17 January in internet history

Things that can be dated to 17 January: the day something was posted, a record that changed hands, an event research has pinned to a date. Every entry links to where it was read.

1. 2013

   Techno Viking A case brought by the man in the video against Fritsch, over the use of his image, opens in Berlin. Wikipedia — Technoviking

These did not happen on 17 January. They are shown because the day itself is thin, and each one carries its own date.

1. 14 January 2008

   Project Chanology A Scientology video of Tom Cruise is posted to YouTube, and removed after a copyright claim. Wikipedia — Project Chanology

2. 14 January 2010

   Bilibili It is relaunched as Bilibili. Wikipedia — Bilibili

3. 14 January 2019

   Fyre Festival Hulu releases a documentary, Fyre Fraud. Netflix releases its own, Fyre, four days later. Wikipedia — Fyre Festival

4. 14 January 2019

   Instagram egg It passes her, in just under ten days. Within two more days it has 45 million likes. Wikipedia — Instagram egg

5. 15 January 2004

   The snowclone Whitman proposes “snowclone”. Pullum adopts it the next day. Wikipedia — Snowclone

6. 15 January 2020

   OK boomer Chief Justice John Roberts uses the phrase during argument in the US Supreme Court case Babb v. Wilkie. Wikipedia — OK boomer

7. 16 January 2008

   Project Chanology Users of 4chan and other boards plan a response. Wikipedia — Project Chanology

8. 16 January 2025

   TikTok refugees RedNote is the most-downloaded free app in Apple’s American store, with millions of new users. Wikipedia — Restrictions on TikTok in the United States

9. 18 January 2019

   Boo He dies, aged twelve. Wikipedia — Boo (dog)

10. 18 January 2025

    TikTok refugees TikTok suspends its service in the United States, late in the evening. Wikipedia — Restrictions on TikTok in the United States

11. 19 January 2004

    Dean Scream Howard Dean, having come third in the Iowa caucus, lists the states he says he will win and ends with a scream of “Yeah!” Wikipedia — Dean scream

12. 19 January 2014

    Dogecoin Its users begin raising 50,000 dollars for the Jamaican bobsleigh team. Wikipedia — Dogecoin

13. 20 January 2018

    The End of the World A sequel is released, subtitled “Probably for Real This Time”. Wikipedia — The End of the World (video)

14. 20 January 2021

    Bernie Sanders' mittens The photograph is taken. Wikipedia — Bernie Sanders mittens meme