Memes and trends have exploded in the last decade as the digital world expands and evolves. An entirely newly language has formed since pages like Reddit, YouTube, Vine and now TikTok have skyrocketed in popularity. A lot of people these days communicate through memes and even trends. Heck, in our morning work chat every day I say good morning usually followed by an awful meme. 2025 had its own share of great (and sometimes horrible) trends. But memes have short life spans so you might have forgotten that some of the trends down below did genuinely happen this year and not years ago. Which was your favourite?
January – We’re all Pepe the Muppet
This meme from the start of the year depicts Pepe the King Prawn Muppet as a template. Looking tired and disheveled users shared details and stories from their lives when they felt as crazy as he looked, or simply scenarios when they simply just looked exactly like this.
February – The TikTok US Ban
TikTok was set to be permanently ban from the USA. Long story short, it wasn’t. But the amount of content generated making fun of the USA ban was a trend of its that engulfed all of the digital world in February.
March – “You wake up as…”
@poaiv7 POV: You wake up as an Australian Mom #ai #pov #fyp #australianmoms #aussiethings ♬ original sound – POAIV
It was a tough year for people who hate AI. (Me included)
This trend saw users take advantage of AI to create content around what the world would look like in different walks of life. Some used it to share an insight into what their world genuinely is, whilst others used it satirically to poke fun.
April – Chicken Jockey
@exposed.cut.copper.slab bro who opened fire? ref DO something they’re sliming the whole audience 💔😭 #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #exposedcutcopperslab #chickenjockey #minecraft #minecraftmovie #aminecraftmovie #minecraftmemes #minecraftmeme ♬ original sound – exposed cut copper slab
The Minecraft movie had some real memorable moments. However nothing has been burned into our brains more so than Chicken Jockey. The joke was simply to play up how stupid it was that when you heard the phrase “chicken jockey” you explode with excitement!
May – 100 Men vs 1 Gorilla
@antdacomical92 I usually don't care for trends…but this one is too funny. 🤣 What do yall think. Will our superior endurance win, or are we cooked? #gorilla #humans #battle #trend #funny #debate #fyp ##youtuber #edits ♬ original sound – Ant Da Comical
In May the internet was dominated by one simple question. 100 men or 1 gorilla? Who would win? Well for many weeks many people created videos offering their takes.
June – Holy *ing Airball
@daniella.a.gascoigne Had to hop on this trend 😮💨 #freerideequestrian #ocalaflorida #fypシ゚viral #internationalshowjumper #holyairball #horsesoftiktok #grandprix #horsesoftiktok🐴 #grandprixhorse ♬ ECE Marketing Airball – EC Equine Marketing
This trend which went viral was the opportunity for people to share moments when people make false assumptions and totally misjudge a person or a situation. Was also a chance for people to show how cool they are and special talents they may have.
July – Coldplay Kiss Cam
@espn_australia_nz Mascots everywhere going to have to add this routine into their repertoire…. 🦅 (📸 : @hawthornfc) #coldplay #hawthorn #afl #sportsontiktok #fyp #espn #kisscam ♬ original sound – ESPN Australia/NZ
If you don’t know this one then that’s on you. This was THE viral story that trended this year. Astronomers CEO was caught at a Coldplay concert with the HR executive. Both of them are married with kids and when the camera turned to them, they didn’t keep it cool. Absolutely everyone took the piss out of this trend
August – Another Shrek Meme
@saidboudiofficial #shrek #memeshrek #shrekmeme ♬ suono originale – Said boudi
This franchise is literally decades old and we’re still finding new memes from it. This year saw another Shrek meme take the internet by storm. Chances are you’ve seen this gif dominate comments this year.
September – I Just Can’t Prove it
We all have that one thing we know is fact even when we have absolutely no proof to support it. In September users online started calling out people and businesses for things, mostly satirically, usually followed up with the line “I just can’t prove it”.
October – The Single Worst Meme Ever
@7newsaustralia Anthony Albanese has joined in on the popular Gen Alpha meme, 6-7. The prime minister compared the essentially meaningless phrase to the Coalition's new energy and emissions policy, after the Liberal Party elected to scrap its net zero by 2050 target. #67 #sixseven #anthonyalbanese #sussanley #auspol ♬ original sound – 7NEWS Australia
6-7. This stupid and pointless meme literally has no meaning besides trying to get people to say the phrase “6-7” to which people respond by flailing their arms. This is proper brain rot. But the meme exploded everywhere, so much so it’s made its way to the Prime Minister.
November – It’s Still 6-7…
@masterclip08 6 7 Meme Original 🔥‼️#fyp #67 #meme #original ♬ original sound – 𝓣 ♡︎🇳🇬
This meme has no right to have the longevity it does but for all of October and November all we could see anywhere was those stupid numbers. *Shakes fist at clouds*
2025 had some truly awful and hysterical memes. Here’s hoping 2026 is nothing but banger after banger in the digital world.
