What A Year! Recap Of 2022 Memes & Social Media Trends
As the year draws to a close, social media begins to flood with people looking back at what 2022 has to offer. From photo dumps to reflections on what they learned, many are fondly replaying standout moments.
We also look back at some of the memes and trends that have taken off on social media over the past year.
Strap in, because here’s a month-by-month look at some of 2022’s most memorable memes and trends.
January: Euphoria Memes
The second season of Euphoria debuted on HBO Max at the beginning of the year, and it spawned a number of iconic memes as it aired through the end of February.
The principal of the high school Euphoria pic.twitter.com/ZeBbcjrW14
β corvsβ (@Gushieee) January 12, 2022
β out of context euphoria (@ooceuphoria) January 26, 2022
I want to see him in euphoria pic.twitter.com/aQZ2zyO6Kd
β π (@PEACHYBLACKG0RL) January 11, 2022
one of the kids from Euphoria dropped her backpack :(( pic.twitter.com/h93J1Qhai0
β carter hambley (@carterhambley) January 13, 2022
February: Julia Fox’s antics
Julia Fox fell on many people’s radars in early 2022 after she debuted her now-defunct relationship with Kanye West, and her antics quickly made her a recurring topic online.
From an eyebrow-raising photoshoot to her rendition of “Uncut Gems,” Julia Fox was that girl among memers at one point. Additionally, her loyal Twitter followers continue to highlight her antics, so we can get more Julia Fox memes in the future!
and WHAT is going on with the stones…
β sandy (@sandyhonig) February 14, 2022
The female urge to do a Julia fox photo shoot here pic.twitter.com/BoVQLz7ED8
β lily (@lillianpat2012) February 20, 2022
These Julia Fox β Uncut Gems muse videos have brought me so much joy these past few days! π€£π€£π€£ pic.twitter.com/z7A885DodY
β walkingthrophy (@Robbi_Bobbi_Jae) February 17, 2022
Julia Fox Spider from School
of Rock pic.twitter.com/qgAdP02z27β Yes? Yes. (@missrjevans82) February 4, 2022
Julia Fox’s next photo shoot pic.twitter.com/DKHDmiJ2gA
β KIΠ―K (@Iostb0y_) February 8, 2022
Obsessed with how the Julia Fox photo shoot had the most disgusting rock I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/UbY0LzHN45
β Samir (@JustSamirOnly) February 15, 2022
March: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock
At the 94th Academy Awards, Chris Rock took things one step too far after mocking Jada Pinkett Smith’s hairstyle. In turn, Will Smith confronted Chris and slapped him in the face.
The moment spawned a number of memes. In addition to the incident between Will and Chris, the internet was hooked on Lupita Nyong’o’s reaction.
The most memorable moment of the Oscars, Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, instantly turned into a meme template, and new versions keep coming up every minute.https://t.co/V548hWFEFy pic.twitter.com/R0XXEZW2Zz
– Know Your Meme (@knowyourmeme) March 28, 2022
lupita realizes the slap smith gave chris rock was legit representing me pic.twitter.com/AJlnlBwiTm
β ruby ββ(@17MINUTESX) March 28, 2022
LUPITA WAS ALL OF US #Oscars pic.twitter.com/UeUxXT0nvf
β Queens of Bravo (@queensofbravo) March 28, 2022
April: Viola Davis As Michelle Obama
On Viola Davis portraying Michelle Obama in The First Lady, the internet had some mixed feelings about the way Viola pursed her lips for the role. The jokes were all in good fun though!
Father GOD pic.twitter.com/ff8ybgZPZB
β The Bulletin (@onthebulletin) April 15, 2022
Nobody:
Viola Davis plays Michelle Obama: pic.twitter.com/MHQ8wns4OS
β K (@sirK88) April 18, 2022
Viola Davis saw Michelle Obama do the lips thing once, and ran with it π pic.twitter.com/qN6F20GH3I
β achumile martin (@achumilem1) April 21, 2022
literally nobody:
Viola Davis plays Michelle Obama: π
β lea (@bigfatmoosepssy) April 16, 2022
May: ‘Legs, Hips, Body’ By Kandi Burruss
“Legs, Hips, Body” by Kandi Burruss became a hit online in May for its humorous meme potential.
they were on tiktok calling it a BBL ritual song pic.twitter.com/S3m90BWFyx
β kamani β (@TEXASTITTIE) May 20, 2022
β tre (@trectrl) May 21, 2022
Legssssss’nnnn Hipsssssss’nnnn BAH DEE BAH DEEEEE π pic.twitter.com/ZIiFeea3Dk
β ChainzWrld (@JustChainz) May 23, 2022
June: The vengeful elephant
A story about an elephant crashing into an Indian woman’s funeral to trample her dead body circulated earlier this year, sparking tons of conversation online.
With such a baffling situation, it’s no surprise that it ended up being memed!
I think about how the elephant knew the time, day and place of the burial pic.twitter.com/oSoSntQ0kY
β FitnessByBravo (@TotalMaxFitness) June 17, 2022
Oprah: So after you killed her, you went to the funeral and bumped her some more?
Elephant: Sure. pic.twitter.com/caHkdIwqEp
β Mamba Out βπΎβπΎ (@kcjj_04) June 16, 2022
the elephant the night before that woman’s funeral pic.twitter.com/LAszW5BXev
β Beautiful Game Hacking Goon with the nice GLUTES (@TheDgtalEmpress) June 16, 2022
nobody:
the elephant at that lady’s funeral: pic.twitter.com/DkCkT7fuuT
β πππ² π¦’ (@kayoss) June 16, 2022
That elephant coming up to the funeral deffffff gave black air force energyπ pic.twitter.com/XDrOUnsCaE
β Edπ½π€ π¨π΄ (@myVisaExpired) June 16, 2022
July: Mr. Men & Little Miss Memes
This past summer, memes based on characters from the Mr. Men and Little Miss series flooded the internet.
With the template being so simple yet effective, it was easy for many users to join in on the fun.
Which Mr Men parody meme are you based on your astrology posts?
All pictures of starbucksslayqueen on TikTok pic.twitter.com/pV7fohIOuG
β astro memes for nepo baby teens (@magstrology) 10 July 2022
it’s me, I’m Little Miss pic.twitter.com/Tzg7XebQDB
β fritzstanacct (@roseybunni) 19 July 2022
making mr men memes about men who have wronged you in the past is basically free therapy pic.twitter.com/lxr0UMsnzL
β βΏ nadia βΏ (@lonesomevenus) 21 July 2022
Augustus: ‘It’s corn!’
Called to a web series Recess therapy interviewing a kid named Tariq about corn, his enthusiasm for the food became a beloved meme.
In addition, a collaboration with Chipotle came about, as well as a catchy song.
I’ve been laughing for 5 minutes and I have tears streaming down my face pic.twitter.com/J4RtLq9l65
β Miniature Mayhemβ’οΈ (@MelDubs) 31 August 2022
IT’S COOL!!!! π½ pic.twitter.com/HbJHKyqEiJ
β Doug The Pug (@itsdougthepug) 30 August 2022
nobody:
absolutely no one:
me to myself: π½ IT’S COOL π½
I think I found my weekly anthem XD pic.twitter.com/A7Lbpu5zLfβ KHALIDβ’ RJ β€ (@KM___moe) September 2, 2022
Wait for it pic.twitter.com/4ivkt8YJMy
β Chipotle (@ChipotleTweets) August 27, 2022
September: Rihanna’s Super Bowl announcement
On September 25, Rihanna stunned fans after she announced outright that she would be performing at the 2023 Super Bowl. Her announcement came via a photo of her tattooed hand holding a football, and it sparked a trend among brands.
Some of the companies that have jumped on the trend include Popeyes and Dairy Queen, effectively turning Rihanna’s announcement into an entire social media marketing tactic.
β Rihanna (@rihanna) September 25, 2022
Period pic.twitter.com/6aNhSDeRNm
β Popeyes (@Popeyes) September 26, 2022
period pic.twitter.com/rDOT3np2O9
β Dairy Queen (@DairyQueen) September 26, 2022
October: Ghost Halloween Costumes
As the internet geared up for the season of ghosts, memes centered on the well-known Spirit Halloween costume bags took off.
From celebrities to humorous themes, anything had the potential to be spoofed by this meme template.
November: Kamala Harris sings ‘Wheels On The Bus’
VP Kamala Harris was caught laughing at her rendition of “Wheels on the Bus,” and Twitter users were OBSESSED with it.
While videos of Kamala cheering herself up are nothing new, something about this incident seems to have struck a chord. In fact, she has even been compared to the joker.
the joker before blowing up a bus in gotham pic.twitter.com/fx2Gde4yeC
β ΰΌΊπ’ππ₯ΰΌ» (@gothjafar) November 10, 2022
Kamala The wheels on The bus goes round and round pic.twitter.com/WXb0g2zlyu
β Allison Reese Alien Superstar (@alienreese) November 12, 2022
kamala harris sings the wheels on the bus go round and round reaction video stan twitter meme pic.twitter.com/1nCDaIE7nr
β The Memes Archive (@TheMemesArchive) November 14, 2022
December: Dead Celebrity Prank
Finally, we must acknowledge a recent social media trend centered on TikTokers pranking older adults. Specifically, the videos focus on people recording their parents’ reactions to fake news about beloved celebrities who have passed away.
In addition to the videos themselves, people are also spoofing the trend on Twitter with fictional characters.
no I crow as bad as these poor women pic.twitter.com/b964vDMYRG
ββΩ (@waitisovah) December 24, 2022
Lois Griffin DEAD AT 43 pic.twitter.com/uhmTyeKrTl
β Patty LaCerva ππ¦ (@minasdemon) December 25, 2022
omg stop Charlie Brown died at 6
β sarah schauer π¦ (@sarahschauer) December 25, 2022
Shout out to these notable memes and trends, and let’s get ready to see what 2023 has to offer!
