If you’ve spent any time scrolling through TikTok, Reddit, or Instagram lately, chances are you’ve stumbled upon the “Mewing Meme.”
What started as a simple facial exercise technique to improve jawline definition has turned into one of the internet’s funniest—and most relatable—viral trends.
The Mewing Meme humorously captures people’s obsession with achieving the “perfect jawline,” turning what was once a serious beauty hack into a comedy goldmine.
From exaggerated chin poses to dramatic before-and-after edits, this meme has taken over social media feeds everywhere.
It’s not just about looks anymore—it’s about confidence, self-improvement, and a touch of self-aware humor.
Whether you’re laughing at the over-the-top “Mewing Meme Guy” or sharing a “Mewing Meme GIF” to tease a friend, this trend perfectly blends self-care with satire.
What Is the Mewing Meme?
At its core the mewing meme is the intersection of three things:
- The actual practice of Mewing (tongue on the roof of the mouth, lips sealed, trying to improve jawline).
- Internet humour mocking or exaggerating that practice—thus the meme.
- Visual formats—GIFs, images, TikTok clips—that make it viral.
Real mewing vs. mewing meme
Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Concept | Real Mewing (Orthotropics) | Mewing Meme |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Improve tongue posture, jaw alignment | Laugh at obsession with jaw-perfection |
| Tone | Serious/self-improvement | Satire, humour, “look at me” flex |
| Media formats | Tutorial videos, before/after images | Reaction GIFs, viral clips, TikTok memes |
| Audience | People interested in facial aesthetics | Internet sub-cultures, meme lovers, TikTok users |
The Origin of the Mewing Meme
The roots of the mewing meme stretch from serious orthodontic theory into meme culture.
- The practice of mewing was popularized by British orthodontist John Mew (and his son Mike Mew).
- According to the site Know Your Meme: “Mewing” as a term began on the YouTube channel Orthotropics in 2011/2012.
- From this posture-technique origin the meme part emerged when internet users started mocking the over-emphasis on jawlines, sharing images, GIFs, and short clips. For example, on Reddit: “It’s depicting ‘mewing’ … a tongue exercise … it’s also a joke, symbolising that those who shut up and continue mewing are chads…”
- It gained major momentum around 2018-2024 as TikTok and Reddit users ran with it.
So the mewing meme origin is layered: orthodontics → social media trend → full meme.
The Meaning Behind the Mewing Meme
Why do people even make these mewing memes? What do they mean?
What does the mewing meme mean?
Put simply: the meme plays on the idea of perfecting one’s face (jawline, chin, cheekbones) while poking fun at how absurd that quest can get. It also captures social-media culture around looks, flexing, and transformation.
In classrooms and on TikTok it’s been used as a gesture:
“It just means I can’t answer your question right now, I’m ‘mewing.’” – teacher describing teen behaviour.
Key themes in the meme
- Vanity & obsession: The jawline becomes a badge of aesthetic success.
- Transformation hype: Before vs after, “I started mewing yesterday” jokes.
- Relatability: “Me after one day of mewing” always gets a chuckle.
- Reaction format: Using face-expressions to show snark, disbelief, or smug confidence.
Why it’s funny
The humour comes from exaggeration. Someone tries the “jawline hack,” but the meme shows them over-the-top, pointing to their chin like they just unlocked a superpower. It’s self-aware; people laugh with the meme.
It also taps into reaction culture: the goofy face, the GIF, the short clip—that’s how we communicate online now.
The Rise of the Mewing Meme on TikTok
If you want to see where this blew up, look at TikTok. The mewing meme TikTok scene is massive.
How it spread
- Hashtags like #mewingmeme, #mewingchallenge, #mewingface popped up.
- Users post short clips doing the tongue-on-roof trick, pointing to their jawline with a sly smirk.
- They overlay captions like “Mewing meme bye bye” or “Started mewing for 2 hours”.
- Others remix it, add music, combine it with viral sounds, or use template formats.
A Bored Panda article describes how hundreds of users shared jawline transformation videos and memes.
Teachers started complaining when students used the gesture in class—so it’s gone from funny to disruptive.
What the clips look like
Common format:
- Close-up of jawline
- Tongue on roof, lips together
- Caption: “Mewing meme bye bye weak chin”
- Quick cut to reaction or reveal
Often set to trending TikTok audio.
The Mewing Meme Guy: The Face Behind the Trend
No meme goes viral without a memorable face. Enter the Mewing Meme Guy—the person (or persona) whose expression became a template.
Who is he?
The exact identity is murky. Meme culture often masks real names. But the image/video features:
- A male figure, strong jawline, confident facial expression
- Pose: pressing tongue (or pretending) to the roof of the mouth, pointing at jaw, lip sealed
- Captioned with “mewing meme” tags
Why his face stuck
Because it encapsulates the meme: I’m perfecting my face, watch me.
The expression became the baseline for remixing: you replace the head, change the caption, and you’ve got your own version of “mewing meme funny.”
Common versions
- Mewing meme bye bye – the “two-phase” meme: before mewing / after mewing
- Mewing meme GIF – quick loop of the face and jaw action
- Mewing meme template – blank version users fill with their own caption or image
The face is essentially the anchor for the meme to spread.
Mewing Meme Formats and Templates
To participate (or just appreciate), you should know the formats.
Major formats
- GIFs: short loops, perfect for reactions (“When you start mewing and they try to flirt”).
- Image templates: a blank version with, say, “Top text: Me before mewing / Bottom text: Me after mewing.”
- Short videos/clips: TikToks or Instagram Reels where someone starts serious then breaks into a jaw-line reveal.
- Compilation videos: “Best mewing meme moments” stitched together.
Template examples
| Format | Use-case |
|---|---|
| Blank image template | Meme-makers add their own caption. |
| GIF reaction | Use as comment or tweet to express “I’m looking good.” |
| TikTok clip | Use trending audio + mewing pose for viral chance. |
| Compilation montage | YouTube or TikTok lists of top mewing meme edits. |
Tips for meme creation
- Keep the caption short and punchy (e.g., “Mewing meme bye bye weak chin”).
- Use bold visuals: sharp jaw, good lighting, clear expression.
- Pair with trending sound or TikTok audio for better spread.
- Stay timely: when a meme sound or template goes meta, act quickly.
Why the Mewing Meme Is So Funny
Comedy often comes from exaggeration, recognition, and timing. The mewing meme funny factor ticks all three.
Recognition
You see it and you say: “Yep, I know what they’re referencing—jawline obsession.”
The meme works because many of us have seen a selfie, filter, or influencer brag about “my jawline is so chiseled.”
Exaggeration
It takes the real practise of mewing (which is subtle) and dials it up to absurd. The snapping jaw, the pointing fingers, the “bye bye” caption—it’s a caricature.
As one Redditor put it:
“It’s a method used by models to temporarily change their jaw shape … but it’s also a joke.”
Timing
Social media loves quick hits. The meme thrives in GIFs, short clips. The format lines up with how we now browse—fast, visual, shareable.
Cultural resonance
- Taps into looksmaxxing culture (doing whatever you can to look better).
- Plays on the influencer aesthetic of perfect jawlines.
- Also reflects the irony of “improve your face” trends—so you laugh at them while you watch them.
All of this adds up to why the mewing meme geeky-jawline joke became so huge.
Mewing Meme Reactions Across Platforms
One of the signs of a strong meme is how many platforms it spans. The mewing meme compilation spans TikTok, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram.
Where it’s hot
- TikTok: Short clips, challenges, filters.
- Reddit: Threads dissecting the meme, remixing it, meta-commentary on “mewing meme guy name” and identity.
- Instagram/Meme Pages: Static templates, reposts of GIFs.
- YouTube: Compilation videos of “best mewing meme moments.”
- GIF libraries: Searchable GIFs users share in chat apps.
Popular reactions and edits
- Funny mewing meme reactions: Someone sees a jawline reveal and the GIF below is used to respond.
- Mewing meme edits: People replacing the original face with celebrities, animals, and adding jump-cuts.
- Mewing meme video: The short clip format that loops the jaw-pose with a reaction.
Community vibe
On Reddit you’ll find discussions like:
“It’s become a sort of a meme in Zoomer/Gen Alpha communities…”
Also teachers complaining that students use the gesture to avoid answering questions.
The Sound Behind the Meme
It’s not just visuals. The mewing meme sound adds another layer.
Why audio matters
Memes on TikTok live or die by sound. Pairing the jaw-pose with a trending audio track boosts spread.
Common approaches
- Using a dramatic “jaw reveal” drop in the music.
- Remixes: a bass-drop when the tongue hits the roof.
- Caption-sound combos: Someone says “Bye bye weak chin” while the audio echoes.
Tip
When you create your own, scan TikTok’s trending sounds and see where a mewing pose fits to the beat.
Downloading and Creating Your Own Mewing Meme
Want to join the fun? Here’s how.
Step-by-step
- Search for mewing meme images or GIFs. Sites like Tenor, Giphy, Imgur.
- Download the base template.
- Use tools:
- Canva – drag-drop image editor
- Kapwing – free GIF/clip editing
- Mematic – mobile meme maker
- Overlay your caption. Keep it short.
- Add trending sound or mark “Mewing meme tiktok” format.
- Post and tag properly (hashtags like #mewingmeme, #viralmeme).
Tips for best results
- Use high-resolution image or GIF.
- Ensure caption is legible (large font, bold).
- Acknowledge the format: e.g., use “mewing meme bye bye weak chin” in the caption.
- Keep attachments short if uploading to TikTok (10-15 s recommended).
The Meme’s Cultural Impact and Longevity
This isn’t just a short-lived joke. The mewing meme has real cultural implications.
What it reflects
- An internet-age obsession with looks and “fixing” them.
- How social media accelerates trends from niche to mainstream.
- A blending of self-improvement culture with satire.
Will it last?
It may evolve. The jawline-obsession might shift, but the structure of the meme—someone trying a hack, meme-makers joking about it—will persist.
In other words, while this format might fade, the cycle repeats. The viral mewing meme has become a case study in how humour, aesthetics, and platform dynamics converge.
Key facts
- The term “mewing” saw a spike in Google Trends around 2019.
- Schools in the UK & US reported students using mewing gestures to avoid engagement.
- The meme spread beyond one platform—TikTok, Reddit, Instagram all played a role.
Best Mewing Meme Moments & Compilations
Here are some of the most share-worthy instances of the trend:
- “Mewing meme bye bye”: Before-vs-after format, someone dramatically declares “bye bye weak chin.”
- GIF reaction loops: People using that jaw-flex face as a reaction when someone else tries something unimpressive.
- TikTok challenges: Users attempting “1 day of mewing” to show what happens (with comedic editing).
- Reddit threads: Users dissecting the meme face, origin, and context.
- Template remixes: People replacing the original “Mewing Meme Guy” with animals, celebrities, or awkward photos of themselves for comedic effect.
Want to dive into a full list of 10 + meme moments? I can pull that together too.
FAQs (Quick, One-Line Answers)
What does the Mewing meme mean?
It’s a satirical take on the facial-exercise craze of mewing.
Who is the Mewing Meme Guy?
The anonymous persona whose face became the meme’s poster-child.
What is the Mewing meme origin?
It evolved from orthodontic theory (mewing) into an internet trend around 2018-2020.
What is Mewing meme bye bye?
A variant where someone says “bye bye weak chin” after supposedly mewing.
Why is it funny?
Because it exaggerates aesthetics obsession and turns it into a shareable punchline.
Conclusion:
What started as a niche tongue-and-jaw exercise turned into a full-blown cultural moment. The mewing meme combines aesthetics, satire, and social media in a cocktail that resonates far beyond just jawlines.
Whether you’re watching TikTok users flex their “mewing meme tiktok” clips or sharing a reaction GIF in a chat, you’re part of the loop.
