What a Time to Be Alive 1998 vs 2022 Safety Norm Contrast Meme

This meme humorously highlights the dramatic shift in societal safety norms between 1998 and 2022 related to technology and ride-sharing services. The image opens with the text "What a time to be alive" positioned above a photograph of a presentation slide in a conference room. The slide lists two standard 1998 safety rules: "Don't get into strangers' cars" and "Don't meet people from the internet". It then contrasts these rules with 2022 common behavior: "Literally summon strangers from the internet to get into their car", referencing the widespread use of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft that reverse the previously universal safety advice. The joke relies on the irony of how normalized previously discouraged behavior became in just over two decades due to technological innovation.

Make

Text content

What a time to be alive; 1998: Don't get into strangers' cars, Don't meet people from the internet; 2022: Literally summon strangers from the internet to get into their car

Overview

This meme humorously highlights the dramatic shift in societal safety norms between 1998 and 2022 related to technology and ride-sharing services. The image opens with the text "What a time to be alive" positioned above a photograph of a presentation slide in a conference room. The slide lists two standard 1998 safety rules: "Don't get into strangers' cars" and "Don't meet people from the internet". It then contrasts these rules with 2022 common behavior: "Literally summon strangers from the internet to get into their car", referencing the widespread use of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft that reverse the previously universal safety advice. The joke relies on the irony of how normalized previously discouraged behavior became in just over two decades due to technological innovation.

Origin notes

This meme originated as a photograph of a real presentation slide, shared widely across social media platforms. This specific instance is sourced from an RSS feed of the X.com (formerly Twitter) account @meme.jpg, which curates and shares popular viral meme content. It gained broad traction for its relatable, lighthearted take on how technology has reshaped everyday social norms and trust in internet-facilitated services.

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