Your Teen's Favorite Memes Are Ridiculously Absurd and That's the Whole Point
If you’ve ever peeked over your teen’s shoulder and wondered why they’re doubled over at a video of a guy in a hot dog suit running into a bush or a TikTok with a completely random punchline, you’re not alone. For Gen Z, the more nonsensical a meme is, the better — and they’ll be the first to tell you it’s not meaningless.
“It’s so absurd. You never know what’s gonna come next,” explained one teen in a recent SheKnows Teen Council discussion, describing why chaotic “brain rot” memes have become the preferred way to laugh, bond, and communicate. Another teen added, “We all know it doesn’t make sense, but that’s the point — it’s like our own language.”
Absurd humor, far from being just a time-waster, has become a kind of social glue for today’s teens. Sharing surreal memes or ridiculous videos is how they spark inside jokes, feel included in their friend groups, and cope with a world that often feels overwhelming.
Teens in one discussion pointed to the viral “mango guy” video — a man dramatically pouring mangoes on himself that morphed into a Brazilian funk remix — as an example of how something meaningless can spiral into a cultural touchpoint. Others cited “Italian brain rot” edits, like the infamous character “John Pork” or the “strawberry creature pet,” as shorthand jokes that unite them even if no one can fully explain where they started.
“This whole conspiracy has made me feel so close to my boys,” said one teen, noting how something silly online can become a shorthand for belonging offline.
Unlike the staged, overproduced videos that previous generations might have gravitated toward, Gen Z prizes authenticity above all. “Forced, overproduced content is cringe,” one teen told us. As another explained, content like the so-called “motorcycle helmet guy” — an adult trying to act quirky — flops with teens because it feels like it’s trying too hard. What works instead is “authentic chaos,” where randomness and imperfection feel real.
So if your teen is scrolling on their phone and starts snickering at a looping TikTok that seems completely nonsensical, resist the urge to dismiss it as junk food for the brain. Absurd memes may not be logical — but for Gen Z, that’s exactly the point. They’re a coping mechanism, a mirror of a world that already feels chaotic, and a shared language of belonging. What looks ridiculous to adults might be how teens lighten the stress of school, bond with friends, or simply carve out a little joy in a world that often feels too heavy.
Interested in joining our Teen Council or learning more? Email us at teencouncil@shemedia.com.