Foundations of Internet Culture: Defining Moments on Reddit

This stock photo sparked a massive wave of remixes and parodies, illustrating the relatable conflict between loyalty and temptation. It became a ubiquitous template for humorously depicting divided attention across various social media platforms.

Derived from a scene in the TV show 'Degrassi', this template pits Drake rejecting something against him approving of another. It serves as a simple, binary way to express preferences and has become one of the most reused formats in meme history.

Featuring Vilmos Zsolt, this image of a man smiling with intense eye tension became the face of forced politeness and suppressed frustration. It resonated globally as a representation of enduring difficult situations with a stiff upper lip.

Based on a photo of a toddler making a fist, this meme symbolizes small victories and triumph over adversity. It originated in 2007 and helped establish the format of reaction images based on facial expressions in early internet culture.

Tardar Sauce, known as Grumpy Cat, became an internet icon due to her perpetually displeased expression caused by feline dwarfism. Her image was used in countless merchandise items and memes, bridging the gap between online humor and mainstream branding.

Originating from a webcomic by KC Green, this comic depicts a dog sitting in a burning room claiming everything is fine. It perfectly encapsulates denial and the acceptance of chaotic situations, making it a staple for expressing stress or ironic humor.

A composite image combining a screenshot from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with a photo of a confused white cat. This juxtaposition created a versatile narrative structure for arguments, misunderstandings, and contrasting perspectives in online discourse.

A screenshot from the Pokémon anime showing Pikachu looking shocked, often used to highlight hypocrisy or unexpected outcomes. It became a rapid-response meme for calling out contradictions in political or social discussions with visual irony.

This panel shows a sweating person deciding between two choices, representing the dilemma of everyday decisions. It became a powerful visual metaphor for procrastination, moral dilemmas, and the anxiety of choosing between two equally difficult or undesirable options.

From the anime 'Perfect Blue', this meme features a character misidentifying a butterfly as a pigeon. It is commonly used to show confusion or misinterpretation of simple concepts, often serving as a humorous correction to obvious facts in debates.

Stemming from a video of Steven Crowder sitting with a sign inviting debate, this format symbolizes open-ended arguments and willingness to discuss differing viewpoints. It has become a shorthand for challenging opinions and engaging in civil discourse online.

Based on Sean Bean's character Boromir in 'The Lord of the Rings', this template humorously highlights the difficulty or impossibility of a task. It remains a classic example of using film quotes to express frustration with complex problems.

A yearbook photo of a teenager making a funny face, this image became the archetype for misfortune and awkward social situations. It helped popularize the 'face of the internet' trend where specific user photos define entire categories of online humor.

This phrase and associated images highlight trivial inconveniences experienced by those with relative wealth and comfort. It serves as a satirical look at privilege, often used ironically to complain about minor digital or consumer issues.

This four-panel image shows a brain getting more complex and eventually turning into a galaxy. It humorously depicts a progression of ideas from mundane to absurdly intellectual, often used to mock pretentiousness or celebrate niche knowledge.

A comic strip featuring Anakin Skywalker's increasing confidence paired with Padmé Amidala's growing concern. It illustrates the dynamic of someone becoming overly confident while their partner or observer becomes increasingly worried about the outcome.

This meme uses a video of a woman saying the phrase to humorously dismiss personal opinions or controversial topics. It allows users to introduce a thought while simultaneously disavowing responsibility for it, often used in social commentary.

Centered around a Shiba Inu named Kabosu, this meme uses broken English inner monologues to express cute or confused thoughts. It defined an era of 'shibe' culture and demonstrated the power of image-based humor over text-based jokes.

A poorly drawn stick figure in a suit with the misspelled word 'stonks', representing fake financial knowledge and ironic stock market optimism. It gained traction during market volatility as a way to mock financial advice and economic uncertainty.

Derived from the History Channel show, this meme features the host making wild claims about extraterrestrial involvement in history. It is used to humorously attribute complex or mundane human achievements to aliens, often in academic or niche contexts.