Skip to main content


The first message between two computers on ARPANET was sent #OTD in 1969. The “LO” of “LOGIN” was successfully transmitted and then one of the systems crashed.

Charles Kline’s IMP Log: “Talked to SRI host to host.”

Image: UCLA Kleinrock Center for Internet Studies

#otd
in reply to Robert “The Bobby Yaga” McNees

They re-sent the “LOGIN” message an hour later, establishing a connection between UCLA and Stanford.

So technically the first three characters transmitted over what would become the internet were “LOL.”

Lo, thar be cookies on this site to keep track of your login. By clicking 'okay', you are CONSENTING to this.