The Internets
The internets is a Southernish phrase used humorously to mean the internet, especially when making fun of misinformation or old-fashioned tech confusion. It’s modern, ironic, and playful-sounding rural, but rooted in pop culture.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard, 'I seen it on the internets.' I'm not sure if people are saying it to be funny or not. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard, 'I seen it on the internets.' I'm not sure if people are saying it to be funny or not. Pronunciation
/ðə ˈɪntɚˌnɛts/
Meaning & Usage
- Humorous plural of "internet" (ironic or rural tone)
You sure that’s real?Course it is-I read it on the internets.Origin
"The internets" entered popular speech in the early 2000s after President George W. Bush used the plural form in a televised debate. The slip became an internet meme and shorthand for portraying someone as out of touch or old-fashioned with technology.
The phrase took on a *Southernish* flavor because Bush’s Texas accent and phrasing fit familiar rural speech patterns. Over time, people began using "the internets" playfully in the same rhythm as Southern or hillbilly humor-mocking confusion about modern gadgets or online life.
Verdict: Southernish. Not truly Southern dialect, but widely used with a tongue-in-cheek, country tone.
Notes
- Used humorously to sound out-of-touch or "country tech."
- Popular online meme language since the early 2000s.
- Sometimes written as "them internets" or "the interwebs."
- Best fits modern humor with rural or self-deprecating tone.