The internet can be a dangerous, hateful place. But every now and then it surprises us with its fun-loving side. We're here to shine a light on the latter in the form of memes.
If you've been on the internet at all this year, then chances are you've come across a meme or two. Honestly, it can be kind of hard to avoid them. They've become such a crucial part of our day-to-day lives that it's hard to remember a time before memes.
So, in honor of the New Year (and of the new memes that will soon follow), we've listed seven our of favorite memes that perfectly captured 2017.Salt Bae
Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe became an internet sensation when he posted a video of himself delicately chopping up meat and sprinkling salt onto it. He definitely redefined the term "bae." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5GGG0PaSe4Cash Me Outside
Danielle Bregoli gained social media stardom when she was discovered on an old Dr. Phil episode. In the episode, she says "Cash me outside, how bow dah?" and the rest is history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkmOnEFCyI0Mocking Spongebob
The level of sass is REAL. Taken from a Spongebob Squarepants episode where he was imitating a chicken, it's now used to indicate a mocking tone towards ... well, really anything. https://twitter.com/SpongebobMockMe/status/863638682686894080Distracted Boyfriend
This stock photo turned meme is one of my favorites on this entire list. It shows a man checking out another woman while walking with his girlfriend. Twitter users started using their imaginations to create different scenarios, and the results are hilarious. https://twitter.com/gxngstawifi/status/900580223137263616"Shooting Stars"
The indie-electric song by Bag Raiders has been reborn into a ridiculous yet hysterical meme that shows people falling, diving, or spinning in time with the beat. My personal favorite is the Star Wars Palpatine version (below). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XWomD6TazQRoll Safe
Actor Kayode Ewumi played the character R.S. (Roll Safe) in BBC Three's #HoodDocumentary series. A screen-capture of a particular moment has turned into the best (worst?) source of advice.
Beyonce Reading Menu
Beyonce posted a series of images to her Instagram, including one of her speaking with a server. It quickly hit Twitter, and people imagined what Queen B was ordering.
What are your favorite memes of 2017? Share them with us!