Memes That Only Gen Z Will Get: 15 Hilarious Picks

15 Memes Only Gen Z Will Understand

Let’s be honest—Gen Z has absolutely mastered the art of meme culture. From niche internet humor to TikTok trends, our generation has a unique way of communicating through memes that leaves everyone else scratching their heads. Whether it’s our obsession with existential dread, ironic detachment, or poking fun at outdated trends, Gen Z memes hit different. So, if you're part of this digital-savvy generation, you’ll probably find these 15 memes not only hilarious but deeply relatable. Let’s dive into the memes that only Gen Z will truly get.

1. "This Is Fine" Dog in Flames

This meme perfectly captures the feeling of living through chaotic times and acting like everything’s okay. Whether it’s school stress, existential dread, or global crises, the “This is Fine” dog sitting in a burning room has become the anthem of our generation's “coping mechanism.”

Relatable Moment: When you’ve got 4 assignments due, and you’re binge-watching Netflix anyway.

2. Ironic "Boomer" Memes

Nothing hits quite like memes poking fun at boomers with their "back in my day" rants. Gen Z has made a whole meme genre out of it, adding a layer of sarcastic humor that makes these timeless.

Relatable Moment: When your parents ask why you don’t use TIKTOK anymore, and you hit them with the classic “Ok Boomer.”

3. "It's Corn!"

Straight out of TikTok, the viral "It’s Corn!" kid stole our hearts. His unfiltered love for corn—a big lump with knobs—was so wholesome it became an instant meme, and we all collectively decided to embrace his corn obsession.

Relatable Moment: When you’re way too excited about something trivial, and your friends just don’t get the hype.

4. “No Thoughts, Head Empty”

Gen Z is the generation that coined “No thoughts, head empty,” and it’s exactly what it sounds like—a meme embracing those moments when you literally feel like there’s not a single brain cell firing.

Relatable Moment: When you zone out mid-conversation and your friend says, “You there?” but all you can say is, “No thoughts, head empty.”

5. Dark Academia Aesthetic Memes

You know you’ve fallen into the Gen Z rabbit hole when you're low-key obsessed with dark academia memes. These romanticize the idea of studying, reading thick books in candlelit libraries, and writing deep poetry at midnight.

Relatable Moment: When you're procrastinating homework but telling yourself you're living your best "dark academia" life.

6. “Sheesh!”

Sheesh—it’s the battle cry of Gen Z. You’ll hear it in schools, on TikTok, and in the hallways, usually used ironically to exaggerate hype or amazement. You know it’s gone viral when even teachers are saying it.

Relatable Moment: When your friend shows up with new sneakers and you hit them with a dramatic “Sheesh!”

7. Corporate Needs You to Find the Difference

The office stock image meme where Pam from The Office asks you to spot the difference between two pictures? Yeah, Gen Z took that and ran with it. The twist: they usually make both pictures identical.

Relatable Moment: When you swap out the most random things—like a pile of homework vs. your unfinished homework—and they’re both equally terrifying.

8. “I'm Baby”

Gen Z knows how to embrace feeling vulnerable or clueless in a situation with one simple statement: “I’m baby.” It’s the perfect meme for those moments where you need help but want to lean into your innocence and helplessness.

Relatable Moment: When adult responsibilities hit, but you still want to live your stress-free childhood life.

9. “We Were Rooting for You”

Tyra Banks screaming “We were all rooting for you!” from America’s Next Top Model has turned into the ultimate meme for disappointment. Whether it’s failing a test you didn’t study for or messing up something easy, this meme delivers.

Relatable Moment: When your bestie says they’re going to “quit their toxic ex,” but they keep texting them back.

10. “Where's the Lie?”

Another iconic meme used to hype up someone’s truth bomb. It’s basically used to say someone’s statement is 100% facts.

Relatable Moment: When someone says, “Online school is just as stressful as in-person school,” and you respond, “Where’s the lie?”

11. NPC Memes

The NPC (non-playable character) meme plays on the idea that some people you meet in life are so detached, they act like background characters in a video game—repeating the same lines over and over.

Relatable Moment: When you're in a small talk situation and you feel like you're stuck in a repetitive NPC dialogue.

12. "Me Explaining vs. Mom Listening"

Gen Z has a love for “explaining” memes, usually featuring a chaotic person desperately explaining something while the other party listens with zero interest. Perfect for exaggerating how wild we can get when we’re passionate about something.

Relatable Moment: When you're trying to explain TikTok trends to your parents, but they’re just nodding along, completely lost.

13. "Bones Day/No Bones Day"

This meme, born from a TikTok pug named Noodle, took over our mornings with daily forecasts: if Noodle had a "bones day" (stood up), it was going to be a good, productive day; if it was a "no bones day" (flopped), it was time to chill.

Relatable Moment: When you’re looking for any excuse to skip class or take a mental health day. No bones? Say no more.

14. “Bet”

"Bet" is Gen Z’s shorthand way of saying “okay” or “got it” but with more enthusiasm. It’s simple, yet perfect, for confirming plans or showing excitement.

Relatable Moment: When your friend says, “Want to go to the mall?” and you respond with, “Bet!” because who needs long replies anyway?

15. “Shrek is Love, Shrek is Life”

Memes about Shrek have reached mythic status among Gen Z, with the character becoming a sort of ironic hero. “Shrek is love, Shrek is life” is used to exaggerate just how much some people (ironically) worship the ogre as an internet icon.

Relatable Moment: When you and your friends randomly break into Shrek references because, at this point, it’s part of our internet DNA.

Gen Z has mastered the meme game, bringing humor that’s self-aware, deeply ironic, and, at times, weirdly philosophical. These 15 memes might leave other generations confused, but for us, they hit right where they need to. Whether it's memes about stress, existential crises, or finding humor in the most random moments, Gen Z has a unique way of laughing at life.

Stay connected for more meme breakdowns, trends, and internet culture insights at Woke Waves Magazine.

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