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Whether you're “extremely online” or just a weekend Instagram warrior, you've definitely come across a meme at some point in your social media life. A sad dog with a hilarious caption; a panel of Spiderman with some completely stupid new labels; an overlay of a dancing Bill Hader interrupting a TikTok video.
I can't keep my eyes off you, Halloween Crunch! pic.twitter.com/UXUu6dK6Qm
— Cap'n Crunch (@RealCapnCrunch) October 31, 2022
The more time you spend online, the more familiar you will become with popular or recurring social media memes. You might even see mashups of popular memes (and then you should probably put down the phone and go outside for a bit).
If you've never dabbled in the fine art of the meme, perhaps now is the time to consider it. Memes can really help fill your social media content calendar and are guaranteed to delight your audience. And with new memes going viral every day, you'll never run out of inspiration.
Obviously, memes aren't suitable for every type of account. For example, if you run a funeral home, this blog post may not be suitable for you.
But for brands that want to appear playful, personable, and authentic, read on for more meme information and dozens of viral examples to get the creativity flowing.
Bonus: Download our free, customizable social media calendar template to easily plan and schedule all your content in advance.
What is a meme on social media?
A social media meme is “a joke or comment designed to be shared on social networks. It usually appears in the form of a graphic or GIF with text overlaid or superimposed on the image.”
In other words, 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.
Memes are often created from images, videos, or audio that existed for another purpose. A screenshot from a movie, a clip from a failed newscast, an image from a comic expressing a reaction to a current event. However, memes can also be text-based, putting a phrase (like a great line in Succession or a mispronunciation of the Pope) into all sorts of new contexts.
Memes spread across social networks, with users adopting a format and putting their own spin on it. There are dozens of websites and apps that allow you to create your own meme in just a few seconds.
And memes are popular: Memes are the second most common type of content shared by Millennial and Gen Z users. Some social media accounts are even dedicated solely to sharing memes – either reposting other people's meme creations or creating their own riffs on popular memes.
They're so easy to create (even if you're not a pro at creating social media visuals) and are basically joke machines: just take the existing template and give it a twist that will delight your specific audience.
However, memes can also be used for less funny purposes. As the BBC put it: “According to researchers studying modern forms of communication, memes can have a serious side.” They are a language unto themselves, with the ability to transcend cultures and build collective identities between people. These shareable visual jokes can also be powerful tools for self-expression, connection, social influence, and even political subversion.”
What is meme short for?
“Meme” comes from the Greek word mimema, which means “imitated.” Pretty high-profile legacy for a lot of silly internet jokes, right?
British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term in 1976 to describe repeating and mutating cultural ideas. In his work, cultural memes parallel biological genes, which also carry information and can evolve.
“Memes,” in Dawkins’ original definition, could be applied to ideas, skills, fads, or phrases and transmitted through communications and culture—conversations, TV shows, emails, you get the gist. For example, religious or political ideas are considered memes in his work.
But internet culture has actually laid claim to user-created and distributed media. Today, if someone refers to a meme outside of an extreme academic context, you can be sure it's a LOLcat.
Viral memes on social media in 2023
While most memes have a fairly short life cycle, there are many memes that have stood the test of time (we're looking at you, Confused Math Woman). Maybe these 2023 All-Star memes will provide a lifetime of laughs? Either way, if they spark inspiration in you – to either share or make them your own – follow that instinct. Meme hard! Meme often!
Kevin James grins
This Getty Images photo of Kevin James smiling sheepishly with his hands in his pockets is the perfect blank canvas to add a cheeky caption.
Source: Know Your Meme
“Math for Girls”
A joke (told by women for women) about justifying costs. If your audience identifies primarily as women, laugh at how the “cost per wear” of an outfit makes a fashion luxury seem like a completely reasonable idea.
@fvhzm
#it's basically free, but basically it's also a side income 💁♀️ Let us know if you would like us to #charge for any of your purchases! 🤪
♬ Original sound – FVHZM
Celebrity Relationships
While writing this story, we saw the rise and fall of Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet, so we're not too attached to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship. But the “It” couple of the moment presents a great opportunity for memorable paparazzi photos. Young love apparently comes with a lot of dramatic facial expressions.
@parademag
If Taylor likes football, we ALL like football 😤 #taylorswift #traviskelce #taylorswifttraviskelce #memes
♬ Red – (Taylor's version)
…or hilarious contrasts, as in the case of Justin and Hailey Bieber.
Barbie vs. Oppenheimer
The release date of two diametrically opposed films caused a lot of fun on the Internet. Obviously the trend has died down now, but take it as inspiration nonetheless. What incredibly contrasting pop culture moments are happening right now that can be pitted against each other in a meme?
Crispy cat
Although this green screen effect cat (eating something very loud and unidentifiable) was first uploaded to TikTok in 2022, in 2023 it has caught on as a hilarious accent for virtually any situation.
@_supersillygoose
nam nam nam 😋😋😋 #paris #bones #cat #crunchy #crunchitymunchity
♬ Original sound – GOOSE
Animals. Always
When will funny animals ever go out of style for memes? Label this cool chicken or any other animal with your own context.
Our favourite? These fluffy besties:
Astrological signs
No one can resist an astrology meme. It's… written in the stars.
Which one are you?
Encourage your followers to tag themselves (while completely annoying them at the same time).
Dancing Bill Hader
This clip from an old SNL sketch simply puts you in a good mood. Layer it over a big product announcement that you're feeling complacent about. Why not?
Kardashian pregnancy announcement
Over the summer, Kourtney Kardashian made a dramatic pregnancy announcement at a concert holding a sign, which of course turned into a blank canvas for meme creators everywhere. Look for future celebrity milestones like this one that you can turn into your own memes.
Renaissance paintings
It's immediately a comedy: compare an image from a Renaissance painting with a modern problem and you've struck gold.
Roman Empire
Although this social media meme started with the creators asking the men in their lives how often they think about the Roman Empire (spoiler: a lot?), it's now fun to post about what your Roman Empire is: what you can do. I don't stop thinking about it.
@livbaron
I ask my father how often he thinks about the Roman Empire #romanempire #romanempireboyfriend
♬ Original sound – Liv Baron
Smurfcat
Why is this photorealistic Smurf cat trending? We couldn't say that. But people have spoken and used this cute character in all sorts of contexts.
@aim.vsp
WE LIVE WE LOVE WE LIE🗣️🔥#catsmurf #smurfcat #thespectere #edit #vsp #youthshake #meme #fyp
♬ Original sound – Crcl.𝖆𝖎𝖒
“Bad idea, right?”
Use this clip from Olivia Rodrigo's latest single to highlight a hilarious mistake.
@ashleylamarca
“I want curly hair” – no, you don’t want that💀
♬ bad idea, right? – Olivia Rodrigo
This guy is reading a book
A vintage comic with a blank canvas (the book) and a dramatic reaction (the face)? You really can't go wrong.
A spooky Halloween house
This spooky Halloween house dominated the October 2023 meme cycle. There's still time to add your own hilarious caption! We believe in you!
Text-based posts
There's a wide world of people sharing screenshots of textual content in visual apps: Tweets that really make people laugh often end up on Instagram, where they're repurposed and captioned.
It is advisable to indicate where you can find them. Smart brands can spice up such minimalist posts with a pop of color or the use of a branded background to make them fit better with the rest of your feed.
By their nature, memes are constantly evolving and changing. The best way to stay up to date with what's happening in the world of TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X and Facebook is to be active on these platforms.
Discover popular content and observe new trends and patterns first-hand by diving right into the action. (Feeling overwhelmed by the endless content? Set up specific streams in your Hootsuite dashboard to focus your attention on the memes that matter most to your business or industry.)
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Create your very own Auto Publish News/Blog Site and Earn Passive Income in Just 4 Easy Steps
