Accidentally types 2012 instead of 2021 flashback meme
Text content
Accidentally types 2012 instead of 2021
Overview
The meme has text at the top that reads Accidentally types 2012 instead of 2021. Below this text, a semi-transparent image of wide, shocked eyes is overlaid with two very recognizable 2012 pop culture references: on the left is South Korean artist Psy doing his world-famous Gangnam Style dance, which was a global viral sensation in 2012, and on the right is a poster for Smosh, the extremely popular early 2010s YouTube comedy duo, with both members making shocked open-mouthed expressions. The joke is based on the common relatable experience of miswriting the current year when filling out dates, and the disorienting, sudden wave of nostalgia that hits when you are reminded of how much time has passed since iconic 2012 internet cultural moments.
Origin notes
This meme was shared on the Reddit r/Meme subreddit, originally posted under the title 'refresh my memory'. It references two ubiquitous parts of 2012 online culture: Psy's Gangnam Style, which became the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views in late 2012, and Smosh, which held the title of most subscribed YouTube channel in the world for multiple periods in the early 2010s. The format plays on the widespread relatable experience of date typos and generational nostalgia for 2010s internet content.