A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Popular Memes and Where They Come From
Memes are the language of the internet, evolving at lightning speed and connecting us through humor, irony, and a bit of randomness. If you’ve ever felt out of the loop on the latest meme trend, don’t worry—here’s a beginner-friendly explainer that breaks down some of the most popular viral memes and where they come from. Get ready to impress your friends with your meme knowledge!
1. The “NPC” Meme
What It Is: “NPC” stands for “non-playable character,” a term from video games referring to characters that players can’t control. The meme uses this idea to describe people who seem to lack individuality or are going through the motions without much thought.
Where It Came From: This meme took off in gaming communities and later spread to social media, where “NPC behavior” is used to jokingly describe someone who’s just “going along” with the crowd.
Example: “He only orders vanilla lattes? Total NPC energy.”
2. “This You?”
What It Is: “This You?” is a phrase used to call out someone for hypocrisy, usually by digging up an old tweet, post, or comment that contradicts their current statement.
Where It Came From: This phrase became popular on Twitter as users pointed out double standards or past mistakes in a humorous, ironic way. It’s now commonly used as a playful way to bring up someone’s contradictory behavior.
Example: “Oh, you’re into fitness now? ‘This you?’” (shows a pic of them eating junk food)
3. “Ratio”
What It Is: On social media, “ratio” refers to when a reply to a post gets more likes than the original post itself, often indicating that the reply was more popular or well-received.
Where It Came From: Originally a Twitter term, “ratio” has grown to become a kind of competition to see if responses or replies can “outshine” the original post. Getting “ratioed” is often seen as a humorous or light-hearted loss.
Example: Person 1: “Pineapple belongs on pizza.” Person 2: “Ratio.”
4. The “Chad” vs. “Virgin” Meme
What It Is: This meme contrasts “Chad,” a confident, socially successful character, with “Virgin,” a timid, insecure one, often using exaggerated stereotypes to humorously compare traits or preferences.
Where It Came From: The “Chad vs. Virgin” meme originally came from online forums poking fun at social stereotypes. It’s now a popular way to create humorous comparisons between two extremes.
Example: “Chad: Uses memes ironically. Virgin: Explains memes.”
5. “Sheesh”
What It Is: “Sheesh” is an exclamation used to express surprise, admiration, or disbelief, usually in response to something impressive or over-the-top. Often accompanied by a finger-pointing gesture, it’s a fun way to hype something up.
Where It Came From: “Sheesh” originated on TikTok and quickly became a cultural catchphrase. It’s often used with the audio of a high-pitched “sheeeeesh” sound for dramatic effect.
Example: Someone posts a luxury vacation pic. Comments: “Sheesh!”
6. “No Thoughts, Head Empty”
What It Is: This phrase describes those moments when you’re zoning out or doing something without much thought, often used humorously to describe animals, cartoon characters, or people who look blissfully blank.
Where It Came From: “No thoughts, head empty” started on Tumblr and Twitter as a way to capture moments of pure blankness or innocence. It’s usually paired with a funny photo or a character with a vacant expression.
Example: Photo of a golden retriever staring off into space: “No thoughts, head empty.”
7. “Me Explaining” Memes
What It Is: This meme format shows someone energetically explaining something, while a second person looks uninterested or confused. It’s used to poke fun at situations where you’re overly excited about something the other person doesn’t really get.
Where It Came From: This meme took off with images or videos of people passionately explaining, often featuring famous screenshots or videos. It’s popular because it captures that relatable feeling of being way too invested in explaining something.
Example: “Me explaining why the latest Marvel plot twist is actually brilliant. My friend who hasn’t watched a single movie.”
8. “You’re Done”
What It Is: “You’re done” is used humorously to shut down or call out someone who might have gone too far, often with a playful tone. It’s a way of jokingly telling someone, “That’s enough.”
Where It Came From: The phrase gained traction on TikTok and social media as a lighthearted way to express disapproval or end a conversation.
Example: Friend: “I might dye my hair neon green.” You: “You’re done.”
9. The “Bones or No Bones” Day
What It Is: The “Bones or No Bones” meme was inspired by a TikTok series featuring Noodle the pug, who would either stand up or flop down when his owner tried to help him up in the morning. “Bones” days meant energy and productivity, while “No Bones” days meant it was okay to take it easy.
Where It Came From: The meme became a humorous way to forecast the day’s vibe, with people jokingly checking if it was a “Bones” or “No Bones” day.
Example: “Today’s a No Bones day—time to stay in and binge Netflix.”
10. “We’re All Gonna Make It”
What It Is: A positive, uplifting meme meant to encourage resilience and optimism. Often shortened to WAGMI (We’re All Gonna Make It), it’s popular in crypto and self-improvement communities.
Where It Came From: This phrase started on forums as a motivational slogan, inspiring confidence in group goals or challenges. It’s now widely used to express solidarity, especially during challenging times.
Example: “It’s Monday, but WAGMI, guys!”
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