The ‘Animals Going Goblin Mode’ Instagram account does exactly what it says on the tin. It shares photos of animals acting unusual, mischievous, devious, and even downright weird. Today, we’re showcasing some of the funniest ones, so scroll down for a good laugh!
The ‘Animals Going Goblin Mode’ account has a whopping 531k followers on Instagram. That’s a huge number, considering that the page was created not too long ago, in September 2022. It just goes to show how much internet and social media users enjoy animal content.
Add a unique twist and you can potentially draw in a huge crowd. That is, if the content is relatable and humorous enough.
‘Goblin mode’ photos and videos are often (though not always) low quality, unfocused, and blurry. All of this gives the content a raw sort of vibe. The pics might not be overly artistic, but they’re oozing with character and emotions.
This focus on the energy rather than the technical aspects of the photos means a low entry barrier for ‘goblin-content’ posters who see their pets or local wildlife acting strangely. You just need to be quick enough to snap the pic!
Though the ‘Animals Going Goblin Mode’ Instagram project is very popular, it isn’t the only one posting funny and weird animal content.
For example, there is a similarly titled ‘Animals Going Goblin Mode’ (@mischiefanimals) account on X (formerly Twitter). The latter was created in April 2022, and at the time of writing, it has 1.3 million followers.
‘Goblin mode,’ which can refer to both people and animals, could be found online even way back in 2009. Though, back then, folks were still unsure of what exactly the phrase meant.
The term started spreading like wildfire in October 2021 and went massively viral in February 2022. It’s very likely that you’ve heard it being thrown about here and there.
What the phrase meant a few years ago and what it means now is subtly different. ‘Know Your Meme’ explains that ‘goblin mode’ is a slang term denoting a person or animal that acts wild, feral, hyperactive, bizarre, or menacing.
However, the BBC points out that ‘goblin mode’ can also describe someone who is unapologetically self-indulgent. They’re lazy, slovenly, or greedy. Like a goblin!
The meme became so widespread and beloved that it was actually declared the Oxford Word of the Year in 2022. It was the first time that the Oxford word of the year was chosen by the public.
The phrase won against two other terms (‘Metaverse’ and ‘#IStandWith’) after getting a jaw-dropping 318,956 votes, or 93% of the total. It was an overwhelming gobbo victory.
