Memes have always had a mysterious air about them, captivating and baffling even the most technologically knowledgeable people. Where have they come from? Most importantly, what do they mean? Even modern science is getting on the meme train. In September 2018, a group of scientific researchers from University College London, Cyprus University of Technology, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and King’s College London collaborated to investigate the internet’s most famous memes.
Aside from compiling a complete list of the world’s most popular memes, the scholarly study investigated the effects (both positive and negative) that memes have on various communities. Some memes are developed for fun by creative or bored internet users, while others are created with the deliberate purpose of going viral to promote political beliefs.
With an unlimited amount of memes scattered around the internet, it’s difficult to keep track. Just when you think you’ve figured out the meaning of one humorous meme, it’s outdated and replaced by something perplexing.
The bulk of meme infections are caused via online forums such as Tumblr, Twitter, 4chan, and Reddit, and with frequent posting and sharing, identifying the origins of an original meme is easier said than done. StationReporter searched the internet, pop culture journals, and databases and identified 10 different meme images that stick in your mind.
While the practically self-replicating nature of these ambiguous symbols can be tiresome, memes can also bring people together—as long as they have internet access.
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1. I just realized that the Americas sideways look like a duck…
You know you’re tired when you see the map of the Americas sideways and realize it looks exactly like a duck. Now I can’t unsee it and neither can you
2. My little niece asked me “Why is his body so little? Now I can never unsee it
My niece pointed out a cartoon character with a tiny body and a huge head. Thanks to her, I’ll never see it the same way again. Kids ruin everything
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3. I can’t unsee “Captain Tiny Arm” and his baby sidekick “Mega Hand”
Saw a superhero comic with one character having a tiny arm and his sidekick with a massive hand. Now they’re forever “Captain Tiny Arm” and “Mega Hand” in my mind.
4. Guys help I can’t unsee it
Stared at a cloud and suddenly it looked like a dinosaur eating a taco. Now, every time I look up, I see prehistoric lunch breaks. Thanks, imagination.
5. Can’t unsee this
Noticed a face in the bathroom tiles, and now every shower is a staring contest with Tile Face. Why did I have to notice that? Showers are weird now.
6. A clownboy (half clown, half cowboy) says yeehonk
Imagine a rodeo with a clownboy shouting “yeehonk” as he lassos. Can’t get the image out of my head. It’s both terrifying and hilarious. Yeehaw meets honk honk!
7. Just try looking at your shoes the same way again
Ever notice that the laces on your shoes look like tiny, tangled spaghetti? Now every time I tie my shoes, I’m craving pasta. Why, brain, why?
8. This chart makes so much sense
Found a chart comparing cats to tiny, furry overlords and now I understand why my cat rules the house. Bow down to our feline masters, everyone.
9. I used to be able to see the towel on her head
Used to see a towel on her head, but now it’s a swirled ice cream cone. Every time she steps out of the shower, I get a craving for dessert.
10. This is my life now
Discovered my favorite snack looks like little dinosaurs. Now every bite feels like I’m in Jurassic Park, munching on tiny T-Rexes. Snacking will never be the same.
