Ever wondered what happens when TikTok runs out of memes?
Welcome to the "Great Meme Drought" of March 2025, when TikTok found itself in an unexpected dry spell. Nope, it wasn't a glitch – memes were just... absent.
But seriously, where did they all go? As users scrolled through endless, meme-less feeds, something strange happened: the drought itself became the joke.
So, how did a lack of memes end up creating one of the most talked-about trends on TikTok?
The Spark That Started It All
It all kicked off when TikTok user @goofangel posted a simple video on March 10, 2025, saying what everyone was thinking – no new memes had appeared, and it was already well into the month.
@goofangel #tiktok #brainrot #brainrotquiz #funny #unemployment
original sound - goofangel
That little comment sparked a chain reaction. What followed was a wave of ironic posts, each playing on the idea of the "meme drought." Suddenly, the absence of memes became the meme itself. Go figure, right?
@dbltdz #fyp #viraltiktok #dontletthisflop
Lil Phoebe x Melodica - sanilovesmusic
The Drought Becomes a Trend
As more and more TikTokers jumped in, things got… creative. Some took the irony to new heights, pairing their “drought” videos with black-and-white images from the Great Depression era, as if to say, "This is serious."
@de.novo12 Worst than a recession #march#marchmemedrought #fyp #funny
original sound - maystxn
The more people leaned into the drought, the more it took on a life of its own, and suddenly, the meme famine was the funniest thing on the platform.
@baddreamz2003 #meme #funny #fyp #fyp #viralvideo #viraltiktok #memedrought #lol
Can You Hear The Music - Ludwig Goeransson
Old Memes, New Life
And hey, when the new memes weren’t coming, what did TikTokers do?
They brought the old ones back! Classics like the “I Call Patrick Subaru” meme made a triumphant return, proving that when in doubt, the tried-and-true will never let you down.
@cookieslayer_227 What kind of best friend is he? #spongebob #patrick #subaru #patricksubaru #fyp #xyzbca #nichereference #rezero
son original - NODDI - NODDI
Meanwhile, the Hopecore trend began to rise. Instead of deep, motivational vibes, it embraced the humor in over-the-top positivity.
TikTokers flooded the platform with ironically cheerful and over-the-top "inspirational" quotes, paired with dreamy visuals and sometimes absurd, uplifting music.
The tone was more about humorously exaggerating hope and good vibes rather than offering anything genuinely meaningful.uns
@dailyscarystories32 #hopecore #hopelesscore #CapCut #student #class #fyp #uktiktok #viral_video
original sound - Hopelesscore
And Just Like That... It’s Over
So, was there really a meme drought in March? Not really. Sure, things were quiet at first, but we all knew it wasn’t going to last.
By the start of March, TikTok was flooded with Zelensky and Trump memes. Absurd comparisons, ridiculous scenarios – classic TikTok chaos.
What seemed like a lull turned out to be just a quick breather before the meme floodgates opened.
And just like that, TikTok was back in full force – new trends, fresh memes, and that wild energy we all live for. The “drought” was nothing more than a blip in the timeline. Classic TikTok.@emre._.official Monopoly means war #monopoly #foryou #fyp #fy #foryoupage #trump #zelensky #politica #politics #romania
original sound - Emre