Part of what makes memes so enjoyable is that the entire experience of them is incredibly low-stakes. They promise almost nothing in the grand scheme of things, yet often deliver more than expected. Their silly humor escapes harsh critique (well, some of the time) because they never pretend to be high art. All they ask is to entertain us for a moment or two.

While time might be valuable, there’s no harm in spending a little on memes. They lift our mood, or at the very least distract us from what’s weighing us down. They also offer a simple, relatable way to connect with others, reminding us that underneath it all, we share more in common than we realize. Our sense of humor is more universal than we give it credit for. Memes might not try very hard, but they still manage to bring us together. There’s something quietly beautiful about that.