Slang Overload

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About

Slang Overload or Slang Word Cloud refers to a series of memes based on images of stressed-out or even tortured people and characters surrounded by a word cloud of modern internet slang. Originating from a viral image posted in February 2020, the trend received further development on Facebook in early June 2020.

Origin

While the author of the first meme associated with the format is unknown, it was first posted in February 2020. The earliest found repost of the image was made by Facebook^[1] page 2001: ａｍｅｍｅｏｄｙｓｓｅｙ on February 22nd, 2020 (higher quality repost shown below), with the image gaining viral spread on Twitter,^[2] Reddit,^[3] Facebook and iFunny^[4] in the following month.

Spread

The format gained further spread online after in early May 2020 an unknown Facebook user posted a Slang Overload meme based on the image of a stressed-out Neon Genesis Evangelion character Shinji Ikari (shown below). The post received widespread spread online, with viral reposts on VK,^[6] iFunny^[7] and Facebook^[8] in early May.

Starting in early May 2020, the format maintained a moderate presence online, primarily in "extremely online" communities. For example, on June 7th, 2020, Redditor^[9] saddogloomer666 posted a Wojak meme which received over 690 upvotes in one week and gained viral spread online.