music video for the 1987 Rick Astley song “Never Gonna Give You Up” instead of the intended link or content. The term “rickrolled” has become widely used to describe this practice, but why is it called that?
The origins of the term “rickrolled” are somewhat unclear, but it’s generally believed to have originated on the imageboard website 4chan in 2007. At the time, there was a thread where users were discussing a new trailer for the video game “Grand Theft Auto IV.” Someone posted a link to what they claimed was the trailer, but instead of the trailer, it was the music video for “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
After this initial instance, the practice of rickrolling became increasingly popular on 4chan and other online communities. People would post links that seemed to lead to interesting or valuable content but would instead lead to the music video. The practice quickly became a viral sensation, and the song and video became internet memes.
So, why is it called “rickrolling”? The term seems to be a play on the phrase “duckrolling,” which was a similar prank that involved redirecting someone to a picture of a duck on wheels. It’s thought that the term “rickrolling” was coined as a nod to this earlier meme.
Another theory is that the term “rickrolling” is a nod to the “Rick Astley Dance,” a dance that was popularized by the music video for “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The dance involves a series of hip-swiveling and arm movements that are easy to imitate and became a popular meme in their own right.
Regardless of its origins, rickrolling quickly became a phenomenon that transcended 4chan and the early days of the internet. The practice became so widespread that even major news outlets and politicians were rickrolled. In 2008, for example, the website for the New York Mets was rickrolled during a game, and in 2009, the White House was rickrolled during an April Fool’s Day prank.
Today, rickrolling has become a nostalgic throwback to the early days of the internet and a beloved meme among many. It’s often used as a playful prank or as a way to add humor to an otherwise mundane situation. In recent years, there have even been rickrolling flash mobs, where large groups of people gather in public places to dance to “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
In conclusion, the term “rickrolled” originated on the 4chan website in 2007 as a way to describe the practice of redirecting someone to the music video for “Never Gonna Give You Up” as a prank. The term is likely a play on the earlier “duckrolling” meme and may also be a nod to the popular “Rick Astley Dance” that was popularized by the music video. Today, rickrolling remains a beloved internet meme and a nostalgic throwback to the early days of the internet.