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What In The World Is The 'Ash Baby'? The TikTok Reaction Meme Explained
If you've seen a screaming baby made of ash on your TikTok, don't worry. It's not real. But the memes are real, and they're really funny. People have been using an image of a grey baby seemingly made out of ash as a meme on TikTok, a sight that would be horrifying if wasn't immediately apparent that the image was decidedly made up.
Despite all the raging debates about the ethics of AI-generated art, it's safe to say that the screaming baby made of ash image is one of few that many are glad is made by a computer. Here's where the photo of the Ash Baby originated, and how it became a viral reaction meme online.
Where Did The Image Of Ash Baby Originate?
The image of a screaming baby made of ash was posted by Redditor /u/HyperCool27 to /r/dalle2 back in October 2022. While still on the earlier end of the AI art trend, the images of the screaming ash-y baby still look quite creepy, eventually gathering about 1,000 upvotes on the subreddit.
How Did The Ash Baby Become A Meme?
The Ash Baby became a meme on TikTok after user @inert_mallice posted a brief animated clip showing a volcano exploding and covering an animated baby in ash. The meme went on to inspire other videos, such as the one posted by @brtallz where he jokes about the "world's brightest flashlight" turning his own baby to ash.
What Are Some More Ash Baby Memes?
For the full history of Ash Baby, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.