Why Should You Google '241543903'? The Internet Trend And Meme Explained

Most strings of nine random numbers, when entered into Google’s search bar, yield nothing. 241543903 is an exception: if you enter that number into Google, you will see images like this:

Where Did 241542903 Come From?

The originator of the photo meme trend was artist David Horvitz. He posted a picture of his head in a freezer on April 6th, 2009 and tagged it with the number 241542903. Then, a few days later, he posted a set of instructions on Tumblr for others to do the same.

Horvitz’s idea was to take advantage of SEO (search engine optimization) rules so that all of the freezer head photos would end up together in a Google Images search. By choosing an obscure string of numbers and tagging all their photos with it, the Freezer Heads could easily game Google’s system and create a little Easter egg online.

How Did It Become Popular?

Throughout 2009 and 2010, 241542903 images populated various corners of the web. People seemed to learn about the challenge through Tumblr and do most of the image posting through Flickr, but traces of 241542903 are also findable on other platforms. While many of the posts came from the United States, significant posting popped up from Brazil and Japan too (the instructions were also translated into Japanese).

David Horvitz lied in an interview with another outlet when asked about all the Brazilian posting (but corrected and confessed his lie when interviewed by Know Your Meme). He told the other outlet that he’d promoted the meme in Brazil with IRL posters on IRL walls, but in reality he had “no idea” how the meme got popular in Brazil.

How Do You Use 241542903?

The original instructions, which were posted along with the meme, are probably the best guide about how to post 241542903:

Why Did People Post 241542903?

This early meme arrived right as the iPhone (which put a camera and a computer in the same pocket) became widespread in markets worldwide. It also came right at the end of the late 2000s period, which saw the birth of some of the most significant social platforms: Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. It’s clear this historical moment was important for memes and the internet overall.

Photo Fads like planking, also from this era, resemble 241542903: people posted pictures of themselves, often alone, with their bodies in the same position as somebody else’s. Although the technology and vibes are different, the same thing still goes on with TikTok dances and fads: people copy each other. Often, with these early Photo Fads, the focus is on putting the body in an uncomfortable or unusual position, highlighting the absurdity of the trend -- 241542903 certainly fits that bill.

But 241542903 also seems like a way to play with the algorithm of Google's search engine, which for many still structures their entire experience onile. In the course of everyday life, Googling usually feels like a natural and invisible process: you can type “Know your meme” into the search bar and get here immediately, as easily as water gets into your mouth when you drink from a glass. But trendss like 241542903 play with the way that Search is actually an intricate and human-made thing, reminding us of how people can game Google (and our experience of the internet) by exploiting the ways it marks, manipulates and moves information.

For the full history of 241542903, be sure to "check out our entry on 241543903 for even more information.