In a matter of months, the decade will be over. That’s crazy, right? Finneas and Ferb, iCarly, Silly Bands? All a thing of the past. However, there is one thing that I believe will stand the test of time as we go into 2020…

Memes.

They’re funny, they’re relatable, and they are undoubtedly one of the best things that have come out of the internet. But they also teach us things! Whether it be self-love, independence, or just learning to laugh at yourself, I truly believe that every meme has, well, a meaning (or I guess you could say…a meme-ing!).

Below I will tell you about my favorite memes from this decade and what EVERYONE can take away from it.

2010

Betty White

Ah, simpler times. The country wasn’t run by a flamin’ hot Cheeto, no one really cared about the Kardashians, and none of us were stressed about college apps or AP Lit blogs. The good ole’ days. However, there was a new (not really) star on the horizon – Betty White.

I’ll admit, I had to do some research about 2010 internet culture as I was in 3rd grade but after reading post after post I noticed one thing. Betty White was iconic! Fueled by a (hilarious) Super Bowl commercial, Betty was truly an internet star.

What did she teach us?

Betty was (and still is) the literal definition of “age is just a number”. In 2010, she was 88 years old but don’t let that fool you, she was starring in Snickers commercials and crackin’ people up world-wide. Now, I can’t personally speak about how this meme effected me as once again, I was 8, but nevertheless, I can just imagine the joy that this would bring. It also brought unity. Thousand of people signed a petition to get Betty to host SNL and voila’, it worked! Now if that’s not cooperating for the common good, I don’t know what is.

2011

First World Problems

In all seriousness, I honestly think that this a meme that made people think. So many times, I feel like we get caught up in the fact that we are so privileged just to live in a developed country such as the U.S. We complain about the most minuscule things! “Crap I got dirt of my AF1’s” or “my Urban teacher only let me go on 3 field trips!” (things I would never say *cough*), but I think sometimes we forget that honestly, those are great problems to have!

What did it teach us?

To check our privilege! This is why I chose this meme. As I was scrolling through all the archives of 2011, this was the one that even today, made me reflect on myself. Sure, it’s a silly image and a rather simplistic format but you can’t lie and say that you’ve never complained about one thing that you’ve seen on this meme. Mad that you have to get up early for school? You’re getting a great education! Can’t find a movie to watch? You’ve got available internet! Frustrated that you have to wash the dishes? That means you have food! I’m not going to lie and say that I’ve never complained about these things cause I have…a lot. However, this simple image has really made me, and a lot of others, be grateful for our small issues because they could be so much worse.

2015

Chrissy Teigen Crying

Besides controversy, over-priced attire, and red-carpet drama, the Emmy Awards have brought at least 1 good thing to this world – Chrissy Tiegen crying. This wonderful and meme-able reaction spawned in 2015 as Chrissy’s reaction to her husband, John Legend, accepting an award. While I don’t think that many of us can necessarily relate to being emotional over our lover receiving a prestigious award, the photoshops that came out of this picture definitely were.

What did it teach us?

I believe that this meme taught us two very important things. First off, this format lets everyone know that it’s okay to laugh at yourself. Obviously, this is not the most glamorous Tiegen look (especially saying that she’s, you know, a supermodel). With that said, however, she took this internet-stardom in stride – she even retweeted and created her own versions! If a multi-millionaire supermodel can laugh at herself, can’t everyone? Second of all, this meme taught all of us that chances are, we have all experienced some awkward situations. While calling a teacher “mom” or responding to a server telling you to enjoy your food with “you too” might seem mortifying at first, you’re not alone. As I was scrolling through Google looking for an example of this meme, I was honestly comforted by the fact that (sadly) I could relate to pretty much all of them. So, while you might feel like the most socially-awkward person ever sometimes (I know I do), let this image serve as a reminder that everyone else is equally as mortified with themselves.

Going into this new decade, I am so excited for the future! Flying cars, immortality, the cure for cancer? The possibilities are endless. However, while those things might not be that attainable, internet images that bring us closer together are inevitable, no matter what year it is.