From brainrot chaos to blink-and-you-missed-it viral moments, these memes owned our feeds.
2025 was unhinged in the best way possible. The internet gave us surreal AI animals, accidental scandals, Gen Alpha catchphrases that made zero sense, and reaction images we’ll be using for years. If you want a clean recap of the memes that actually mattered this year, here are the 10 moments that defined online culture in 2025.
1. Italian Brainrot
The undisputed meme of the year.
AI-generated animals mashed with random objects, human limbs, and Italian-sounding names like Tralalero Tralala took over every corner of the internet. Nonsensical, loud, and impossible to escape—Italian Brainrot was peak 2025 energy.
2. Chill Guy
The internet’s favorite unbothered king.
A laid-back dog in a sweater became the face of calm confidence. People dropped him into every situation imaginable, usually to say, “I’m relaxed, mysterious, and not explaining myself.”
3. Hyperpigmentation Drawing
Accidental comedy gold.
A child’s brutally honest drawing of her mom—complete with a very noticeable cheek spot—sparked viral reactions, recreations, nail art, and merch. The dad trying not to laugh? Internet history.
4. Coldplay Kiss Cam
A moment that launched a thousand memes.
When a kiss cam caught two very panicked coworkers at a Coldplay concert—who were not a couple and very much married to other people—the internet did what it does best: dissect, meme, repeat.
5. “6–7”
Gen Alpha chaos in two numbers.
Pulled from a rap song but used completely out of context, “6–7” became a meaningless phrase shouted, typed, and referenced everywhere—especially by kids who found it way funnier than adults ever could.
6. Aura Farming
Trying to look effortlessly cool… very deliberately.
“Aura farming” described the art of curating mysterious, nonchalant behavior online. Posting less, saying less, and somehow making that your whole personality? That’s aura farming.
7. SYBAU
Acronym of the year.
Short for “shut your b**** a** up,” SYBAU became a cheeky way to silence someone without triggering content moderation. Parents thought it meant “Stay Young, Beautiful, and Unique.” The internet did not correct them.
8. Chicken Jockey
Minecraft chaos goes mainstream.
When A Minecraft Movie featured a live-action chicken jockey—and Jack Black yelled the words—audiences lost it. The absurdity turned a niche game reference into a viral meme overnight.
9. Dog Eyes Closed
The universal “I’ve accepted my fate” image.
A peaceful-looking dog basking in sunlight became the go-to reaction for stress, embarrassment, or impending doom. Calm on the outside. Screaming internally.
10. Jet2 Holiday
Nothing beats a Jet2 Holiday.
Cheerful vacation ads paired with absolute travel chaos made this one of the most relatable trends of the year. Missed flights, ruined plans, disaster clips—all soundtracked by relentless optimism.
Bottom Line
2025 memes were louder, stranger, and more self-aware than ever. Whether it was AI nonsense, accidental scandals, or Gen Alpha humor that made no sense at all, these 10 memes captured exactly how the internet felt this year.
And let’s be real—you’re still going to see at least half of these in 2026.
