(Credit: Getty Images)
Internet memes are ubiquitous enough that they now have their own top-level internet domain.
Google today announced that consumers and businesses can start hosting websites using the .meme domain, which the company originally filed to operate a decade ago.
Not surprisingly, Google says the new domain is ideal for websites that focus on cataloging internet memes. For example, the meme-indexing site Know Your Meme is using the new domain to host knowyour.meme.
Meanwhile, GIF provider Tenor is using the domain to host find.meme and create.meme. Google adds that Grumpy Cat lives on via grumpycat.meme.
(Credit: grumpycat.meme)The search giant says the .meme domain is now available for use through an early access program, which requires "an additional one-time fee." This fee will decrease daily until Dec. 5, when the “meme domains will be publicly available at a base annual price.”
The domains can be purchased through third-party providers including GoDaddy. But they can get costly. For instance, bidding for the domain for michael.meme starts $454.99 per year while video.meme is going for $1,689 per year. But others, like pikachu.meme can start at $19.99.
The .meme domain arrives as Google has been launching a whole assortment of new top-level domains. In March, the company opened registrations for .dad, .phd, .prof, .esq, .foo, .zip, .mov and .nexus. Then in October, Google launched the .ing top-level domain, opening the door for such sites as design.ing and draw.ing, among others.