2024 was the year many unapologetically embraced their being chronically online. It was the year many were unafraid to share obscure internet references and memes that they scroll past on their FYPs even IRL. From crocheted sad hamster anik-aniks to using "very demure, very mindful" in everyday conversational sentences and even singing "me and BOQ" wholeheartedly, these memes surely helped make our year. If you need one last laugh before we ring in 2025, we've got you covered.
Here are 13 of the Internet's fave memes of 2024
Sad Hamster
I know you're hearing the World's Tiniest Violin™ playing in the back of your mind just by thinking of the Sad Hamster meme. It's the audio-visual representation of the saying, "I'm literally just a girl." So it's no wonder why the meme went viral because aren't we all just girls? Besides the audio that will get you right in your feels, the sad gray hamster with its bulging eyes and little pink ribbon is a big mood.
The meme may have gone around in the earlier half of 2024, but to this day, the sad hamster still gets around despite having other memes that surfaced on our FYPs more recently. After all, it proves to be universally timely because of the context and how it is used. In 2025, may we still unapologetically embrace the sad hamster in all of us.
Chill Guy
If there is Sad Hamster Girl, then there is Chill Guy Dog—because every sad hamster girl needs her chill guy dog, right? In all of its coolness, the chill guy meme took over our feeds towards the latter half of the year despite already quietly existing online since October 2023. Nonetheless, the chill guy's drip has been cemented in all of our minds: the brown sweater, rolled-up blue jeans, and red sneakers topped off with both hands in pockets. It is also accompanied by the perfect mood-setting audio, which is "Hinoki Wood" by Gia Margaret. The meme got so popular that it peaked at #2 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50.
And yes, the Cosmo team made our own take on the chill guy/chill girl meme. Could you blame us?
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Brat Summer
Brat summer is not really a meme as much as it was (or still is) a lifestyle. When British singer Charli XCX came out with her Brat album in June, people immediately hopped on the brat lifestyle and embraced their inner brat girl.
It was probably refreshing because, in the past year, we've seen a rise in the "clean girl" aesthetic. While the pink Pilates princess lifestyle is suitable for some, others claim that this was not the way the generation raised by Ke$ha—the generation who was supposed to sleep in their makeup instead now have 10-step skincare and elaborate wellness routines—was supposed to be. So many immediately hopped on the green tones of brat summer, singing, dancing, and editing their faves along to the words of "360," "Apple," and "Von Dutch." It truly was such a time to be alive. Would we see a repeat of this for summer 2025?
@brookieandjessie brat summer ????
? Apple - Charli xcx
Olympic Shooter
When thinking of summer 2024, I remember the Paris Olympics. Mainly because the Philippines won our second Olympic Gold medal, all thanks to Carlos Yulo. But apart from all that Pinoy pride, it was also the first time the Internet seemed to be very openly involved in not just the competition but the behind-the-scenes of the global sporting event thanks to TikTok.
We got to watch vlogs made by the athletes who gave a peek into their daily routines and Olympic gear hauls. They even shared reviews on the infamous Olympic Village cardboard beds and the chocolate muffins at the Olympic cafeteria, which was how Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen got dubbed as the "Olympic muffin man." Paris 2024 also made way for new sports, such as breakdancing where Australian breakdancer Raygun also went viral for. But among the Internet favorites are Turkish and South Korean Olympic shooters Yusuf Dikeç and Kim Yeji, who had everybody commenting on their cool shooting stances during their part of the competition.
Yusuf earned the silver medal while rocking a very casual attire and minimal accessories compared to his competitors. This had people sharing memes about how he could be anything from a regular guy at the Olympics to a Turkish hitman. Meanwhile, Yeji's "main character energy" during the 10m air pistol women’s event where she won a silver medal as well.
The Olympic #shootingsport stars we didn’t know we needed.
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 1, 2024
???????? Kim Yeji ???? Yusuf Dikeç ???????? pic.twitter.com/gfkyGjFg4I
Very Demure, Very Mindful
See how we compiled all these memes? It's very demure, very mindful. Since its sudden rise to fame, the "Very demure, very mindful" catchphrase has been used and reused by countless people, including some of our fave celebs like Lindsay Lohan and Penn Badgley. "Very cutesy" content creator Jools Lebron unknowingly started a new trend online by sharing how she stays modest when going to her job. As of writing, her original TikTok video has over 5 million likes, 58 million views, and now has many iterations that range from poking fun at funny and ironic situations to subtle critiques of not-so-demure or mindful behaviors.
@joolieannie #fyp #demure ? original sound - Jools Lebron
Aura Points
How many aura points did you gain by reading this story? Not as much as when you actually finish it! *wink* "Aura points" is a 2024 slang that made it onto our list because we can't keep ourselves from saying it. Even as part of the older demographic of Gen-Z, this one was pretty easy to keep up with because what you think it means is really how it is being used.
Aura is a word that means someone's essence or energy. So if you think about it, aura points are just a rating of one's energy. For example, having positive aura points means you're pretty cool. While having negative aura points kinda alludes to you being lame (sorry!) Middle school teacher Philip Lindsay explains in a TikTok video (that has now amassed over 22,000 likes, BTW) how one "gains" and "loses" aura points very clearly. Who better to describe it than someone who is always around teenagers, right? He has so many positive aura points for this!
@mr_lindsay_sped Replying to @tanyak680 It may be summer, but Mr. Lindsay is still here to define the #trending words your’re #teenager is using. Are they giving you positive or negative #aurapoints yet? ???? Side Note: Most of the things that gain or lose you points are funny, little, inconsequential things. #aura #genalpha #slang #middleschoolslang #teachersoftiktok #teacherfyp #fyp ? original sound - Mr. Lindsay
Thank you so mu—
In June, Claudine Barretto was dubbed by the Internet as the Queen of Gratitude. "Thank you so mu—" is a local yet very iconic entry to our list of the Internet's fave memes in 2024. It began when a compilation of the actress saying "Thank you so much," went viral. What made it even more eye-catching was how each clip's ending was cut abruptly. Another thing the Internet seemed to notice about the videos was Claudine doing the "millennial pause," which means she waited a few seconds after the recording started before talking.
@dietcoke_honey thank you so much????????????#real #meme #relatable #zyxcba #putmeontheforyoupage #donttakethisdowntiktok #flop ? original sound - DIETCOKE????
Thank you, Beyoncè
Apparently thanking Beyoncè was another way to show gratitude in 2024. "Thank you, Beyoncè" is a meme born after the Internet noticed how famed acts such as Adele thank Beyoncè when they win significant awards like the Grammys. Though the meme has a darker lore, the Internet mainly uses it lightheartedly. Thank you, Beyoncè for 2024!
@strawhatjulia she knowles…. #beyonce #pdiddy #jayz #sheknows ? son original - ????
@adelelive_ Is Adele excited? #adele #beyonce #blowthisup #paratii #foruyou #fyp ? She Knows - J. Cole
Moo Deng
Moo Deng is a cute viral baby pygmy hippo from Chonburi, Thailand that the Internet just can't get enough of. She is most known for being very playful, even biting her zookeeper Atthapon Nundee. Moo Deng, which means "bouncy pork" in Thai is just the perfect name for this cute little pookie. Because she is the moment, she even became the inspiration for a Moo Deng makeup trend that involves flushed cheeks and super dewy skin.
Women in male fields
It seems as though in 2024, women reclaimed their energy and we are here for it! With the "women in male fields" trend, women are flipping the switch on men and we love to see them finally get a taste of their own medicine. Through the meme on TikTok, women were the final boss, quoting and citing things men had previously done to them that they are now beginning to do too. A couple of content creators hopped on the trend, like Bea Borres. Apart from being a meme on TikTok however, many more saw the trend as empowering and liberating.
@beaaborres fake body literal ????
? Thinking with My Dick (feat. Juicy J) - Kevin Gates
Queen never cry
"Queen Never Cry" was a very random trend that everyone, including K-pop groups like Le Sserafim, couldn't get enough of this year. It initially came from Chapter 34 of the Korean webtoon The Ki Sisters. Since taking the Internet by storm, it has adopted different forms. But one thing's for sure: apart from being responsible for many laughs, it is also a symbol of resilience (and the sometimes unconscious tendency to start mewing).
@le_sserafim ????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???? #LE_SSERAFIM #???? #KIMCHAEWON #??? #KAZUHA #??? ? original sound - My Legs Just Divorced????????
Keratin! Keratin?!
Of course, how could we forget the Maja Salvador-ification of words? In 2024, peak Filipino humor took form through the repetition of words. It was a habit first noticed on the Internet that Maja Salvador did in her vlogs and interviews earlier in the year. Later, an ad utilized Maja's habit which eventually blew up the Internet. Dare I say it was legendary? Legendary?!
@_httpmajx Repeating words ni madam HAHAHAHAHA cutie #alwaysmaj #majasalvador #meetmaja #foryoupage #tiktokfyp #fyp #copylink ? original sound - alwaysmaj - shin
Me and Boq
Last but not least on our list is quite niche but at the same time isn't. It's quite hard to explain, but since Jon M. Chu's Wicked movie adaptation came out, the Internet couldn't get enough of it—myself included. Apart from the praise for Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey's performances in the first part of the movie adaptation, the Internet's attention was captured by how Marissa Bode enunciated her lyrics in "Dancing Through Life." Bode portrays Elphaba's sister Nessarose who will have a significant relationship with the munchkin boy Boq (played by Ethan Slater). The way Marissa sang the line, "me and Boq," apparently scratched so many people's minds ) that it has now taken all over TikTok. Marissa herself knows this, too!
@tiffhiggins we deserve each other me and ????BOQ???? #boq ? original sound - Tiff Higgins
Which one was your fave meme in 2024?
