[VIRAL FLASHBACK] Here are the Best Memes of the 2010s

Perhaps if there's one thing that would characterize the language of the 21st century, it would be memes. Memes can be considered a cultural artifact more than a fun material of internet humor.

Memes evolved to cover everything from photos to viral videos. The popularity of mobile internet use and the domination of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others led to the proliferation of memes.

A decade after the 2010s, can you still recall the popular memes of the previous decade? Here are the five best memes of the 2010s.

Double Rainbow

On January 8, 2010, Paul "YosemiteBear62" Vasquez uploaded the "double rainbow" video on YouTube. The now classic video shows a full double-rainbow crowning the mountaintop beyond Vasquez' front yard, as per Vox.

What made the video famous is Vasquez's half-tearful, half-euphoric commentary together with the footage of the double rainbow. The video became viral in July of that year.

Initially, the public's reaction to the double rainbow video was a mixture of bafflement, amusement, and mockery. But soon, the public recognized it for its wholesomeness.

Later on, the meme got a boost from the "Double Rainbow Song." All thanks to the Gregory Brothers' popular Autotune the News musical series.

Distracted Boyfriend

[VIRAL FLASHBACK] Here are the Best Memes of the 2010s — Which Do You Remember? — Bog Person/ screen grabbed from Bog Person Twitter

The "distracted boyfriend" is an internet meme based on a 2015 stock photograph. The photo was by Barcelonian photographer Antonio Guillem.

At the start of 2017, social media users started using the image as a meme. In August 2017, it went viral as a means to show various forms of disloyalty.

The distracted boyfriend meme inspired various spin-offs. It became so popular that even brands were trying to ride on the trendy fun, as per Paste Magazine.

Woman Yelling at Cat

Woman Yelling at Cat is a fresh 2019 meme that's gaining popularity.

The meme features The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast members Taylor Armstrong (yelling) and Kyle Richards (holding her back) juxtaposed with a photo of a cat, whose real name is Smudge, making a confused face while sitting at a table with a plate of vegetables, as per Paste Magazine.

The meme was courtesy of Twitter user lc28__, who first put the two images together. The result is a simple yet hilarious combination of call and response captions. Smudge's reaction is golden.

The Dress

"The Dress" is one of those rare memes that suddenly sprout on the internet. It was actually featured on morning shows. It got so famous that every member of your family knew about it and had an opinion.

The dress's color became a topic of debate due to the optical illusion caused by a lightning change.

The meme eventually led to a campaign to raise awareness about violence against women. Therefore, this silly cultural dominance yield a good result.

'Friday' by Rebecca Black

2011's "Friday" was a "laughably mundane song and music video" featuring the 13-year-old named teenager Rebecca Black, according to Vox. Vanity songwriting and amateur YouTube performances converged in Rebecca Black's "Friday."

"Friday" is a bizarre music video of a regular teenager, Black and friends partying. But as bizarre as it is, it has all the elements of virality that production studio Ark Factory intentionally embed in the video.