The year in memes

Student-journalists explain 2025’s most viral trends

By Delta College JRN-102 News Writing students

2025 was a year of great art, philosophical discussions and compelling stories being told on social media. Men bravely battled gorillas, we woke in the morning and we stepped outside, our vice president became an increasingly chubby baby and perhaps most impactful of all, 6-7 ATE. These are the origin stories of the Top 7 viral memes of the year, according to Delta College journalism students.

7. ‘Nothing beats a Jet 2 holiday’

This iconic meme created in the United Kingdom back in 2024 went viral this year because of its catchy slogan and started taking over every social media platform as funny videos started popping up from YouTube to TikTok. From family fun days to celebs taking a break, “Jet 2 Holiday” became the symbol of all things travel, movement and failed attempts. The UK travel company named “Jet 2” offers many varieties of travel and destination packages which include hotel stays and more. You can go to places like Agar, Mata, Costa del Sol or any other place you can dream to see. Because nothing beats a Jet2 Holiday.

6. Pope Leo Enters the Chat

On May 8, we witnessed and welcomed the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in catholic history. The heritage of the Chicago native alone was enough to spring his role into virality, but as is with the internet, it must be memeed. Photos and videos began popping up across platforms, depicting the pope holding liquor and hotdogs, as well as pizzas and even wearing jerseys in some. The meme has since taken the internet by storm, a never-ending flow of new interpretations of the meme each week. The virality of this online sensation even spread so far as to prompt a visitor of the popes to bring him a Chicago style pizza in person.

5. 100 Men vs. 1 Gorilla

The hypothetical situation that went viral for its absurd “who would win?” took TikTok by storm this April. The original question came from a reddit post made by u/probablycrashed in 2020 and went viral in 2022, before blowing up again in 2025. The meme has been talked about by various social influencers along with high authority figures also getting in on the fun, with even news coverage from NBC and Fox Houston having segments discussing the viral meme question. Some scientists also have gotten involved to discuss viable strategies for the 100 men against the gorilla, also theorizing what would likely happen in a scenario like one the meme portrays.

4. Holy Airball

‘Holy Airball’ is a term and a meme used by someone that has failed at taking a “shot” at someone. “Airball” is a basketball term that means the shot did not hit the net, rim, or backboard. The videos relate to a statement or a question that is related to a misconception, following the truth of the content creator. Videos of people shooting their shot in the dating scene, and being rejected also fit this category. Other creators have used their videos to highlight or poke fun at gender stereotypes. TikToker Hadley made a video of her saying she was into law to a guy, where he replied “oh are you into suits or something?” where the Tik Tok then cuts to her in a professional meeting.

3. Beez in the Trap

The “beez in the trap” trend was started by a TikTok user named dj.auxlord in August of 2025, according to an article by People. The trend combines two songs together; the first is 1993 hit “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes and then transitions to 2012 Nicki Minaj song “Beez in the Trap.” The trend took off in October and has over 700,000 videos using the sound and well-known celebrities joining the trend. Saturday Night Live’s TikTok and Instagram posted the trend with singer Sabrina Carpenter and SNL cast member Marcello Hernandez. That video garnered 18 million views since being posted. Many more jumped on the trend and the combined views the trend has generated are well over 100 million. “Beez in the trap” is an old phrase that means you have all you need and then some, or that you’re always making money, according to Urban Dictionary.

2. Fat Baby Vance

A meme trend featuring exceedingly edited photos of Vice President J.D. Vance has been circulating the internet since the presidential race last fall. The trend started on October 2, 2024, with X user @DaveMcNamee300 posting edited photos of J.D. Vance with progressively larger cheeks. “For every 100 likes I will turn JD Vance into a progressively apple-cheeked baby,” captioned the original post. Two weeks later, another X user posted a new edit in which Vance was bald with large lips. Various J.D. Vance edits continued to spread around the social media platform. While the trend isn’t quite as popular this October, J.D. Vance did dress up as “babyface Vance” for Halloween.

1. 67? What do you Meme?

Numbers have been memes for as long as memes have been around, from 420 to 69, and even 21. But a new contender for biggest number meme has arisen, and that’s 67. “The way that switch brr, I know he dyin’ 6-7 (oh my God)” is the infamous lyric heard across the internet. “Doot Doot” by Skrilla is the culprit behind the meme. The meme was trending last year but really took off this year. Why? LaMelo Ball, a 6’7” NBA player for the Charlotte Hornets, has a major role in the meme’s creation. The edit starts with someone saying how Ball moves like a 6’1” player but he really is 6’7”. When that is said, the song by Skrilla starts playing. After people saw that edit of Ball, they wanted edits of themselves. So, if you were being recorded, you said 67. A blond hair blue eye kid is what made the video explode. Sitting in a gym watching a basketball game, he says 67 and does the up and down gesture with his hands. That is the birth of the meme we know today.