The TikTok "meme drought" of 2025 sparks a 2023 meme revival campaign

Posted on 15th May 2025

TikTok users have been talking about a "meme drought" in 2025, joking about an apparent lack of really good, new and original memes in their FYPs – and now there's a meme revival campaign to try to end it.

Noah Glenn Carter, who posts lots about current trends and talking points, is encouraging people to take part in a "2023 meme rival" today, May 15. He explains that "the goal of this is to make sure that everyone's feed is filled with memes from one of the best years for memes in all of existence, just so we can all relive the glory days."

Noah kicked off the "meme revival" with a clip of the quirky Smurf Cat character who went viral in 2023 with its cat body and mushroom head.

People are bringing back their own favourite 2023 meme characters including the dancing Barbie dogs, the Opium Bird, and John Pork who's become a hugely recognisable figure in TikTok brainrot culture, appearing in all sorts of lores and conspiracy theories over the years.

The "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" song is being revived by a few people – an earworm nursery rhyme based on a viral video from @edmondx wearing a pair of trainers with cartoon-style buckles.

Meanwhile this TikTok reshares clips from the Josh Hutcherson meme which was famously soundtracked with Whistle by Flo Rida, and this user has reshared the original clip of YouTuber Nick Eh 30 which inspired the "Never back down, never give up" meme.

Some people are even joking about the 2025 meme drought being so bad that Twitch streamer Ninja is still dragging his Low Taper Fade meme.

You can see more about the 2023 meme revival in this Shooglebox:

Buzz from Shooglebox helps major UK brands spot, understand and quickly respond to emerging TikTok trends, and tap into what their customers are seeing, saying and doing on social media.