The inherent meme-ability of SpongeBob Squarepants

In a sea full of dank memes, SpongeBob reigns supreme

The year was 1999 and I just finished finished watching the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. The first episode of a new animated series called SpongeBob Squarepants was slated to debut after the show, so I stuck around to watch it. The show was different than what Nickelodeon offered at the time and that was part of its appeal. I had no idea at the time, but I was witnessing the beginnings of a cultural phenomenon that would eventually become an internet staple.

SpongeBob was popular way before the rise of popular social media platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook but the show is frequently the subject of viral memes.

SpongeBob was used to disgrace others in the most optimistic way possible.

SpongeBob’s best friend Patrick expresses his surprise in an unusual way and the internet capitalized on it.

Even SpongeBob’s boss at the Krusty Krab, Mr. Krabs, was turned into a meme to describe one’s confusion.