It started as a schoolyard game. Then it became a YouTube sensation. Now, it's a permanent fixture of the internet's visual language. Whether you're scrolling through TikTok or deep in a Reddit thread, you've seen them: those quick-cut smash or pass images that demand an instant, visceral reaction. It feels like a simple game of "yes or no," but there is a massive engine of psychology and algorithm-gaming running underneath the surface.
Let's be real. It’s kind of a dumb game.
But it works.
The concept is basically a digital coin flip for attraction. You see a picture, and you decide—usually in less than a second—whether that person or character is a "smash" (attractive) or a "pass" (not your type). It’s binary. It’s fast. And for some reason, we can't stop clicking on it.
The Evolution of Smash or Pass Images
You might remember the early days of the internet when sites like Hot or Not were the peak of digital entertainment. That was the ancestor. The modern version really exploded around 2016 and 2017 when YouTubers like Markiplier and Jacksepticeye started making videos where they played the game with Pokémon characters or fictional villains.
It sounds absurd. Why would millions of people watch a grown man decide if a pocket monster is attractive?
Because it’s relatable. It’s conversational. It taps into that specific part of our brain that loves making snap judgments. Today, smash or pass images have moved beyond just being a video format; they are a staple of meme culture. They’ve become a way for fandoms to engage with their favorite media, often with a heavy dose of irony.
You’ve probably seen the shift. It's no longer just about celebrities. People are making these lists for everything. Kitchen appliances. Elden Ring bosses. Historical figures from the French Revolution. If it exists, someone has probably put it into a grid and asked the internet to weigh in.
Why Your Brain Loves the Binary
Human beings aren't great at nuance when we're tired or bored. We love categories.
Psychologists often talk about "heuristics," which are mental shortcuts that help us make decisions quickly. When you look at a series of smash or pass images, your brain isn't doing a deep dive into the person's personality or moral character. It’s a rapid-fire aesthetic scan.
It’s low stakes. That’s the magic.
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If you disagree with a friend’s choice, it sparks a "debate" that isn't actually stressful. It’s not like arguing about politics or the economy. It’s just "How could you possibly pass on that person?" It’s a social lubricant.
The Viral Architecture of the Trend
Engagement is the only currency that matters on social media.
The reason these images rank so well and show up in Google Discover is that they are built-in engagement traps. Every time someone comments "hard pass" or "definitely smash," the algorithm sees a signal. It thinks, Wow, people really care about this.
Then it pushes the post to more people.
The format is usually a grid. Maybe it’s a 3x3 or a 4x4. The images are high-contrast. They’re designed to be seen on a small phone screen while you’re standing in line for coffee. You don't need to read a 2,000-word essay to participate. You just need a thumb.
Think about the "Waifu" or "Husbando" culture in gaming and anime. These communities thrive on these images. They create "tier lists," which are essentially just expanded versions of the game. A Tier is a smash. D Tier is a pass. It’s the same DNA.
The Problem With the "Clickbaity" Nature
Honestly, it’s not all fun and games.
There’s a darker side to how smash or pass images are used, especially when it comes to real people. It can get dehumanizing. Fast. When you reduce a human being to a single-word judgment based on one photo, you’re stripping away everything else about them.
This is especially true for female creators on platforms like Twitch or Instagram. They often find themselves the subject of these threads without their consent. It’s a weird, parasocial power dynamic. Fans feel like they own the right to judge these creators because they see them every day on their screens.
Platforms have had to get stricter about this. Most mainstream social media sites have some level of moderation for "rating" content, but it’s hard to police a game that is mostly based on slang and subtext.
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How to Navigate the Trend Today
If you're looking to engage with this kind of content—or maybe you're a creator trying to understand why it works—you have to look at the sub-genres.
- The Ironic Smash or Pass: This is where the humor lies. People "smashing" inanimate objects or clearly terrifying monsters. It’s a parody of the original concept.
- The Fandom Deep Dive: Using the game to rank characters based on lore or personality rather than just looks.
- The Nostalgia Trip: Doing the game with 90s cartoon characters or forgotten 2000s celebrities.
It’s about the "vibe."
The most successful smash or pass images aren't necessarily the ones with the most beautiful people. They’re the ones that are polarizing. If everyone agrees, the conversation dies. You need someone in that grid who is a "maybe" or a "hot take." That’s what keeps the comments section on fire.
SEO and the "Discoverability" Factor
Google Discover loves images. If you’ve ever noticed your "for you" feed on Chrome or your mobile app, it’s heavily visual.
Articles and galleries featuring these trends get pushed because they have high CTR (click-through rates). People see a familiar face or a shocking character and they want to see what the consensus is. It's curiosity, plain and simple.
But Google is also getting smarter. It recognizes when content is just low-effort "filler." To actually rank, the content needs some substance. It needs context. Just posting a gallery of images without explaining the "why" or the cultural relevance won't cut it anymore in 2026. You need the history, the psychology, and the community impact.
The Psychology of Choice
There’s a famous study in psychology called "The Paradox of Choice" by Barry Schwartz. It basically says that having too many options makes us miserable and indecisive.
Smash or pass images fix that.
They take the infinite complexity of human attraction and social preference and boil it down to two buttons. It’s a relief. It’s why we spend hours on Tinder or Bumble—it’s the same mechanic. Swipe right. Swipe left. Smash. Pass.
It’s addictive because it gives us a sense of control and opinionated power. You aren't just a spectator; you're the judge.
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What Happens Next?
The trend isn't going away, but it is evolving. We’re seeing more AI-generated versions where the images are hyper-curated to trigger specific responses. We’re seeing interactive versions where you can see real-time data of how thousands of other people voted.
It’s becoming a data point.
Brands are even starting to use it (sometimes cringingly) to gauge product interest. "Smash or Pass: New Sneaker Drop." It’s a way to get a quick pulse on what people think without asking them to fill out a boring survey.
Actionable Steps for the Digital Consumer
If you're finding yourself spending too much time on these threads or you're worried about the impact of this "rating" culture, there are a few things you can do to stay grounded.
First, recognize the "scroll hole." These images are designed to keep you moving to the next one. Set a limit. If you’ve looked at 50 images in a row, your brain is just on autopilot.
Second, consider the source. A lot of these posts are just engagement bait from accounts looking to sell their handles or promote low-quality products. Don't give them the oxygen of a comment if it feels like a bot-generated list.
Third, if you’re a creator, use the spirit of the trend without the toxicity. You can use the "this or that" format to engage your audience on topics that actually matter to your niche—whether that’s coding languages, travel destinations, or book tropes.
Ultimately, these images are a reflection of how we communicate now. We’re visual. We’re fast. We’re a little bit judgmental. But as long as we remember there’s a real person (usually) on the other side of that image, we can keep it as what it was always meant to be: a silly, fleeting bit of internet noise.
The best way to handle the trend is to see it for what it is. A game. A meme. A brief flash of dopamine. Once you understand the mechanics, it loses its power to distract you for hours on end.
Keep your judgments quick, but your critical thinking even quicker.
Check your screen time settings and see how much "entertainment" usage is coming from social media apps—you might be surprised how much those 1-second judgments add up over a week. If you're a creator, try making a "This or That" poll on your Story today using two non-human objects to see how your engagement spikes without the baggage of rating people.