Memes Will Save Us: The Funniest Stuff On The Internet For A Dark, Dark Time

By Rosie Herdman
Viva
Gather round, friends, for our favourite funnies to bring a smile to your face. Photo / Parks & Recreation via Getty Images


If you've become addicted to the constant Covid-19 updates on various news sites, while simultaneously feeling exhausted by them, you're not alone.

Most of us like to feel informed, but the volume of information being beamed at our eyeballs can be overwhelming, not to mention stressful as most of the stories we're seeing these days aren't exactly light-hearted given the situation.

The upside of all this doom and gloom is that, out of necessity really, the internet has also become a place for sharing some of the most hilarious content we've seen in some time.

Maybe it's the juxtaposition with all the terrible things happening, or it could be that what we're going through is so universal that everything seems more relatable than usual. People are turning to humour to try and grapple with the anxiety, fear and boredom that most of us are feeling to some degree.

The Viva team has been sharing such content to keep our spirits up, so we thought we'd share our favourites with you too:

SARU:

"As my current favourite meme proves, we all have the chance to be heroes. It's all about perspective, right?"  Saru Krishnasamy, digital editor

JOHANNA: 

The more I watch this, the funnier it gets, but that might be because I'm slightly unhinged at the moment. This little girl trying to keep her mum's spaghetti down perfectly personifies my attempt at staying positive during lockdown. You gotta put your best face forward and tell yourself "I'm okay!", even if you've got the dry heaves.  Johanna Thornton, deputy editor

SARAH:

Ultimate Aussie funny man Hamish Blake has made the most of all those hourly Zoom meetings via a humorous new sketch 'Zoom For One More' you can watch on his Instagram @hamishblakeshotz.

From team-work beersies, 6am fitness classes, family catch ups and book clubs, Blake joins unannounced - in character and in costume, naturally – into people's Zoom worlds, with over 50 successful sneak ins and counting. DM him your Zoom login details and he may just pop up in your next virtual meeting.  Sarah Downs, writer

DAN:

As a long time Curb Your Enthusiasm / Larry David fan, getting this quick bite daily dose of memorable scenes is great for a pick-me-up.

Online satire from one of the best meme accounts out there, they even have an online shop filled with equally dry and humorous merch. I do sometimes laugh at the ones that poke fun at magazine tropes and listicles i.e 'Five Recipes with 5 Ingredients or Fewer so you can get the Fuck out of the Grocery Store' and 'Wow! This Woman Manages Her Anxiety by Fuelling It' matched with a stock image of a woman staring discontentedly at her laptop screen.

Also, @realbigdaws on TikTok and @bigdawstv on Instagram  he's a comedian from the US who plays really immature pranks on people in public places. It's high-school humour at its best.  Dan Ahwa, creative director

ROSIE: 

I have absolutely no control over my face when I look at this image of these people's boss accidentally turning herself into a potato with the filter on Zoom  I crack a big, dumb smile every time. This is 100 per cent something that I would do by accident.

This Pingu tweet is also very me  I'm out here making sourdough and masking, but why is it not removing one speck of existential dread?!  Rosie Herdman, assistant fashion editor 

AMANDA:

I just love the absolute sense of freedom and joy of these toddlers. They're so proud of their big pukus  it's so funny. For some weird reason it captures the unconditional love and celebration of life, no matter what, I share with my girlfriends.

And this play on the lyrics of Dolly Parton's Jolene  well, hey, you know... living in each other's pockets 24/7  those little annoying things can become big things. I'm joking. I'm being spoilt rotten.  Amanda Linnell, editor

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