If you’ve been following us in the recent months, then you probably noticed a number of British meme pages being discussed on the website. There’s definitely a handful of them out there, and featured this time around is LaughsUK on Instagram. The page was originally created back in mid 2020 and has since brought together over 95,000 followers, providing them with a good British laugh.
The page deals in a variety of memes. All very British, of course.
Yes, Gordon Ramsey is a key figure. Yes, we have to talk about the electrical sockets too. Yes, royalty is still a thing. Oh, and we can’t forget about the food. And the random nicknames. And the facial expressions. You get the point.
So, why is the UK so popular as a subject for memes? We briefly discussed this in another UK memes article right here on Bored Panda, where Very Brexit Problems founder Joel Willans pointed out that there are several reasons behind the popularity.
For one, the UK has great influence on the modern world because of its past—colonialism, the Industrial Revolution, as well as its culture and language playing a key part in it.
The linguistic legacy is also a significant factor in all of this. For one, because it’s a lingua franca—a common language of billions, providing vast potential for puns and wordplay and hence epic memes. But pair that up with the idea that memes are a form of communication (and pair it up also with the historical significance of the culture) and people are sure to share them.
But, above all, folks online can't help but appreciate British humor. After all, just look at all these UK-focused meme pages out there—it’s a gold mine.
It’s irony, sarcasm, and self depreciation—very appropriate strokes of humor as far as internet culture goes. Throw in some unexpected punchlines and absurdity into the mix, slap on an appropriate visual, and you’re set.
Ultimately, memes are a mode of communication—or at least it has become so in the modern world. It’s a way to express culturally relevant ideas, whether it is just for giggles or with a higher purpose in mind. Mostly giggles, yes, but as a social phenomenon—one that relates to cultures and subcultures and can spread rapidly—it has found itself as a more serious form of communication.
