Apple Airpod memes are a peerless example of uniquely twenty-first century, ironically satirical, anti-materialist criticism on an increasingly globalized, capitalistic society.
The memes gently poke fun at those who invest in the bleeding edge of technology while simultaneously, seamlessly integrating itself into the subculture that has formed around these devices, as well as other “high-tech” Apple products. These memes are particularly unique in that they are generally well-accepted in both the communities of so called “normies,” the likes of which are found on Twitter and Instagram, as well as meme discussion forums of Reddit, which are typically viewed as superior in terms of comedic intelligence. Adaptations of the meme such as the “Sorry, I don’t speak broke” and “Does it smell like broke in here or is it just me, oh wait I can’t hear you over the sound of my Airpods” variations make scathing social commentary on the current economic state of society. However, both owners of Apple Airpods and those without them alike find these memes quite entertaining. Adaptations such as “Louis XVI, the Guillotine is Coming. Oh my god he has Airpods. He can’t hear us. Oh my god” gently mock the users of Apple’s Airpods inability to hear while wearing the devices. Overall, the memes are paradoxically easy to adapt yet avoid “normification” through their uniqueness and relatability. The memes are generally well accepted by all online communities and will most likely outlast generations of memes to come. I give Apple Airpod memes an eight out of ten.