Rickrolling is an internet bait-and-switch prank built around Rick Astley's 1987 song Never Gonna Give You Up. The meme became widely known in the late 2000s when disguised links led people to the music video instead of the promised content. It spread across forums, social media and video platforms because the opening is instantly recognizable and easy to use as a punchline. The clip still works because it is harmless, familiar and understood across multiple generations of internet users.