The Evolving Meme Landscape of 2025
In the sprawling digital terrain of 2025, memes have become a rare breed, but those that do exist manage to capture the humor and absurdity of our times. As TikTok rises to dominate the digital sphere, traditional memes—primarily text-and-image-based—find themselves outnumbered. Let’s explore why memes are less common and take a closer look at some of the standout trends of the year.
The Decline of Traditional Memes
The transition from classic text-and-image memes to TikTok trends is largely driven by the loss of Twitter, now known as X. After Elon Musk’s acquisition and subsequent restructuring, the platform that once served as fertile ground for meme creation and sharing has struggled with user engagement. Memes that would typically thrive in quick-witted text exchanges have had their lifecycle stunted, transitioning poorly through platforms like Reddit and Instagram.
TikTok Trends: The New Meme Currency
As Twitter faded, TikTok solidified itself as the epicenter of digital culture. Although memes persist, they often manifest as trends or challenges rather than standalone jokes. TikTok’s algorithm rewards video engagement, so we’re witnessing a morphing of meme culture into decades-long trends—more visually-driven, often mimicking real-life scenarios, rather than relying on punchy, static images.
Memes of 2025: A Curated Collection
Despite the changes, 2025 has birthed its own array of memorable memes. Here are some of the finest that captured internet culture this year:
1. The Endless “6-7”
The phrase “6-7” became an inexplicable source of humor for many, especially amongst younger audiences. Dictionary.com anointed it as their word of the year, though its real meaning eludes explanation. It’s simply a delightful utterance, birthed from internet absurdism, even making its way into mainstream media like South Park.
2. Trump Take Egg
Just before the U.S. faced economic turbulence, a wave of memes emerged regarding egg prices, alongside President Trump’s infamous tariffs. Internet humor dissected the situation with surreal absurdity, juxtaposing high egg prices with the absurd notion that people voted for Trump under the impression they might enjoy lower prices.
3. The Anthropologie Rock
The narrative that Anthropologie was peddling ridiculously expensive rocks sparked viral pranks and jokes, notably initiated by TikToker @phoebeadams112. This sparked a collective hilarity around high fashion, leading even the brand itself to join in on the joke.
4. The Duke-White Lotus Debacle
In a rollercoaster of college basketball, Duke’s shocking March Madness exit coincided humorously with the character Timothy Ratliff from HBO’s The White Lotus, renowned for his Duke fandom. The concurrent events dedicated memes to both subjects, organically connecting cultural touchpoints.
5. Get Me to God’s Country
After country star Morgan Wallen stormed off the SNL stage, his Instagram post about needing to escape to “God’s country” resulted in playful mockery of the wealth disparity, accentuated by his use of a private jet for escape.
6. The Little French Fish
The whimsical little orange fish named Steve took TikTok by storm in 2025, becoming a beloved mascot for users who shared snippets of Steve’s life, resonating with a simplistic yet effective charm.
7. The Conclave Memes
When the internet fixated on the conclave deciding the new pope, an unexpected wave of memes flourished around the event, featuring everything from edits to fancams, encapsulating the absurdity and charm of such a serious gathering.
8. Holy Airball
Memes surrounding “holy f-ing airballs” emerged as a new way to subvert expectations, often capturing moments of dramatic irony in sports—an exuberant phrase that gained traction for its comedic potential.
9. 100 Men vs. 1 Gorilla
Perhaps the most discussed meme of the year involved a whimsical debate about whether 100 men could take on a single gorilla. Scientists humorously weighed in, claiming organization would lead to victory, igniting countless debates online.
10. The Weapons Run
A particularly memorable scene from the film Weapons featured kids running in a distinctly amusing fashion. This spawned a myriad of imitations and humorous captions, becoming a recurring meme format throughout the year.
11. The Group 7 Fad
Originating from singer Sophia James’ promotional strategy, the “Group 7” meme designated a special subgroup of fans based on the promotional videos they watched. Playful banter around this elite group quickly caught fire across TikTok.
12. Bobby Hill’s Wabi-Sabi
A nostalgic clip from King of the Hill saw Bobby Hill philosophizing about wabi-sabi—the beauty of imperfection. This quite literally resonated with users showcasing their unique quirks, further emphasizing the charm of embracing flaws.
The Last Laugh
While the quantity of traditional memes may have dwindled in 2025, the quality and creativity of those that do surface remain vibrant. TikTok’s rise has not obliterated meme culture—it has merely transformed it, proving that humor evolves just as swiftly as technology. Our digital lexicon may change, but the innate need for laughter and connection endures, often manifesting in the most unexpected ways.
