Society's Backbone: Dude Letting Squirtle Play on His Phone on Subway

this dude letting his squirtle play on his phone while riding the subway is the backbone of our society

This meme features an anime-style illustration set inside a subway car. A young man sits calmly, holding Squirtle, the iconic Water-type Pokemon, in his lap. Squirtle appears to be actively using the man's smartphone, as if it were a small child playing with a device. Above the illustration, a text caption reads: 'this dude letting his squirtle play on his phone while riding the subway is the backbone of our society'. The humor and wholesomeness come from framing the kind, gentle act of allowing a fictional Pokemon to use a phone as a fundamental, positive part of society, leaning into the endearing nature of treating fictional creatures with real-world care. The background includes other subway passengers, grounding the scene in a relatable, everyday setting.

The meme originates from X.com (previously Twitter), specifically from the account @WholesomeMeme, as stated in the provided additional information. It is an original wholesome meme created by combining a custom digital illustration (featuring an original human character and Pokemon's Squirtle) with a humorous, uplifting text overlay. There is no indication of it being a remix or edit of an existing meme or official media; it was created to evoke a warm, funny reaction from viewers, particularly Pokemon fans and those who enjoy content about small, kind acts.