A retrospective look at the most impactful meme formats that defined internet culture from 2014 to 2024. This list highlights specific viral phenomena that transcended social media platforms to become permanent fixtures in online lexicon and pop culture history.
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A stock photo taken in 2015 by Antonio Guillem featuring a man looking back at another woman while his girlfriend looks on disapprovingly. It became one of the most widely used templates for representing infidelity, distraction, or conflicting priorities in various contexts.
Originating from a Shiba Inu named Kabosu in 2013, this format peaked in the mid-2010s with colorful Comic Sans text overlaying the dog's image. The format is characterized by its unique inner monologue using adjectives like 'such wow,' 'very amaze,' reflecting a humorous, fragmented way of thinking.
Based on a stock photo of Swedish man Harald Nilsson published in 2012, this meme gained massive traction around 2015-2016. It is used to depict someone hiding their frustration, anger, or pain behind a polite, forced smile in everyday situations.
Captured during Joe Biden's 2021 inauguration, this image of Bernie Sanders sitting alone in a bulky coat and mittens became an instant icon of resilience and solitude. It was widely remixed to express feelings of being left out, enduring cold weather, or waiting patiently.
Derived from a scene in the Pokémon Indigo League where Ash's Pikachu fails to evolve, this format features a shocked Pikachu facing a smug Meowth. It is commonly used to illustrate someone being pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised by a twist of events they thought they understood.
Originally a 2005 photo that went viral in the late 2010s, it features a young girl smiling mischievously in front of a burning house. The image is used to symbolize satisfaction, evil intent, or finding humor in chaotic or disastrous situations.
Based on a clip from the TV series 'How to Get Away with Murder,' this meme features Kayvan Novak's character tapping his head. It is used to present logically flawed but seemingly clever advice or justifications for questionable behavior, highlighting ironic wisdom.
A split-panel meme from 2019 combining a photo of a woman pointing at a table with a confused white cat sitting at a dining table. It is used to depict arguments, misunderstandings, or contrasting perspectives between two parties in a heated debate.
Although originating in 2013, this webcomic panel of a dog sitting in a burning room said 'This is fine' became a massive cultural shorthand around 2020-2021. It represents denial, apathy, or coping mechanisms in the face of overwhelming crisis or absurdity.
A misspelled version of 'stocks' paired with a low-quality photo of a man in a suit pointing at a screen. It became popular in finance and crypto communities to indicate poor decision-making, ignorance of market trends, or ironic success in volatile environments.
Based on a subreddit of the same name, this format often uses a screenshot of a comment thread or a specific image to challenge an opinion. It has evolved into a broader meme format used to debate trivial topics with false urgency or to highlight logical fallacies.
Created in 2014, this meme uses an image of Spongebob Squidward with alternating capitalization (e.g., 'MoCkInG sPoNgEbOb'). It is used to mimic or parody someone's tone, attitude, or behavior, often with a sarcastic or mocking undertone in text form.
Featuring Drake rejecting something in the top panel and approving something else in the bottom panel, this 2015 format remains one of the most versatile templates. It is used to express preference, rejection, or choice between two options in humorous or critical ways.
From a 2004 banner ad for The Two Towers, this image of Boromir became a viral staple in the late 2010s when discussing impossible tasks. It is used to humorously assert that a certain action is impossible, difficult, or ill-advised due to specific constraints.
Derived from an episode of 'The Boys,' this format shows Starlight hiding a secret while others are unaware. It is used to express having hidden knowledge, a secret advantage, or an internal thought that contrasts with the external reality perceived by others.
A multi-panel meme showing a clown applying makeup layer by layer, where each stage reveals a deeper, often more absurd level of delusion. It is used to illustrate a gradual realization that someone's beliefs or actions are increasingly foolish or delusional.
Based on an 'Astronaut Farting' webcomic, this format features two astronauts where one reveals a long-standing secret or problem. It is used to point out obvious truths, historical precedents, or underlying issues that have been ignored or misunderstood for a long time.
A three-panel meme depicting a character cycling through panic, calmness, and back to panic. It effectively captures the emotional rollercoaster of checking social media notifications, waiting for important emails, or experiencing situational anxiety and relief.
Distinct from the Sanders gloves, this refers to the broader trend of using Bernie Sanders' awkward posing during the 2021 inauguration. It symbolizes being unprepared for changing times, enduring discomfort, or finding humor in solemn political events.
Originating from a photo of Ernani Vieira in 2017, this meme peaked in popularity by 2020. It represents the ultimate ideal of masculinity, confidence, or competence, often used ironically or seriously to praise someone's impressive achievements or unshakeable attitude.