It me: how memes made us feel less alone

Relatable content has swept across the internet since the early Noughties. Is it just a bit of fun, or has it profoundly changed the way we think and feel?

By Amelia Tait

It was Jesus Christ who famously first told us to love our neighbour but Confused Mr Krabs really hammered it home.

Over the last year, screenshots of the bemused Spongebob Squarepants character have flooded the internet, each titled with its own relatable sentiment. “When your mum leave you in line to get eggs and the cashier says ‘next’” reads one caption above the confused crustacean. Another: “When the teacher says, ‘Partner Up!’ but you ain’t got a single friend in that class.”