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We're already 8 months into 2026, and it's safe to say the internet has done what it does best—giving us viral moments, bizarre trends, and memes that somehow end up everywhere, whether we asked for them or not. But before we get swept up in the chaos of this year's online culture, let's take a quick trip back to 2025. It was a year when the internet seemed to level up its absurdity, turning niche jokes into global phenomena and proving once again that no one creates chaos quite like social media. From brain-rot content to debates that absolutely did not need to happen, 2025 delivered some truly unforgettable moments online.
To understand how we reached this level of absurdity, we have to look back at how memes actually started as a scientific concept. Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term in 1976 in his book The Selfish Gene. Dawkins described a meme as a unit of cultural transmission—an idea, behavior, or trend that spreads from person to person through imitation, much like genes spread biological traits. Looking at memes through this lens makes their evolution even more fascinating. The memes that survive aren't necessarily the smartest or funniest; they're the ones that are easiest to share, adapt, and remix. Just like in nature, only the fittest survive.
That idea helps explain why internet humor has changed so dramatically over the years. Early internet memes were relatively simple. The joke was usually straightforward and easy to understand. But as social media platforms evolved and algorithms began prioritizing short-form video content, memes evolved too. Suddenly, humor wasn't just something people looked at; it became something they participated in. Audio clips, dance trends, filters, catchphrases, and editing styles became part of the joke itself. Memes transformed from static images into cultural experiences that people could recreate, remix, and spread at lightning speed.
One of the best examples of this bizarre evolution was the rise of the "6-7" trend. If you weren't chronically online, it probably made absolutely no sense. And honestly, even if you were chronically online, it still didn't make much sense. What started as a random sequence of numbers floating around TikTok and social media somehow evolved into a universal response that could mean almost anything. People used it to describe their mood, rate outfits, react to situations, and even comment on serious topics. The funniest part was that no one ever agreed on a definition. The confusion became part of the joke.
Then came one of the strangest corners of 2025 internet culture: Italian Brain Rot. If you've ever stumbled across a video featuring chaotic audio, repetitive phrases, strange AI-generated visuals, and absolutely no logical storyline, you've experienced it firsthand. These clips often paired high-energy Italian voiceovers with oddly satisfying visuals like slime cutting, sand crushing, or surreal animations. Traditional jokes weren't really the point anymore. Instead, the humor came from pure sensory overload and absurdity. It reflected a broader shift in online content, where people increasingly sought quick bursts of entertainment that didn't require explanation, context, or even coherent storytelling. Sometimes your brain just wants to switch off and enjoy the chaos.
Yet even in a year dominated by irony, arguments, and brain rot, the internet still found room for something surprisingly wholesome. Enter Steve, the Little French Fish. Steve wasn't particularly talented. He didn't dance, tell jokes, or offer life advice. He simply existed—a low-resolution orange fish floating through a digital void while accordion music played in the background. And somehow, people loved him. In a year filled with overstimulation, Steve became an unexpected symbol of simplicity and comfort. His popularity reminded everyone that sometimes the internet's most beloved characters aren't the loudest or most dramatic; they're the ones that make people smile for no reason at all.
