Would memes refer to a type of internet slang that gained popularity in late 2022. These memes typically feature a photo or an icon that is paired with a caption that reads "would," which is an informal and humorous way of expressing willingness to engage in sexual activity with the person or object being referenced. The phrase "would" is often used in place of "I would have sex with that person" to maintain a playful and casual tone.
The origins of would memes are not clear, but they have been used by people offline and online for many years. The first widely known example of a would meme appeared on Twitter on September 28, 2022, when a user named @reactjpg posted a photo of an orange tabby cat sitting in front of a desk with a microphone and the caption "would." Since then, the trend has rapidly spread across various social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.
These memes are often customized to fit the subject matter of the given subreddit or community, resulting in a wide range of variations based on TV shows, movies, video games, comic books, and other popular or niche media.
One of the most iconic examples of a would meme is the "would cat" meme, which features a cat scrubbing its nose against a microphone with the caption "would." This meme was inspired by a photograph of a cat doing something similar that was shared on Twitter by @反应jpg on September 28, 2022.
Would memes have also been used to critique political figures and public figures. For instance, a popular would meme showed Chairman of the Judicial Affairs Committee Shinichi Yokoyama clinging to a table microphone and speaking into it while an entire crowd of people tried to wrestle it away from him. This version of the meme was often used to express disapproval of Yokoyama's actions.
Overall, would memes are a fun and playful way to express oneself online. They often rely on a simple image and a caption to convey a humorous message, and have become a popular trend on many social media platforms.
