Many people like to believe they are unique, and in some ways, they are. However, just a few minutes on the internet can show how many of our habits are also shared by many others. That treat you promised yourself after a tough day? It turns out a lot of people have the same idea. And that feeling of wanting to cancel plans to scroll on your phone in bed? You’re definitely not alone. These small experiences connect us.
The Instagram account Goet creates funny memes from these common experiences. A collection of some of the most amusing ones can be found below, and you can scroll through them and upvote the ones that resonate with you.
It’s interesting how much we might have in common with someone from a distant part of the world. We may speak different languages and have different customs, yet we can enjoy similar things. Sometimes, these connections are found in unexpected areas, such as our dinner choices.
Take dumplings, for instance. Many cultures have their own versions of this tasty food. In China, they have jiaozi, while in Poland, you will find pierogi, and in Turkey, there are manti. Smithsonian Magazine reports that dumplings have existed for at least a thousand years, and early forms that look a lot like today’s dumplings were made during China’s Tang Dynasty. This shows that the love for dough has a long history.
Our commonalities extend beyond food. It seems that people everywhere enjoy gossip as well. A 2026 review in the Annual Review of Anthropology mentions that gossip can be found in all human societies. It helps people build relationships and understand the unspoken rules of their communities. So, that friend who always has the latest news might be continuing a very old practice.
Music also connects people in surprising ways. Research from Harvard in 2019 looked at music from different cultures and discovered that certain types of songs often share recognizable features. For example, lullabies, love songs, and healing songs tend to have similar musical traits no matter where they are from.
Laughter might be one of the most fascinating things we share. A study with 966 participants from 24 different societies found that people could often tell if two individuals were friends or strangers just by listening to their laughter together. They didn’t need to understand the language or know anything about the people involved, which is quite impressive.
Nowadays, the internet offers another way to connect over shared experiences. Memes have become a form of communication that allows people to express specific feelings through humorous images and brief captions. Researchers are starting to explore why some memes feel so relatable. A 2026 study with 225 Polish participants found that memes related to procrastination were viewed as especially relatable, while those about depression received the most laughter.
There is also research indicating that memes can help individuals feel understood during tough times. A 2022 review found that people facing mental health challenges often viewed relevant memes as sources of humor and connection with others undergoing similar situations. While a funny image may not fix someone’s issues, recognizing your struggles in someone else’s joke can be comforting. Sometimes, just knowing that others understand can make a difference.
What do you think about the ways memes can connect us?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Erika Saikovskytė