What is the 'I Have Nothing Meme'? Meaning and origin Decode

"I have nothing" meme - Image via TikTok/@tomthetroll
"I have nothing" meme - (Image via TikTok/@tomthetroll)

Memes have emerged as a medium of communication on social media. Today, memes are based on viral clips, awkward situations, or even funny scenes captured from TV shows and movies. Their ability to connect with the audience with humor and witty comments puts them on every user’s list. The year 2024 has seen a significant rise in pop culture memes. Brands have also incorporated the usage of memes in their marketing strategies to bridge the gap with the users.

Recently, a new meme went viral online: "I have nothing.” It is a catchphrase delivered by one of the TikTok users. It involves a series of prank videos on the user’s account where he can be seen approaching gas station workers and asking them to put a penny on the pump. They are bewildered and amused; the man says, “I have nothing!!!” Apart from the “I have nothing” meme, there is another meme that is doing rounds on the internet called “left pocket dog sh*t.” Users generally use this meme to describe financially unstable or unfortunate situations.


Origin of the “I have nothing” meme

When a TikTok user named @tomthetroll posted a funny clip on his account, nobody knew it would result in a viral meme in 2023. The meme stems from a TikTok sound featuring a robotic voice complaining about insufficient essentials like milk for cereal. The voice became so popular that people started using it as a background voice for their memes.

The meme gained traction in 2024 among social media users who started using it often in their posts with their unique versions of the “I have nothing" meme.

Many variations of the meme are also created where the people print images of money and hold them up to a credit card machine. The meme reflects the rise in demand for absurd content among users.

“I have nothing” meme can be called a humorous take on people’s financial situations or awkward moments. Such memes allow people to connect with the audience caught in embarrassing situations. It also allows them to embrace absurdity and share their experiences with others.


In conclusion, memes have reflected the importance of happiness in our lives. It gives users a chance to explore their surroundings and their original selves. Memes created around awkward moments only highlight the lengths of absurdity people can go to for comical content. They also invoke a sense of connectivity among people from different cultures and communities.

Creating memes around weird situations has become quite the trend in the digital culture. Due to their cultural reference and adaptability, memes will continue to remain a crucial part of the internet culture.

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Edited by Sarah Nazamuddin Harniswala