# Something Awful > Something Awful is a 1999 comedy website that pioneered internet humor formats including Photoshop contests and absurdist satire, becoming the foundational hub of meme culture. Something Awful is an influential comedy website founded in 1999 that pioneered internet humor formats including Photoshop contests, Let's Play videos, and satirical content. The site itself became iconic in meme culture as a hub for absurdist comedy and cultural critique. ## Origin Founded by Rich Kyanka in 1999, Something Awful emerged as an early leader in internet comedy during the web's wild early years. The site was one of the first to formalize community-driven content creation, hosting forums where users contributed their own humor and satirical works. It became foundational to meme culture by pioneering formats that defined internet humor for decades. - **Platform:** Website - **Creator:** Rich Kyanka - **Date:** 1999 ## Overview Something Awful represents one of the earliest and most influential humor websites in internet history. Founded by Rich Kyanka, the site combined satirical articles, image-based humor, and community-driven content creation to establish formats that became standard across online culture. The site's forums became legendary for hosting creative individuals who pushed boundaries of absurdist humor and cultural satire. Something Awful was instrumental in developing the Photoshop contest format, where community members would compete to create the funniest or most creative image manipulations based on provided themes. The site also pioneered the 'Let's Play' video format through its forums, where users would humorously narrate video game experiences. What made Something Awful particularly significant was its editorial quality, unlike some internet comedy sites that embraced low quality for shock value, Something Awful maintained high production standards while exploring absurdist and irreverent humor. The site demonstrated that internet humor could be both crude and cleverly crafted, establishing a template for quality comedy content online. ## How It Spread Something Awful's influence spread gradually throughout the early 2000s as internet culture matured. The site's Photoshop Phriday contests became legendary, influencing how online spaces approached visual humor. Let's Play videos and forums full of absurdist content made Something Awful a destination for comedy and meme creation. The site remained relevant across multiple decades by continually evolving its content while maintaining its core identity. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Something Awful competitors and imitators emerged, but the original site maintained its status as a pioneering force in internet culture. ## How to Use Something Awful itself isn't really 'used' in the traditional meme sense, rather, the site's formats and aesthetic became templates for internet humor. The Photoshop contest format involved creating image manipulations based on themes. The forum culture involved participating in discussions and contributing original humor content. Today, referencing Something Awful typically means acknowledging its influence on internet humor or using formats it pioneered. 1. Find the Something Awful template on Imgflip or a similar meme generator 2. Think of a funny or relatable caption that fits the format 3. Add your text to the template using the meme generator 4. Share your creation on social media or in group chats ## Cultural Impact Something Awful's cultural impact cannot be overstated. The site essentially created templates for internet comedy that remain in use today. Photoshop contests became a standard format across the internet, from platforms like Reddit to dedicated meme communities. The concept of community-driven content creation, popularized by Something Awful's forums, became foundational to social media. The site's influence extends to comedy writing, video content, and web culture more broadly. Something Awful demonstrated that quality, crafted humor could thrive online while maintaining an irreverent edge. The site's longevity, remaining relevant from 1999 through the 2020s, points to the strength of its core concepts and community. ## Fun Facts - Something Awful's Photoshop Phriday contests ran for over a decade and created some of the internet's most iconic image manipulations - The site's forum culture produced numerous internet personalities and content creators who went on to major careers - Let's Play video format, pioneered in Something Awful forums, became the basis for an entire YouTube genre worth millions of dollars - Something Awful maintains an active community and continues publishing content into the 2020s - The site's irreverent tone and willingness to satirize any topic became influential in shaping online culture's edgy humor - The Something Awful meme has been shared millions of times across social media - You can create your own Something Awful meme using free tools like Imgflip - Something Awful first appeared in 1999 - The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators - Brands and marketers have used Something Awful in their campaigns - The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Something Awful? Something Awful is an influential comedy website founded in 1999 that pioneered internet humor formats including Photoshop contests, Let's Play videos, and satirical content. ### What does Something Awful mean? Something Awful represents one of the earliest and most influential humor websites in internet history. Founded by Rich Kyanka, the site combined satirical articles, image-based humor, and community-driven content creation to establish formats that became standard across online culture. ### Where did Something Awful come from? Something Awful originated on Website around 1999. In 1999, the internet was still relatively young, and dedicated comedy websites were rare. ### How do you use Something Awful? Something Awful itself isn't really 'used' in the traditional meme sense, rather, the site's formats and aesthetic became templates for internet humor. The Photoshop contest format involved creating image manipulations based on themes. ### Is Something Awful still popular in 2026? Yes, Something Awful is still popular in 2026. It gets regular use on platforms like Reddit, TikTok, Twitter, and Discord. ### Who created Something Awful? Rich Kyanka created Something Awful. In 1999, the internet was still relatively young, and dedicated comedy websites were rare. Something Awful emerged during a pivotal moment when early online culture was establishing its identity. ### When did Something Awful start? Something Awful first appeared around 1999 on Website. In 1999, the internet was still relatively young, and dedicated comedy websites were rare. Something Awful emerged during a pivotal moment when early online culture was establishing its identity. ### What platform did Something Awful originate on? Something Awful originated on Website around 1999. Something Awful represents one of the earliest and most influential humor websites in internet history. ### What are the best examples of Something Awful? The best examples of Something Awful showcase its core format at its most effective. Notable variations include Photoshop Contest Format, Let's Play Videos, Forum-Based Humor Communities. ### What memes are similar to Something Awful? Memes similar to Something Awful include Look At This Graph, Happy Tree Friends, Advice Dog, In Soviet Russia. These share a similar format, humor style, or cultural context. ### Is Something Awful dead? No, Something Awful is actively used in 2026. While it may not be at its absolute peak, you can still find fresh takes on it across social media. ### Has Something Awful been used by celebrities or brands? Various brands and public figures have referenced Something Awful in their social media and marketing. Memes with broad recognition like this one often get picked up for commercial use. ### Can I buy Something Awful merchandise? Yes, Something Awful merchandise is available on platforms like Redbubble, Amazon, and Etsy. You can find t shirts, stickers, mugs, phone cases, and other items featuring the meme. ### Where can I find the Something Awful template? You can find the Something Awful template on meme generator sites like Imgflip, Kapwing, and Meme Generator. The template is widely available for free use. ### How do I make my own Something Awful? Something Awful itself isn't really 'used' in the traditional meme sense, rather, the site's formats and aesthetic became templates for internet humor. The Photoshop contest format involved creating image manipulations based on themes. ### Did Something Awful inspire any other memes? Yes, Something Awful inspired several variations and spinoffs, including Photoshop Contest Format, Let's Play Videos, Forum-Based Humor Communities. ### Is Something Awful copyrighted? Most memes exist in a legal gray area. The original image or video may have copyright protection, but meme formats are generally treated as fair use. That said, this is not legal advice. ## References 1. [Something Awful, Wikipedia]() 2. [Something Awful on Reddit]() 3. [Something Awful, Know Your Meme]() 4. [Google Trends: Something Awful]() 5. [Something Awful Meme Explained, YouTube]() 6. [Something Awful on X/Twitter]() 7. [Something Awful Meme Templates, Imgflip]() 8. [Something Awful on TikTok]() 9. [Something Awful Meme, Pinterest]() 10. [Something Awful, Memedroid]() 11. [Something Awful, 9GAG]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/something-awful Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library