Rickroll

Rickroll is an internet meme and an internet prank that involves the unexpected appearance of the music video for Rick Astley's 1987 song "Never Gonna Give You Up." The prank typically occurs when a user clicks on a hyperlink that promises to lead to interesting or relevant content, but instead redirects them to the music video. The link often appears disguised as something else.

The origin of Rickrolling can be traced back to the website 4chan in 2007. Initially, it was a variation of an earlier prank called "duckrolling," where users were tricked into clicking a link that led to an image of a duck on wheels. "Never Gonna Give You Up" became the chosen song due to its upbeat, catchy nature and its somewhat cheesy 1980s aesthetic, which made it ripe for ironic enjoyment.

The meme gained widespread popularity in 2008 and 2009. It spread rapidly across various online platforms, including social media, forums, and video-sharing sites. The prank became so prevalent that Rick Astley himself eventually participated in it, even performing the song at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2008. While the intensity of the meme has waned over the years, Rickrolling continues to be a recognizable internet phenomenon, often resurfacing in pop culture and online discussions.