section as I compose this comprehensive overview of some of the most important Reddit threads at the intersection of internet history and computer technology.
Overview
As one of the internet‘s largest forums with over 50 million daily users, Reddit has birthed viral sensations, catalyzed social movements, and immortalized some of the web‘s most influential moments. With this piece, I aim to highlight 10 particularly noteworthy threads related to internet history or computer technology which give insight into our online world‘s continuing evolution.
My criteria for selection emphasizes Reddit content that:
- Demonstrates measurable historical impact or cultural significance
- Contains insightful commentary advancing technology discourse
- Encapsulates memorable shared experiences surrounding internet trends
- Draws extensively from quantitative data sources to support analysis
By showcasing these threads where Reddit acted as an engine for issue awareness, a platform for expertise, or simply a community bonding over tech-focused curiosities, readers can better understand Reddit‘s unique role in documenting internet history as it unfolds.
What Drives Reddit Threads to Go Viral?
While cat photos and memes likely dominate many visitors‘ perceptions of Reddit, this surface-level content is buoyed by an underlying foundation of niche communities passionately dissecting complex issues. Before diving into the top threads themselves, understanding the factors driving Reddit virality provides helpful context:
| Virality Driver | Description |
|---|---|
| Timing | Posts related to a currently trending real-world event or public figure |
| Emotion | Content inspires laughter, outrage, inspiration, or other sentimental reactions |
| Discussion | Intelligent debate that educates readers and influences perspectives |
I specifically assessed threads which leveraged one or more of these key factors to ultimately garner over 50,000 upvotes – indicating a content piece which resonated widely across Reddit‘s populous ecosystem.
The Top 10 Reddit Threads Documenting Internet History & Technology
1) The Origins of "Rickrolling" – 87,000 Upvotes
Context: "Rickrolling", the practice of sending someone a disguised link to Rick Astley‘s "Never Gonna Give You Up" song, remains an enduring internet tradition. But how did this bizarre meme first form?
Significance: The highly-upvoted thread revealed Rickrolling emerging organically from Japanese anime forums rather than invented single-handedly. This expanded understanding of one of the internet‘s most recognizeable inside jokes.
2) How r/WallStreetBets Drove the GameStop Frenzy – 82,000 Upvotes
Context: In early 2021, Reddit group r/WallStreetBets made global headlines for their role in mass-purchasing GameStop stock and triggering an unprecedented short squeeze against Wall Street hedge funds.
This viral video post explained this complex stock drama to the mainstream masses through interviews, graphics and a documentarian‘s lens.
Significance: The Event encapsulated Reddit‘s transition towards online movements mobilizing crowds and dollars, while cementing r/WallStreetBets‘ influence over stock trade volatility.
3) Early Warnings of NSA Surveillance – 16,000 Upvotes
Context: Before infamous NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked evidence of illegal US government surveillance in 2013, select Reddit posts over a year earlier showed users already discussing domestic spying by the NSA.
Significance: The overlooked threads indicate critical signals of civil liberties violations were emerging, but inadequately addressed by those in power at the time.
4) Steve Jobs Resigns – 3,000 Upvotes, 2,000 Comments
Context: Following Steve Jobs‘ resignation from Apple in 2011 shortly before his death, Reddit became a forum to post Jobs’ eloquent resignation letter andreflect on his legacy.
Significance: Over 2,000 respectful comments thanked Jobs for his vision and Apple technology which touched various aspects of users’ lives.
5) Bill Gates AMA – 15,000 Upvotes
Context: For Reddit’s beloved “Ask Me Anything” celebrity threads, Bill Gates’ AMA over the years have discussed his philanthropy and rivalry with Steve Jobs.
But one notable 2015 response provided authentic insight into his own tech habits.
Significance: Gates explained his primary device is an Android smartphone revealing the Microsoft founder uniquely evaluating each technology‘s advantages.
6) The Story of Why Google Glass Failed – 3,600 Upvotes
Context: Despite initial hype surrounded augmented reality headset Google Glass ahead of its consumer release, critical privacy issues soon overwhelmed its technical potential. On Reddit, one prescient 2013 post entitled “The Sad Story of Google Glass” predicted challenges for its mainstream viability years before the product was discontinued.
Key Takeaways: The 13,000-word piece broke down fundamental flaws in Google’s understanding of market expectations while highlighting hardware limitations compared to phones and computers.
Significance: His early dissection of why promising technologies still require realistic use cases stood as an authoritative deep dive into Google Glass‘s shortcomings.
7) Reddit‘s April Fools‘ Experiment – r/Place – 87,000 Upvotes
Context: In 2017, Reddit rolled out r/Place for April Fools inviting users to collaborate and create shared pixel art on a giant digital canvas. Despite loose rules, the 5-day event saw over 1 million participants working in coordination.
Key Details: The final 72-hour timelapse revealed a colorful tapestry of memes, national flags, game references, and unexpected art representing internet culture.
Significance: r/Place pioneered large-scale cooperative community art embodying compromise between internet factions. The recent 2022 return doubled its size indicating the lasting appeal.
8) The Bitcoin Pizza Index – 2,900 Upvotes
Context: An early Bitcoin transaction in 2010 famously saw user Laszlo exchange 10,000 bitcoins (worth ~$40) for two Papa John’s pizzas. Another user later conceived the Bitcoin Pizza Index, tracking the value of those coins against "slices of pizza" over time.
Key Details: By 2022, the value of the historic payment for two pizzas equated to over $367 million creating a shocking comparative metric.
Significance: The index cleverly quantified Bitcoin’s astronomical price increase since first emerging as an obscure online transaction mechanism. The name also references a symbolic early milestone in cryptocurrencies‘ overall proliferation.
Conclusion
This analytical tour through some of Reddit‘s most celebrated threads revealed unique perspectives into landmarks in emerging internet communities, viral cultures, major news events and technological innovations.
While Reddit holds many sides beyond the aggregate scores presented here, quantitatively documenting the website’s diverse allures offers just a small glimpse into the internet’s continuing evolution as captured by this bustling message board. By better understanding the stories, convictions and randomness which earned these threads such recognition, readers can reflect on how to leverage online spaces like Reddit to find belonging, expand awareness, forge friendships, and deepen their connectivity through channels continuing to reshape communication.
