
Watch the ref
Nobody has added this meme's ref yet. Got the original video or post?
In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “The Internet is Serious Business” is a rare card of the Memes World series 71, number 21113 of the collection, and the 55th best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “The Internet is Serious Business” meme mean?
This meme expresses ironic detachment towards superficial dramas or conflicts that arise on the Web. It serves as a mocking mirror for anyone investing too much emotional energy into meaningless digital quarrels. By using this phrase, one signals that the situation should be taken lightly rather than gravely, reminding us that social media often hosts disproportionate controversies compared to their real-world importance.
Where does the “The Internet is Serious Business” meme come from?
The genesis of this meme dates back to 2003 on the General Mayhem forum. User mr_brett initially used the phrase in an animated GIF titled "Catbusiness," featuring a cat. A follow-up post dated February 27, 2003, asking for cat images under the title "pls post kittah – internet is serious business pic," confirms its early existence. Although the exact creation date remains uncertain, it falls between 2002 and 2003. Starting in 2005, community members produced numerous macros repeating the formula. The meme then spread to 4chan, gaining visibility. Encyclopedia Dramatica helped popularize it by linking it to video game controversies. Variants also circulated on YTMND, such as "WOW is serious business," extending its use beyond the initial context.
- 2003User mr_brett posts the "Catbusiness" GIF on General Mayhem, introducing the phrase.
- February 27, 2003A follow-up post requests cat images associated with the formula, confirming its early usage.
- 2005Macros based on the phrase circulate widely on General Mayhem before reaching 4chan.
How to use the “The Internet is Serious Business” meme
- Use this phrase in response to a heated debate on social media to remind others that the stakes are low.
- Write it on a humorous image macro to criticize someone dramatizing a personal opinion online.
- Employ it as a sarcastic comment when a virtual controversy takes disproportionate proportions.
Also searched as
- WOW is serious business
- Catbusiness
- the internet is serious business meme
- the internet is serious business meaning
- what does the internet is serious business mean
- the internet is serious business origin
- catbusiness gif general mayhem
- mr_brett general mayhem
- the internet is serious business 4chan
- wows serious business ytmnd
The “The Internet is Serious Business” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 21113 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Rare |
| Collection | Memes World series 71 |
| Fame | 73/100 · #55 of 300 |
| Recycle value | 10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny) |
How to get the “The Internet is Serious Business” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; The Internet is Serious Business comes out of the Memes World series 71 as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “The Internet is Serious Business”
More cards of the Memes World series 71
Frequently asked questions
The Internet is Serious Business meme origin?
The meme originates from General Mayhem in 2003, created by user mr_brett via a GIF named "Catbusiness."
What does The Internet is Serious Business mean?
It is a sarcastic expression mocking those who take online conflicts far too seriously.
Who invented the The Internet is Serious Business meme?
User mr_brett on General Mayhem is credited with popularizing it in a humorous feline context.
Where to find variants of this meme?
Variations like "WOW is serious business" circulated on YTMND and Encyclopedia Dramatica after 2005.
How do I get the The Internet is Serious Business meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “The Internet is Serious Business” is a rare card of the Memes World series 71. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the The Internet is Serious Business card?
It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: The Internet is Serious Business · Know Your Meme - TV Tropes · The story of the internet, as told by Know Your Meme · checked on October 12, 2026.
Read next
Want The Internet is Serious Business in your collection?
Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.