The phenomenon was discussed on major media outlets, including VH1 and Slate magazine. It has also been referenced in popular culture, such as in episodes of Family Guy .
The video features two women engaged in scatological acts, a niche subgenre of adult content that was largely unknown to the general public until the clip went viral. The term "2 girls 1 cup" became a shorthand for the ultimate internet "gross-out" test. During its peak, it was common for people to trick friends, family members, and even grandparents into watching the clip just to film their horrified expressions. This era of the internet was characterized by a "wild west" mentality where shock sites like Rotten.com and various shock videos were passed around like digital dares. The phenomenon was discussed on major media outlets,