{"id":6223,"date":"2024-01-23T18:00:44","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T18:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tup.kxe.temporary.site\/15-recent-and-popular-social-media-memes\/"},"modified":"2024-01-23T18:00:44","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T18:00:44","slug":"15-recent-and-popular-social-media-memes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/okdesign.ca\/en\/15-recent-and-popular-social-media-memes\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Recent and Popular Social Media Memes"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Whether you\u2019re \u201cextremely online\u201d or just a weekend Instagram warrior, you\u2019ve definitely encountered a meme at some point in your social media life. A sad dog with a hilarious caption; a panel from Spiderman with some perfectly stupid new labels; an overlay of a dancing Bill Hader interrupting a TikTok video.<\/p>\n

\n

Can’t keep my eyes off of you Halloween Crunch! pic.twitter.com\/UXUu6dK6Qm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Cap’n Crunch (@RealCapnCrunch) October 31, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The more time you spend online, the more familiar you\u2019ll get with popular or recurring social media memes. You might even start to see mash-ups of well-known memes (and that\u2019s probably when you should put down your phone and go outside for a bit).<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve never dabbled in the fine art of meme-ery, maybe now\u2019s the time to consider it. Memes can really help fill your social media content calendar<\/a> and are pretty much guaranteed to delight your audience. And with fresh memes going viral daily, you\u2019ll never run out of inspiration.<\/p>\n

Obviously, memes aren\u2019t appropriate for every type of account. If you run a funeral home, for example, maybe this isn\u2019t the blog post for you.<\/p>\n

But for brands that want to come across as playful, personable, and authentic, read on for more meme intel and dozens of viral examples to get the creative juices flowing. \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Bonus: Download our free, customizable social media calendar template<\/span><\/strong> to easily plan and schedule all your content in advance.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

What is a meme on social media?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A social media meme<\/a> is \u201ca joke or comment made for sharing on social networks. It usually appears in the form of a graphic or GIF with text above the image or superimposed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another way of looking at it: memes are visual or textual media (or, on TikTok or Reels, audio clips!) that have been manipulated by an internet user for the purpose of self-expression.<\/p>\n

Often, memes are created from images, video, or audio that existed for another purpose. A screenshot from a movie, a clip from a news broadcast gone wrong, an image from a comic strip that\u2019s used to express a reaction to a current event. Memes can also be text-based though, taking a phrase (like a great line in Succession <\/em>or a mispronunciation by the Pope) and putting it into all sorts of new contexts.<\/p>\n

Memes spread across social media networks, with users taking a format and putting their own spin on it. There are dozens of websites<\/a> and apps out there that can help you generate your own meme in just a few seconds.<\/p>\n

And memes are popular<\/em>: memes are the second most common<\/a> type of content for Millennial and Gen Z users to share. Some social media accounts are even exclusively devoted to sharing memes<\/a> \u2014 either re-posting other people\u2019s meme creations or producing their own riffs on popular memes.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re so easy to make (even if you aren\u2019t a pro at creating social media visuals<\/a>), and are basically joke machines: just take the existing template, and put a spin on it that will crack up your specific audience.<\/p>\n

That being said, memes can also be used for not-so-funny purposes, too. As the BBC put it<\/a>, \u201cmemes can have a serious side, according to researchers looking at modern forms of communication. They are a language in themselves, with a capacity to transcend cultures and construct collective identities between people. These sharable visual jokes can also be powerful tools for self-expression, connection, social influence, and even political subversion.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is meme short for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cMeme\u201d comes from the Greek word mimema<\/em>, which means \u201cimitated.\u201d Pretty high-brow heritage for a bunch of goofy internet jokes, right?<\/p>\n

British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term in 1976<\/a> as a way to describe replicating and mutating cultural ideas. In his work, cultural memes are parallel to biological genes, which also carry information and have the ability to evolve.<\/p>\n

\u201cMemes,\u201d in Dawkins\u2019 original definition, could be applied to ideas, skills, fashions, or phrases, and transmitted through communication and culture \u2014 conversations, TV broadcasts, emails, you get the gist. Religious or political ideas, for example, are considered memes in his work.<\/p>\n

But internet culture has really claimed the word for user-made and distributed media. Today, if someone refers to a meme outside of an extreme academic context, you can be sure they\u2019re talking about a LOLcat.<\/p>\n

Viral memes on social media in 2023<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While most memes have a pretty short life cycle, there are plenty of memes that have stood the test of time (we\u2019re looking at you, Confused Math Woman). Maybe these 2023 all-star memes will turn out to offer lifelong laughs? Either way, if they spark some inspiration in you \u2014 to either share them or make \u2018em your own \u2014 follow that instinct. Meme hard! Meme often!<\/p>\n

Kevin James Smirking<\/h3>\n

This Getty Images photo of Kevin James sheepishly smiling with his hands in his pockets makes the perfect blank canvas for adding a sassy caption.<\/p>\n

\"Kevin<\/a>Source: Know Your Meme<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cGirl Math\u201d<\/h3>\n

A joke (told by women, for women) about justifying costs. If your audience primarily identifies as women, go on and have a laugh about how the \u201ccost per wear\u201d of an outfit makes a fashion splurge seem like a totally reasonable idea.<\/p>\n

\n
@fvhzm<\/a> <\/p>\n

#itsbasicallyfree<\/a> but it\u2019s also basically a secondary income \ud83d\udc81\u200d\u2640\ufe0f Let us know if you need us to #girlmath<\/a> one of your purchases! \ud83e\udd2a<\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 FVHZM<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Celebrity Relationships<\/h3>\n

During the writing of this story, we saw the rise and fall of Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet, so we\u2019re not getting too attached to the Taylor Swift\/Travis Kelce relationship. But the \u201cit\u201d couple of the moment provides a great opportunity for meme-able paparazzi photos. Young love brings plenty of dramatic facial expressions, it seems.<\/p>\n

\n
@parademag<\/a> <\/p>\n

If Taylor likes football we ALL like football \ud83d\ude24 #taylorswift<\/a> #traviskelce<\/a> #taylorswifttraviskelce<\/a> #memes<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c Red \u2013 (Taylor\u2019s version)<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u2026or hilarious contrasts, as in the case of Justin and Hailey Bieber.<\/p>\n

Barbie vs. Oppenheimer<\/h3>\n

The launch date of two diametrically opposite movies provided a lot of fun for the internet. Obviously, the trend has died down now, but take it as inspiration anyways. What kind of hilariously contrasting pop culture moments are happening right now that you can pit against each other in a meme?
\"Oppenheimer<\/a><\/p>\n

Crunchy Cat<\/h3>\n

Though this green screen effect cat (eating something very loud and unidentifiable) was first uploaded to TikTok in 2022, it really popped off in 2023 as a hilarious accent to pretty much any situation.<\/p>\n

\n
@_supersillygoose<\/a> <\/p>\n

nam nam nam \ud83d\ude0b\ud83d\ude0b\ud83d\ude0b #paris<\/a> #bones<\/a> #cat<\/a> #crunchy<\/a> #crunchitymunchity<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 GOOSE<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Animals. Always<\/h3>\n

When will funny animals ever go out of style for memes? Relabel this chill chicken, or any other animal, with your own context.<\/p>\n

Our fave? These fuzzy besties:<\/p>\n

Astrological Signs<\/h3>\n

No one can resist an astrology meme. It\u2019s\u2026 in the stars.<\/p>\n

Which Are You?<\/h3>\n

Encourage your followers to tag themselves (as you simultaneously totally roast them).<\/p>\n

Dancing Bill Hader<\/h3>\n

This clip from an old SNL sketch just brings the feel-good vibes. Layer it on top of a big product announcement you\u2019re feeling smug about, why dontcha?<\/p>\n

Kardashian Pregnancy Announcement<\/h3>\n

Back in the summer, Kourtney Kardashian made a dramatic pregnancy announcement using a sign at a concert\u2026 which naturally turned into a blank canvas for meme creators around the world. Look for future celebrity milestones like this to transform into your own memes.<\/p>\n

\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u200b<\/p>\n

Renaissance Paintings<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s instant comedy: contrast an image from a Renaissance painting with a modern problem, and you\u2019ve struck gold.