Know your Memes

If you are a frequent user of the internet, you will have noticed the current internet trend: expressing yourself through memes. But what is a meme, you ask. And how do they originate? What memes are world famous and what do they mean? Here is a small introduction to everything you want to know on memes. An Internet meme is an idea that is spread through the World Wide Web. This idea can take several forms; pictures, videos, hashtags, websites or even just a word. The meme may spread from person to person via social networks, blogs, direct email, news sources, or other web-based services. An Internet meme can stay the same but often they evolve over time, sometimes by pure coincidence, other times through commentary, imitations, and parodies. These memes evolve and spread rapidly, sometimes reaching world-wide popularity within a few days. Internet memes usually are formed from some social interaction (such as rage comic or reaction faces), pop culture references, everyday situations people find themselves in, or even video games. Here are some of the world’s most recognizable memes.
Forever Alone

Internet Meme Database defines this as an exploitable rage comic character that is used to express loneliness and disappointment with life. Creators of this variety of rage comic occasionally alter one word or both of the words “forever alone” for a more humorous effect. An example of this would be:
Trollface / Coolface / Problem?

Trollface is a black and white drawing of a face with a large mischievous grin that is meant to portray the expression someone makes while trolling. Posting a Trollface image into a forum thread is often used to claim that someone was being fooled or intentionally angered. The face commonly appears in rage comics indicating that the character is being mischievous in some way. Example:
You don’t say?

“You Don’t Say?” is a rage comic face based on a contour drawing of Nicolas Cage that is that is used as a sarcastic response to an obvious observation or statement. Example:
‘Y U NO’ Guy

“Y U NO” Guy (also known as “Y U No [X]?”) is an image macro series using SMS shorthands and carefree grammar as a way to bring someone’s attention on a particular subject or issue. The unique facial expression worn by stick-figure character is believed to have been traced from the Japanese sci-fi manga / anime series Gantz. Example:
Yao Ming Face

Yao Ming Face is a rage comic-style contour drawing of the professional basketball player Yao Ming wearing a hearty smile. The image is typically used as a reaction face to convey a dismissive attitude towards someone else’s input in online discussions.