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‘Me in 2006 vs. Me in 2016’ is a new meme about the ravages of time

A lot can change in 10 years.

Photo of Jay Hathaway 

Jay Hathaway

Internet Culture

Posted on Dec 6, 2016   Updated on May 25, 2021, 10:49 am CDT

The years take their toll, some more than others. Do you miss how much younger and happier you were in 2006? Or do you think about how much you’ve grown as a person since then? Either way, here’s a half-serious new meme for discussing the cruel tricks time plays on each of us: Me in 2006 vs. Me in 2016. 

It’s very straightforward: just two pics. Some people are taking it very literally, posting images of themselves from today and a decade ago. That is one valid approach.

(Sorry, this embed was not found.)


But most entries are metaphorical and jokey, in the same sense as  “I’m this guy” and “Me IRL.” 

https://twitter.com/rthompson1138/status/805640648321708033

As you can see, the three schools of thought behind this meme are: older and wiser, exactly as dumb as before, and literally on fire. 

https://twitter.com/DFosterEvans/status/806187911850889216

(Sorry, this embed was not found.)

I wonder if someone did the bad and obvious Harambe joke! 

https://twitter.com/JeanPaul_Fartre/status/806181492397342720

Of course they did.

If you wish to express your life’s regrets, or express that you have none, this is the currently popular way to do so. 

(Sorry, this embed was not found.)

Time comes for all of us, in the end.

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*First Published: Dec 6, 2016, 5:55 pm CST

Jay Hathaway

Jay Hathaway is a former senior writer who specialized in internet memes and weird online culture. He previously served as the Daily Dot’s news editor, was a staff writer at Gawker, and edited the classic websites Urlesque and Download Squad. His work has also appeared on nymag.com, suicidegirls.com, and the Morning News.

Jay Hathaway