Origin: Jim Henson’s most famous Muppet is known for his frequent flailing jags on The Muppet Show, and this GIF captures the height of that tendency.
When to use it: When you just can’t hold back your emotions or want to sarcastically overreact - or, if you’re feeling particularly mean, mock someone else’s overreaction to whatever situation is at hand. According to Vox’s own teen drama expert Constance Grady, “the fandom really hated Dawson and hardcore shipped Joey/Pacey, so there was a lot of schadenfreude in that moment where he essentially ‘lost’” - all of which helped catapult this GIF to perennial meme status. The famous moment reportedly wasn’t scripted - Van Der Beek–as–Dawson was just that upset. Origin: This is actually a pivotal moment for Dawson’s Creek fans - it’s the season three finale, “True Love,” and the decisive moment comes when our (controversial) hero, Dawson, loses it over his realization that the girl he loves would be better off with her much healthier soul mate. When to use it: Whenever Nathan Fillion’s speechlessness (see #6) just isn’t quite enough to convey your level of speechlessness. The blinking white guy in question is gamer Drew Scanlon, and the meme is his priceless reaction in 2013 to a fellow gamer’s casual description of “farming with my hoe.” (Admit it: You like it even more now that you know this.) Origin: One of the newest additions to the reaction GIF canon has been everywhere this year. Warning: Using this GIF while Old may not actually make you appear more hip. When to use it: Whenever an Old is attempting to blend in with the Youngs. Origin: Steve Buscemi’s 2009 guest appearance in 30 Rock’s fourth season led to this timeless moment - timeless because, for as long as the world continues to turn, old and uncool adults will continue to flail while attempting to connect with Today’s Youth. When to use it: Whenever you need to drop the mic, make a killer exit, or end on a high note. Origin: When President Obama finished his remarks at his final White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2016, he literally dropped the mic. When to use it: Whenever you want to toast or congratulate someone on the internet - either ironically or sincerely. Origin: 2013’s The Great Gatsby was a sumptuous visual feast, but this meme-orable moment has transcended its context to become an all-purpose reaction for the ages. When to use: You’ve walked into an awkward situation, or just stumbled upon a major internet can of worms that you’d prefer not to open. Origin: This iconic awkward Simpsons moment appears in season five, episode 16, “Homer Loves Flanders” it’s Homer’s reaction to finding out that the Flanders family wants some non-Homer time to themselves.
When to use it: Whenever the state of the world or the news or your life or anything else makes you feel like absolutely nothing matters anymore. And many people thought it summed up the national zeitgeist then. Origin: Tumblr word art artist Cat Frazier made this GIF in 2012. Here are Vox’s choices for the most iconic reaction GIFs on the internet - ranked by order of necessity to our lives, from occasionally essential to can’t-use-the-internet-without-them. When you can shorthand “blinking white guy” and have people understand exactly which blinking white guy you’re talking about, your reaction GIF has reached peak internet saturation. The internet would appear to have many, many, many candidates for “greatest GIF of all time,” but it’s undeniable that some reaction GIFs are so ubiquitous that the average internet user can likely picture them simply from reading a description. And as we consider the legacy of the internet’s greatest file format, we must pause to recognize a special category of GIF that’s left an indelible mark on social media: the reaction GIF.
The GIF is now 30 years old, but it already feels immortal - possibly because it’s already outlasted the internet’s most turbulent periods of evolution.
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