Our First Time (OFT) was an early Internet hoax that gained widespread attention in July 1998. It was also the title of a song by American singer Bruno Mars, released on his 2010 debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans.
Internet Hoax (1998)
Our First Time (OFT) was one of the first widely popularized Internet hoaxes. The premise involved two purported 18-year-olds, "Mike" and "Diane," who made a public announcement declaring their intention to lose their virginity. The event was to be broadcast live on the website ourfirsttime.com, allowing visitors to observe the "experience."
The website, which promoted itself as a free public service educational site, followed "Mike" and "Diane" day by day from July 18 to July 21, 1998, documenting HIV tests, condom selection, and informing their parents of their decision. So many millions of people attempted to view the site that the server crashed. The Internet Entertainment Group (IEG) agreed to host the site in exchange for links to their pornographic content.
Over time, suspicions arose that the event was a hoax. "Mike" and "Diane" appeared older than 18 and were later identified as actors. "Mike" was revealed to be Alabama actor Ty Taylor, and "Diane" was Michelle Parma, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. The enterprise collapsed when IEG backed out after the producer, Ken Tipton, revealed that his plan was to make money by charging Internet users $5 each for "age-verification," but had intended for the couple to decide to abstain on the day set for the event.
Bruno Mars Song (2010)
"Our First Time" is a song by Bruno Mars from his debut studio album Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010). The track was originally recorded in 2008 as a rough R&B demo and was later re-recorded with a new beat produced by The Smeezingtons. Lyrically, the song describes a couple crossing the threshold from emotional intimacy to physical connection, with the title phrase operating on both a literal level (a first sexual encounter) and a relational level (the first time the relationship crosses a trust threshold).
