The term 'Eternal September' originates from the early days of Usenet, referring to a period starting in September 1993 when America Online (AOL) began offering internet access to its vast user base. Before this, the internet saw a predictable surge of new users every September as college freshmen gained access; these newcomers were usually assimilated into the existing culture within a month. However, the AOL influx was so massive and continuous that the culture could never recover, leading to a permanent state of 'September' where established netiquette was ignored. Today, the meme is used to describe the moment a niche community is 'ruined' by mainstream popularity or to highlight the perpetual cycle of inexperienced users joining digital spaces.