In June 2018, 55.1% of the world’s population had internet access. So when a photograph grows in popularity and attracts attention on a large scale, it doesn’t take long for it to go “viral” – and before long, people all around the world are familiar with it.
The majority of the photographs featured on this list will, in all likelihood, be recognizable to most people. We’ve scoured the internet to find the most viral photographs of all time and explained the fascinating stories behind them.
McKayla Maroney’s Not Impressed
McKayla Maroney, an American gymnast, became well-known after her performance in the 2012 London Olympic Games, during which she won a gold medal in the team event and a silver medal in the vault. However, this was not her only claim to fame that year.
When Maroney was on the podium having just received her silver medal, a photograph of her with a distinctive “not impressed” expression was taken that transformed her into a social media sensation overnight.