Chronically Online Quiz: How Deep Are You in Internet Culture?

1. Someone sends you a meme with no context. What's your reaction?

I laugh even though I don't fully get it and move on

I immediately know the origin, the subreddit it came from, and its three ironic layers

I ask what a meme is

I send back five related memes to continue the conversation

2. How do you typically find out about major news events?

From a newspaper or TV broadcast

From a meme or tweet before any official outlet covers it

From my social media feed, usually a few hours after it happens

From a deeply ironic post that I had to decode to understand what actually happened

3. What does 'NPC' mean to you?

A video game character that isn't controlled by a player

A way to describe people who seem to lack independent thought — I use it regularly

I'm not sure, is it a type of computer?

A concept so overused it's now ironic to use it unironically, which makes it funny again

4. You hear someone say 'it's giving main character energy.' What do you do?

Nod along even though I'm not 100% sure what that means

Immediately agree and add 'no thoughts, head empty' to the conversation

Ask them to explain — I genuinely don't know what that phrase means

Respond entirely in ironic affirmations until neither of you knows what's sincere anymore

5. How many browser tabs do you have open right now?

Just one or two — I like to keep things tidy

Maybe five to ten, a normal amount

Somewhere between 30 and 'my laptop is crying'

I've lost count. The tabs are a lifestyle at this point

6. A new viral trend is sweeping TikTok. What's your move?

I find out about it three months later when someone explains it to me

I watch a few videos, maybe try it, then move on

I was doing it before it was a trend and now I'm annoyed it went mainstream

I've already made an ironic version of the trend that mocks the trend itself

7. What does 'touch grass' mean to you?

Literally going outside and touching grass — sounds nice actually

I know it means go outside, and I've said it to someone online before

A phrase people say to me more often than I'd like to admit

An ironic concept — I've never touched grass and I'm proud of it

8. How would you describe your sense of humor?

Classic — I like jokes with a clear punchline

Relatable and meme-influenced but still accessible to most people

Deeply layered, ironic, and probably incomprehensible to anyone over 35

Post-ironic absurdism that I'm not sure even I understand anymore

9. Someone mentions 'the discourse.' What do you think they mean?

A formal discussion or debate, like in a class or meeting

Some kind of online argument — I've seen the word used that way

The ongoing online argument about a specific topic that I'm probably already involved in

The endless cycle of online drama that I consume like oxygen

10. What's your relationship with internet slang?

I barely use any — I prefer speaking in complete sentences

I use some of it when it feels natural, like 'lol' or 'vibe'

I use it constantly, including in professional emails, and I'm not sorry

I use slang so ironically that I've looped back to using it sincerely without realizing

11. How do you feel about fandoms?

I like things, but I don't really join communities around them

I follow a few fandoms casually but don't get involved in drama

I have strong opinions about fandom discourse and have definitely argued online about it

I've been in multiple fandom wars and have the receipts to prove it

12. What happens when you experience something interesting in real life?

I enjoy it and maybe tell a friend later

I might post about it if it's really worth sharing

I immediately think about how to frame it as a tweet or caption

I experience it through the lens of which meme format it fits best

13. Pick the phrase that resonates most with you:

'I just want a quiet life with good food and good company'

'I'm online but I also go outside sometimes'

'I understood that reference'

'I am once again asking you to look at this meme'

14. How do you feel about 'core' aesthetics like cottagecore, goblincore, or dark academia?

I have no idea what any of those words mean

I've heard of them and find some of them cute or interesting

I identify with at least one of them and have curated my life accordingly

I've invented my own ironic 'core' that doesn't actually mean anything

15. It's 2 AM. What are you most likely doing?

Sleeping — I have a healthy sleep schedule

Watching something on streaming, maybe scrolling a little

Deep in a Reddit thread or YouTube rabbit hole about something very specific

Arguing with strangers online about something that will not matter tomorrow

Chronically Online Quiz: See How Deep You Are in Internet Culture