Chronically Online

The phrase resonates with anyone who feels overwhelmed by online drama or has seen friends get lost in niche fandoms. It triggers a mix of humor and self-awareness, making it relatable for those who recognize their own online habits.

A term for people so immersed in internet culture that they lose touch with reality.

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RT if ironic memes have rendered you unable to express genuine feelings to others but ur ok with it because being extremely online rules lol

— This was tweeted by @dubstep4dads on August 18, 2016, and it perfectly encapsulates the struggle of being too immersed in internet culture.

People use 'chronically online' to poke fun at themselves or others for being overly engaged in online debates or trends. For example, someone might tweet, 'I’m chronically online and I can’t tell if that’s a personality trait or a cry for help.'

The term 'extremely online' started circulating around 2014, with Nick Mullen using the phrase on Twitter in 2015. By 2018, the Daily Dot published an article defining 'extremely online,' highlighting how it describes people deeply engaged in internet culture.

1. 2015-08Nick Mullen uses the phrase 'extremely online' on Twitter.
2. 2018-05The Daily Dot publishes an article defining 'extremely online.'
3. 2021-08TikTok users start sharing their most 'chronically online' takes, popularizing the term.

The term gained traction on TikTok around August 2021, where users shared their most 'chronically online' takes, leading to a wave of memes. Articles in mainstream media, like Vox in October 2020, also discussed the implications of being too online, further popularizing the term.