You’ve seen it. That grainy, low-quality video of a guy looking absolutely terrified while pointing at something off-camera. Or maybe you’ve heard the audio—a frantic, high-pitched voice shrieking, "OMG, what is that?!" It’s one of those digital artifacts that shouldn't be funny after the tenth loop, yet here we are years later, and the omg what is that meme is still everywhere. It’s the ultimate internet reaction. It works for everything from a giant spider in a bathroom to a questionable fashion choice on a red carpet.
The internet is a weird graveyard of forgotten jokes, but this one has staying power. Why? Because it taps into a very specific kind of primal, comedic panic that everyone recognizes.
The Viral Roots: Where Did It Actually Come From?
Most people think memes just "happen," but they usually have a very specific ground zero. The omg what is that meme is a classic example of "Vine energy" surviving long after Vine itself was buried. It originated from a short-form video where the creator—often identified in digital folklore as a young creator named Cameron J. Henderson—reacts to something startling.
It wasn't a scripted bit for a big-budget sitcom. It was raw. It was loud. It was deeply relatable.
The original context was almost irrelevant. That’s the magic of a top-tier meme. Whether he was looking at a bug, a weird shadow, or a friend in a mask, the reaction was the product. The sheer volume of the "OMG" and the frantic pacing created a template. Soon, people were layering that audio over clips of Godzilla, The Avengers, and even videos of cats seeing cucumbers for the first time. It became a modular piece of comedy.
The Mechanics of a "Reaction" Meme
When we talk about the omg what is that meme, we’re talking about "Reaction 2.0." In the early 2010s, memes were mostly static images with Impact font. Think "Grumpy Cat" or "Bad Luck Brian." But as bandwidth improved and TikTok took over the world, memes became sonic.
You don't even need to see the video anymore.
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If you hear those four words in that specific cadence, you know exactly what’s happening. It’s a psychological shorthand. We use it to signal a mix of genuine surprise and "I can't believe I'm seeing this" irony.
Honestly, the humor comes from the over-reaction. It’s the contrast. If you see something mildly strange and react with 10/10 level screaming, that’s where the comedy lives. It’s a parody of our own shock.
Why the OMG What Is That Meme Dominates Your Feed
Algorithmically, this meme is gold. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels prioritize high-energy audio. When a creator uses the omg what is that meme soundbite, the AI recognizes a "trending audio" and pushes it to more people. It’s a feedback loop.
But there’s a human element too.
Complexity is the enemy of virality. If a joke takes three minutes to explain, it’s dead on arrival. This meme? It takes one second.
- Universality: Everyone has been scared or confused by something.
- Flexibility: It fits sports highlights, gaming fails, and cooking disasters.
- Low Barrier to Entry: You don't need a film degree to make a version of this. You just need a phone and something weird to point at.
Think about the last time you saw a "What is that?!" video. It was probably a "fail" video. Maybe someone tried to bake a cake and it came out looking like an alien life form. The audio does the heavy lifting so the creator doesn't have to. It provides an instant punchline.
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The Psychology of Shared Digital Language
Internet culture is basically just one giant inside joke. Using the omg what is that meme is a way of saying, "I'm part of the group." It’s digital slang.
Research into internet linguistics suggests that memes like this function as "phatic communication." That's a fancy way of saying we use them to maintain social bonds rather than to convey deep information. When you send this meme to a friend after they send you a weird photo, you aren't literally asking what the object is. You’re acknowledging the weirdness in a shared language.
It's efficient.
It's fast.
It’s also surprisingly nuanced. There are different "flavors" of the meme now. There’s the original high-pitched scream. There’s the slowed-down "reverb" version used for more "cursed" or creepy videos. There’s even the "deep-fried" version where the audio is intentionally distorted to the point of pain. Each one carries a slightly different vibe.
Is It "Dead"? (The Lifecycle of a Trend)
Usually, when your parents start using a meme, it’s officially dead.
But the omg what is that meme seems to be "zombie-proof." It goes through cycles. It might disappear for three months, then a new video of a weird deep-sea creature goes viral, someone slaps the audio on it, and the cycle starts all over again. It’s more of a tool than a trend. You wouldn't say a hammer is "out of style"—you use it when you need to hit a nail. This meme is the hammer for "weird stuff."
How to Use It Without Being Cringe
If you’re a creator or just someone trying to stay relevant in the group chat, timing is everything. Don't overthink it. The omg what is that meme works best when the "reveal" is actually surprising.
If the thing you’re pointing at is just a normal dog, it’s not funny. If the dog is wearing a tiny cowboy hat and sitting at a bar? Now you’ve got a meme.
- The Zoom Is Key: Most successful versions of this meme use a quick, shaky zoom-in on the object of interest right as the "OMG" hits.
- Audio Syncing: The peak of the scream needs to land exactly when the viewer sees the "thing." If you're off by half a second, the comedy evaporates.
- Context Matters: Use it for things that are genuinely "unidentified." The mystery is part of the hook.
The Cultural Impact of Meme Soundbites
We are living in an era where sound is more important than sight. The omg what is that meme helped usher in this "Sound-First" era of the internet. Before, we looked at memes. Now, we listen to them.
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This shift has changed how we consume media. We expect fast, loud, and immediate gratification. This specific meme delivers that in spades. It’s the espresso shot of digital content. It wakes the viewer up. It demands attention.
There’s also something to be said for the "democratization" of comedy here. In the past, to be funny to millions of people, you needed a slot on Saturday Night Live. Now, you just need a funny reaction and a decent internet connection. The creator of this meme likely had no idea that their voice would become a permanent part of the internet’s collective subconscious. But it did.
That’s the beauty—and the chaos—of the modern web.
Actionable Steps for Navigating Meme Culture
If you want to keep up with trends like the omg what is that meme, you have to stay active in the spaces where they evolve. Memes are moving faster than ever. What's funny today might be a "relic" by Tuesday.
- Follow Archive Accounts: Look for "Meme History" or "Know Your Meme" on social platforms. They track the origins and evolutions of these trends so you don't have to guess.
- Watch the Remakes: Don't just watch the original. Watch how people "remix" the sound. This tells you how the joke is evolving.
- Check the Comments: The "lore" of a meme usually lives in the comment section. Users will often point out the original creator or explain the context behind a specific variation.
- Use Trends Sparingly: If you use the same reaction for everything, your audience will tune out. Save the "OMG" for the stuff that truly warrants it.
The internet is a loud place. The omg what is that meme is just one voice in the crowd, but it's a voice that has managed to scream louder than the rest for a very long time. It captures a moment of pure, unadulterated human confusion, and as long as there are weird things on the internet, we’re going to need a way to point at them and scream.
Understanding the "why" behind these viral moments makes you a better digital citizen. It allows you to see the strings behind the content you consume every day. So the next time you see that shaky camera and hear that familiar shriek, you'll know exactly what's going on. It’s not just a video; it’s a piece of modern folklore.