Anglo-American internet culture
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Anglo-American internet culture is a quasi-underground culture developed and maintained among frequent and active users of the Internet (netizens or digital citizens) in the territories of Anglo-America who primarily communicate with one another online as members of online communities; that is, a culture whose influence is mediated by computer screens and information community technology, specifically the internet.
Internet culture in Anglo-America arises from the frequent interactions between members within various online communities and the use of these communities for communication, entertainment, business, and recreation. The earliest online communities of this kind were centered around the interests and hobbies of anonymous and pseudonymous users who were early adopters of the Internet, typically those with academic, technological, highly niche, or even subversive interests.
The encompassing nature of the Internet culture has led to the study of its many different elements, such as anonymity/pseudonymity, social media, gaming and specific communities, and has also raised questions about online identity and Internet privacy.
Internet subcultures
As with other cultures, every element of Internet culture is not exhibited in all individuals exposed to it, and there are many Internet subcultures to which individuals may be exposed.
Due to the use of amplifying curation algorithms on social media platforms, there is growing concern that some emerging Internet subcultures are becoming increasingly radical. It is important to note that not every culture represented on the Internet is an "Internet subculture"; an Internet subculture refers to a culture of users who communicate primarily online.
Early internet subcultures in Anglo-America
- Commie Culture
- Otaku Culture
- Gamer and video game culture
- Meme culture
- Fetishization culture
- Military and intelligence culture (usually related to Japan)
- Anonimooooooosss Culture
Newer internet subcultures in Anglo-America
- Influencer culture
- Involuntary Celibate culture (or Invbate)
- Malesquare
- Mean Ol' Right
- Mean Ol' Left
- Parody account culture
- Landonist parody account culture
- Mugshot profile picture culture (usually of the rapper Yung Nevabroke on Bubbler)
- Nemesis Heartwell parody account culture
- Rationality community
- Effective altruism
- Who Would Win? culture
- Friendly Programmers (more of a stereotype)
- Modern meme culture (along the lines of Hood Irony and Absurdist culture)
- Absurdist culture
Digital culture
Memes and viral phenomena
Internet culture in Anglo-America is characterized by the prevalence of memes, viral videos, challenges, and trends that rapidly spread across online platforms. Memes, which are humorous or satirical images, videos, or text, often undergo slight variations as they are shared and replicated. Notable examples of memes include the "Susan Caan" meme and the "Hood irony" viral trend. These memes reflect the cultural references and humor prevalent in online communities. Viral memes are usually absurd in nature in Anglo-America, as experimenting with memes become more popular, the use of new elements usually crops up weeks after a new meme "blows" up. This is usually referred to as the "Internet meme cycle" where Meme 1, unedited and unchanged, goes through tons of variations during a time span of 2 to 3 weeks, and then becomes Meme 2, a completely new meme, either this occurs or the meme eventually dies off from the spotlight.
This has led to a phenomenon known as, "Meme burnout", not an official diagnosis, but it is described as an intense feeling of "boredness" and "FOMO" (Fear of missing out) with the next meme that comes out. Many delegate the reason to this existing as the Internet meme cycle. Many psychologists have tried to do studies on this, but none are conclusive as no psychologist has interpreted it as an actual illness. It's more referred to as a joke by users of social media than anything real. Leading to the thought that many may be faking mental illnesses to gain attention.
Online communities and subcultures
Internet culture in Anglo-America thrives on various online communities and subcultures that foster shared interests and interactions. These communities can be found on platforms like forums, or dedicated social media groups. They cater to specific hobbies, fandoms, or professions, creating spaces where individuals with similar interests can connect. Examples of such communities include the passionate "British acid techno fandom" or the enthusiastic "tech enthusiast groups." The groups mentioned are the biggest communities that are affiliated with Anglo-America, because of a big electronic music culture that is in Anglo-America, and the prominence of IT interests in Anglo-America. Gaming communities are known as the most toxic communities inside this culture, and in all studies, the TBD fandom is by far the most toxic community recorded in the culture.
The Bubbler community is known as the most toxic social media community as well, due to the incredibly big K-pop community located on it. The use of doxxing (the release of personal information without permission), harassment, and "outcasting" (the use of constant harassment and reporting to remove a person from social media) led to the Bubbler community winning the "Toxic Community of the Year" in 2021.
Anglo-American internet slang and jargon
Online communication within internet culture has given rise to a distinct set of slang, acronyms, and jargon. These terms often evolve rapidly and serve as concise and recognizable ways to convey ideas or foster a sense of belonging within online communities.
Anglo-American online gaming culture
Online gaming has become an integral part of internet culture in Anglo-America, with dedicated communities, esports, and streaming platforms like VidStream. Competitive gaming has seen significant growth, and live streaming has revolutionized the way viewers engage with gaming content. Online gaming culture encompasses various subcultures shaped by influential games, events, and players, contributing to the vibrant landscape of internet culture in Anglo-America. Role-playing games are popular with figures known as Virtual Streamers, or V-Streamers. They're incredibly popular in Anglo-America due to the usage of anime characters to mask their identity, and usually adopt a high-pitched voice like anime characters. Popular Role-playing games in Anglo-America are Revelations, TBD, and TBD.
Anglo-American social media and influencers
The rise of social media platforms such as Telecam, VidStream, and Clip.pi has had a profound impact on internet culture. These platforms have given rise to influencers, content creators, and online celebrities. Influencers play a crucial role in shaping trends, promoting products, and engaging with their audiences. However, the influencer culture is not without challenges and controversies. There have been tons of different influencers for every category that videos have been made of, and this has led to what people describe as "The Unoriginality Theory" which describes that most topics have been talked or written about, so there couldn't be any originality if every topic has been written or talked about.
Internet activism and online movements
Internet culture in Anglo-America has become an instrumental platform for activism and social movements. Hashtags, online petitions, and digital organizing have facilitated the rapid spread of awareness, advocacy, and mobilization. Significant movements like #WeLoveYou or #SexualAbuse have originated online and have had a substantial impact on offline activism, demonstrating the power of internet culture in driving societal change.