By Warrior | Posted on 17th of April, 2025

The Early Days: Internet Culture’s Inside Jokes

The term "meme" was first coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976, referring to ideas that spread through culture. However, the modern internet meme took shape in the late 1990s and early 2000s with:

1. "Dancing Baby" (1996) – One of the first viral animations
2. "All Your Base Are Belong to Us" (2001) – A poorly translated phrase from a video game that became a meme
3. "Advice Dog" & "LOLcats" (2006-2007) – Early image macros with humorous captions

These memes thrived on forums like 4chan, Something Awful, and early Reddit, where users remixed and reshared them, creating an inside-joke culture.

The Rise of Social Media Memes (2010s)

With the explosion of Facebook, Twitter, and later Instagram and TikTok, memes became more accessible. Platforms allowed faster sharing, leading to trends like:

1. "Rage Comics" (2010-2012) – Simple comic-style memes expressing exaggerated emotions
2. "Grumpy Cat" (2012) – A real cat whose grumpy face became a viral sensation
3. "Harlem Shake" (2013) – A viral dance trend that took over YouTube

Memes were no longer just jokes—they became a language of the internet, shaping how people communicated online.

Memes Go Mainstream (2016-Present)

By the mid-2010s, memes had infiltrated advertising, politics, and news:

1. "Distracted Boyfriend" (2017) – Used in marketing campaigns worldwide
2. "Wojak / Pepe the Frog" – Evolved from humor to political symbolism
3. "TikTok & Instagram Reels" (2020s) – Short-form video memes dominate trends

Even corporations and politicians now use memes to engage younger audiences, proving their cultural impact.

Why Memes Matter on Membo

At Membo, we believe memes are more than fleeting trends—they’re a way to connect, express ideas, and share joy. Our platform lets you:

✅ Discover the latest viral memes
✅ Create & Share your own meme content
✅ Engage with a community that loves humor and creativity

Whether you're here for laughs, trends, or meaningful connections, Membo is where memes thrive.