The internet is more than just a tool for communication—it’s become an indispensable part of daily life for billions around the world. From its humble beginnings as a military experiment in the 1960s to its status as an all-encompassing digital world, the internet has grown exponentially, reshaping the way we live, work, and interact with each other. But how much do you really know about this vast network of information? Here are 20 interesting facts about the internet that highlight just how incredible—and strange—this digital landscape has become.
1. The Internet is Over 9,000 Days Old
As of today, the internet has been around for more than 9,000 days—a milestone that showcases how far we’ve come since its creation in the 1960s.
2. The Internet Weighs About 50 Grams
Physicist Russell Seitz once estimated that the internet weighs roughly 2 ounces (50 grams). This weight comes from the billions of electrons moving through wires and servers as data is transmitted.
3. YouTube Uploads 72 Hours of Video Every Minute
YouTube sees over 72 hours of video uploaded every minute. And yes, much of it is still videos of people’s pets, but also tons of vlogs, tutorials, and more.
4. Over 3.26 Billion People Use the Internet
Nearly half of the global population is connected to the internet, with an estimated 3.26 billion active users worldwide.
5. Google Handles 3 Billion Searches a Day
Every day, people around the world conduct nearly 3 billion searches using Google. That’s a staggering number of queries processed each day.
6. China’s Internet User Base is Larger Than the U.S. Population
China has 640 million internet users, which is more than double the population of the United States.
7. The Term “Internet Surfing” Was Coined in 1992
The phrase “internet surfing” was first coined by librarian Jean Armour Polly in 1992, capturing the essence of navigating through the vast expanse of online information.
8. Tim Berners-Lee Was Knighted for Inventing the Web
Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, was honored with a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to the development of the internet.
9. “Gangnam Style” Made YouTube History
Psy’s “Gangnam Style” music video was the first video on YouTube to hit 1 billion views and is still one of the most-viewed videos on the platform, with over 2 billion views.
10. The Majority of People Haven’t Heard of the “Internet of Things”
Despite its growing presence, 87% of people have never heard the term Internet of Things (IoT), which refers to everyday objects connected to the internet, like smart home devices and connected vehicles.
11. A Quarter of a Billion Cars Will Be Online by 2020
By 2020, it was estimated that around 250 million vehicles would be connected to the internet, opening the door to self-driving technology, smart navigation, and more.
12. China Has Treatment Centers for Internet Addiction
In China, internet addiction has become such a serious issue that the government has established treatment camps for those struggling with excessive screen time.
13. The First Webcam Was Used to Monitor a Coffee Pot
The very first webcam was set up at the University of Cambridge to monitor the coffee pot in the computer science department. The stream was used to check if there was coffee available without getting up.
14. Most Internet Traffic Is Bot-Generated
Shockingly, a significant portion of internet activity is not human-driven. Malware and bots account for more than two-thirds of all internet traffic.
15. The First Domain Registered Was Symbolics.com
The first ever domain name registered on the internet was Symbolics.com in 1985, marking the start of online commerce and website ownership.
16. The First Spam Email Was Sent in 1978
The first known spam email was sent by computer salesman Gary Thuerk in 1978, advertising a product to thousands of ARPANET users.
17. Asia Leads the Way in Internet Use
Asia is home to the largest concentration of internet users, with an estimated 1.7 billion users of the total 3.26 billion worldwide.
18. Media Streaming and File Sharing Dominate Web Traffic
More than half of all internet traffic comes from file sharing and media streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, and peer-to-peer sharing sites.
19. ATMs Are the First “Internet of Things” Devices
The first Internet of Things (IoT) devices were actually ATMs. Introduced in 1974, they were the first machines connected to a network to perform transactions, paving the way for today’s connected devices.
20. The Internet Runs on 50 Million Horsepower
To put it into perspective, it takes about 50 million horsepower to run the global internet, powering the millions of servers and devices that keep the digital world ticking.
