What Makes A Meme Go Viral

And why you probably can't force It...

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• April 17, 2025

Let’s be real: if we could predict what makes a meme go viral, we’d all be riding private jets paid for by ironic stock photo remixes. But here we are, still posting the same SpongeBob memes in group chats, praying for 3 likes and a retweet.

That said, there is a weird science to it. A chaotic cocktail of psychology, timing, platform quirks, and pure dumb luck. So, if you’ve ever screamed “WHY did that go viral?!” while doomscrolling, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how meme magic happens.

Step 1: Be Stupidly Simple

Virality starts with cognitive fluency, a fancy way of saying “don’t make people think too hard.” The best memes are immediately understandable. If someone has to decode a reference chart just to get the joke, you’ve already lost them.

Simple = shareable. That’s why classics like “Is this a pigeon?” or “This is fine” work. Your brain sees it, gets it, and hits share before your coffee even kicks in.

Pro tip: If your meme needs a three-paragraph caption to explain the joke, it’s a tweet, not a meme.

Step 2: Tap into Emotion (Ideally the Unhinged Kind)

Memes are little emotional grenades. They blow up because they make us laugh, rage, cringe, or nostalgia-sob. Humor is king, but outrage works too (because the internet is just a giant group chat of overreactions).

The “Distracted Boyfriend” meme? Viral gold because it hilariously nailed a universal experience. Same with “Woman Yelling at a Cat.” Funny, weird, and slightly unhinged? Welcome to the internet’s sweet spot.

Step 3: Be Relatable… or Really Niche

Relatable memes = broad appeal. Everyone’s had a “facepalm” moment. Everyone’s been the “awkward little girl.”

But niche memes? Those hit different. They might not break the algorithm, but they own a community. That one cursed anime edit your fandom won’t stop posting? Viral, but only in your weird little corner of the internet.

Rule of thumb: Go big to go viral, go deep to build cult status.

Step 4: Nail the Timing

Memes are basically cultural timestamps. They work best when they ride the wave of something happening right now. If you drop a perfect meme about a viral TV moment while it’s trending, you're golden. Wait a week? Cringe.

Timing is everything. Ask the Bernie Sanders Inauguration Mittens meme. That thing had like… 72 hours of global dominance. Then poof—gone, like your motivation on a Monday.

Step 5: Bring the Chaos (aka Surprise + Remixability)

The internet LOVES being surprised. So memes that subvert expectations, remix old formats, or mash up wildly different things? Instant attention grabbers.

Bonus points if they’re easy to remix. That’s how memes evolve—when people can slap their own spin on it without effort. Like “Mocking SpongeBob” or “Galaxy Brain.” Simple format, infinite chaos.

Step 6: Let the Algorithms Do Their Evil Work

Virality doesn’t just happen. It’s engineered, by the dark gods of the feed (aka social media algorithms).

High engagement = more reach. So if a meme sparks comments, shares, and reactions, it gets pushed harder. Influencers sharing it? Gasoline on the fire. A celebrity jumping on it? Game over.

Also: every platform has its own meme flavor. TikTok wants movement and chaos. Instagram prefers clean templates. Twitter? Unfiltered brain static.

Know your battlefield.

Step 7: Memes = Social Currency

People don’t just share memes because they’re funny, they share them because they want to say:

“I get it. I’m in. I’m cool.”

Memes are like digital handshakes. Sharing one is social signaling. You’re showing taste, allegiance, and humor level.

Some memes are inclusive (everyone gets them). Others are exclusively cursed (only the group chat knows). Both can go viral—but for totally different reasons.

Step 8: Memes Are Coping Mechanisms, Fight Me

Sometimes a meme hits because it’s just… real. During COVID? Memes about quarantine life were practically therapy. Breakup memes? Existential dread memes? Those slap because we’re all in emotional shambles and using humor to cope.

Also: memes are low-key social commentary. They can roast politicians, call out corporate BS, or spotlight injustice—with fewer words than a tweet thread.

Step 9: Don’t Forget the X-Factor (aka Luck + Vibes)

Here’s the annoying truth: you can do everything right and still not go viral. Why? Because sometimes the internet just… doesn’t vibe. And sometimes the dumbest meme you post pops off for no reason.

Authenticity matters, though. Try-hard memes? Instantly rejected. Forced brand meme collabs? Ew. But something weird, unpolished, and totally random? That might just be the one.

TL;DR: Memes Go Viral When Chaos Aligns

So yeah, there’s a “formula”... kinda.

It’s part simplicity, part emotion, part timing, plus a dash of algorithmic black magic. But really? A viral meme is just a snapshot of what the internet feels, laughs at, or rage-shares in a specific moment.

Can you hack it? Maybe.

Can you predict it? Probably not.

Can you try anyway and become a meme god? Obviously. What else are we doing here?

Damjan