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Memes are more than just entertainment. If you scroll through Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, then you've surely noticed how mainstream they've become—memes dominate our newsfeeds more than actual news itself. Whether they come as images or videos, they can be political, satirical, comical, pretty much anything you can imagine, and they not only make us laugh, but have the ability to identify a common feeling, experience, or opinion as well. I mean, how many times have you seen a funny meme and thought 'that is so me'? And then tagged your friend in the comments? It's this that makes memes such a popular cultural phenomenon: they're both personal and universal. To see what I mean, scroll through this relatable memes list compiled by Bored Panda—you'll see that even seemingly harmless, funny memes can open up doors to more serious topics.

#2

A

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Terran
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8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The dog in pic 1 looks so happy! I get that all the people voted for them

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The term meme was coined in 1976 by British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in his work The Selfish Gene. Dawkins conceived of memes as the cultural parallel to biological genes and considered them, in a manner similar to "selfish" genes, as being in control of their own reproduction, thus serving their own ends. 

So in those terms, memes carry information, are replicated, and are transmitted from one person to another, and have the ability to evolve. Memes mutate at random, undergoing natural selection, and can take a variety of forms, such as an idea, a skill, a behaviour, a phrase, or a particular fashion.

#7

Relatable

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Diddlybop
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know and also when u look in the mirror and u look amazing but on camera you look awful

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The replication and transmission of a meme occurs when one person copies cultural information from another person. It is carried out primarily by means of verbal, visual, or electronic communication, ranging from books and conversation to television, e-mail, or the Internet. Naturally, those memes that are most successful in being copied and transmitted become the most prevalent within a culture.

#10

All My Homies Are Nocturnal

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Foxxy (The Original)
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get so invested in my books or catch up tv that I lose track of the time completely. One minute it will only be 7:30pm and the next it is almost midnight.

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#13

Can't Believe It's Over

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Saoznei
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Watching this while I'm on a video meeting with a potential client, leaving my colleague do the talk is so soooo relatable 🤣🤣🤣

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#14

Relatable

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The exploration of relationships between cultural evolution, cultural transmission, and imitation has led to interesting theories about memes. For example, various ideas have emerged about the nature of memes, wondering if they are beneficial, neutral, or harmful.

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#17

Internal Screeching

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Gold roses
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No matter how many times I tell my mom I can’t hear her with my headphones on it’s the only time she seems to want to talk to me

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white_shadow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As soon as you finish using your headphones, the person leaves you alone.

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Diddlybop
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And when Ur in the middle of that really good podcast you have been listening to

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CatWoman312
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t know why the “oh they’re wearing headphones” never seems to click

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Kaelum Gardner
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

(In the sweetest voice ever) yes? (In my mind) SHUt UP AND GEt AWAY FROM Me SO I CAN WATCH SOME FREAKING MINECRAFT VIDS!!!

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Chance Wilson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to do this today ;-; It was annoying- I was listening to Trippie Redd aka my favorite music artist of all time and always will be :>

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Wendillon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I wanted to talk to you, I would not be wearing headphones.

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Antonia
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is very annoying, especially when you just missed your favourite part of the song.

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I like donuts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then u MISS UR FAV SONG!!!! JUST WAIT TILL I'M FINISHED! GEEZ!

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Emma Vernon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

bro if you mention my boyfriend in there imma die of laughter and resentment

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IttyBittyPrettyKitty
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

omg this keeps happening to me I'm listening to music and my mom keep calling me

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BookCrazyTeen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

YESSSS! I’m just tryna vibe watching YouTube or somethin and my brother walks in to tell me something about Minecraft (90% of the time I don’t care)

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Jessica Cifelli
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And its always on the song you really want to hear, after spending 5 mins skipping songs. Also restarting the song...more than once because people keep talking

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Lyra Sis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the moment you say "f**k it" and take one out so you can hear they stop talking.

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cybermerlin2000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All. The. F**kin. Time. Seriously, it's happening right now as my daughter keeps telling me about The Winx Saga on Netflix! I DON'T CARE!!! But I sit there and smile and listen because what sort of dad would I be if I didn't give my daughter the attention she deserves. I can't wait until she gets her own place so that I can get some peace and quiet and totally miss her.

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Henny Hana
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah yes this s**t still happens to me..people just seem can't understand this obvious sign of don't talk to me🤷

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Colin Mochrie At Its Finest
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lately I have been trying to watch movies on my laptop with headphones....know the feeling

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I want cake
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just ignore people now. If you're going to ignore the fact that I've got massive headphones on my bonce because I want to listen to music and not other people talking to me, I can ignore whatever you have to say. I'll make exceptions if people appear to have something urgent to say, but other than that, people can sod off.

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Lisa Ohazurike
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This also happens when you're reading a good book and your mom just keeps talking. Its so annoying

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Andrew Gibb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when they make the motions of removing the headphones only to speak the crap you are trying to avoid...

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Lovely_hobi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and every time is just for a dumb joke -_- or an uninteresting fact that won't help you in anything

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jwashere
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

lol when you scroll it kinda looks like the fire is giving off a glow

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Aski Markup
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My kid does this all the time. It's like the headphones are a red flag and she's the bull. Every. Thirty. Seconds...

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Mrs_ Possum
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Strangers do this to me on the train/bus/plane. Why, people, why?? (side note, this happened pre-pandemic, anyways)

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For example, some scholars say memes may be interpreted as being inherently harmful because they are parasites or viruses of the mind; once assimilated into the human mind, their chief purpose becomes their own replication, with humans having little or no control over them.

#20

Drama Bean

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Verena
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cats in the wild: "Mmm, a week-old roadkill" Cats at home: "Is there beef in this kibble? I'm allergic"

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#21

Identity Theft Is Not A Joke, Jim

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Mohsie Supposie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is usually the one with the brakes. When people try to move the trolley with the brake on, the tyre gets ruined, and then it becomes the bad apple.

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Some memes, on the other hand, are benign or beneficial but can become dangerous because after they have been seeded in the human mind, they lend themselves to being misused or abused. Consider memes associated with religious or political ideas, for example. They may benefit the people who carry them, but those same memes, when imposed on people whose religious or political memes are different, may cause harm, such as through the loss of religious traditions or social or political stability. 

#27

The Moment Before Disaster

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Mohsie Supposie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I ALWAYS close the lid before flushing. Don't want anything splashing on me! And I definitely don't see the water rising.

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#30

Mildly Inconvenient

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Sarcastic Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yes, and when you're actually getting ready/playing the game/eating the food it goes so quickly!

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#34

404 - Brain Not Found

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Periwinkle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's very annoying when minecraft does that. This can also be when you stub your toe

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#36

Relatable-Jokes

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Sarcastic Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we need an app where if you hum the tune or riff, it finds the song. quickly, Scientist Pandas!

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#37

I'ma Scream

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well I would rather the clothes caught on the k**b than a stick up the nose.

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#39

Me_irl

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am the opposite. I prefer phone calls to texts. Especially if the texts end up being back and forth, I f*****g hate that. Get the convo over and done with by calling them, plus you get the tone of voice and emotion that you can’t get from texting.

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#41

My Day Summed Up In One Photo

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#46

Slap It Quick!

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Periwinkle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The original image seems australian. I wonder why. But anyways, very relatable, very big yikes every time, worse in the shower.

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#50

First Ever Space Hotel Stated To Be Operational By 2027

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Note: this post originally had 164 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.