# That One Friend > That One Friend is a 2019 meme format featuring split or contrasting images highlighting one group member's distinctive, often problematic behavior versus the rest of the group. A relatable meme format depicting the friend in a group who always does something distinctive or problematic. The format uses contrasting images to show that one friend's unique behavior or characteristic compared to the rest of the group. ## Origin Emerged in 2019 as social media users created content joking about their friend groups. The format capitalized on the universal experience of having one friend who behaves differently or has a specific quirk that distinguishes them from others. - **Platform:** Instagram, Twitter, Reddit - **Creator:** Multiple creators - **Date:** 2019 ## Overview That One Friend represents a relatable meme format built on shared experiences within friend groups. The format typically contrasts four or more images, with one showing a friend doing something distinctive or problematic and the others showing normal behavior. The humor derives from the recognition that nearly every friend group has members who serve specific roles or exhibit particular behaviors. What makes this format powerful is its universality, the specific friend type being referenced varies by group, but every viewer can identify with the concept. The format turned out to be flexible enough to accommodate countless variations and friend archetypes. Unlike many memes based on absurdism or niche humor, That One Friend appeals broadly because it reflects genuine social experience. ## How It Spread That One Friend became popular across Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok starting in 2019, with users sharing relatable content about friend group dynamics. Peak usage occurred in 2019-2021 as the format perfectly captured friend group experiences. The format remains actively used in 2024 with consistent applications to various friend group scenarios. The meme's success lay in its universal applicability, nearly everyone can identify with having a friend who fits a particular role in their group. The format evolved to include various archetypes: the athletic friend, the one with relationship drama, the one who's bad with money, etc. ## How to Use To use That One Friend, find or create images representing a friend group where one member is distinguished by specific behavior or characteristic. The format typically contrasts the unusual friend with others, using captions to explain the distinctive behavior. The humor comes from how relatable and recognizable the archetype is. 1. Find the That One Friend template on Imgflip or a similar meme generator 2. Think of a funny or relatable caption that fits the format 3. Add your text to the template using the meme generator 4. Share your creation on social media or in group chats ## Cultural Impact That One Friend demonstrates how memes reflecting genuine social experience achieve particular success and longevity. The format influenced how people discussed and documented friend group dynamics online. The meme also created shared language for identifying and joking about specific friend group roles. The format's success contributed to broader trends in social media toward highly relatable, personal content. Unlike memes based on absurdism or niche humor, formats like That One Friend appeal broadly because they reflect universal experiences. ## Fun Facts - The format spawned countless friend group archetypes: the athletic one, the dramatic one, the poor one, the rich one, etc. - Many variations exist for different contexts: work friends, school friends, online friends, etc. - The format turned out to be so relatable that many users created multiple versions applicable to different friend groups - Similar formats existed earlier but crystallized into the specific That One Friend template in 2019 - The format is still one of the most widely used for friend group humor - The That One Friend meme has been shared millions of times across social media - You can create your own That One Friend meme using free tools like Imgflip - That One Friend first appeared in 2019 - The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators - Brands and marketers have used That One Friend in their campaigns - The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is That One Friend? That One Friend a relatable meme format depicting the friend in a group who always does something distinctive or problematic. ### What does That One Friend mean? That One Friend represents a relatable meme format built on shared experiences within friend groups. The format typically contrasts four or more images, with one showing a friend doing something distinctive or problematic and the others showing normal behavior. ### Where did That One Friend come from? That One Friend originated on Instagram, Twitter, Reddit around 2019. The format emerged during a period when Instagram and Twitter culture emphasized relatable, personal content and friend group documentation. ### How do you use That One Friend? To use That One Friend, find or create images representing a friend group where one member is distinguished by specific behavior or characteristic. The format typically contrasts the unusual friend with others, using captions to explain the distinctive behavior. ### Is That One Friend still popular in 2026? Yes, That One Friend is still popular in 2026. It gets regular use on platforms like Reddit, TikTok, Twitter, and Discord. ### Who created That One Friend? Multiple creators created That One Friend. The format emerged during a period when Instagram and Twitter culture emphasized relatable, personal content and friend group documentation. Social media algorithms favored content that users would share with friends, making relatable friend-based humor particularly popular. ### When did That One Friend start? That One Friend first appeared around 2019 on Instagram, Twitter, Reddit. The format emerged during a period when Instagram and Twitter culture emphasized relatable, personal content and friend group documentation. Social media algorithms favored content that users would share with friends, making relatable friend-based humor particularly popular. ### What platform did That One Friend originate on? That One Friend originated on Instagram, Twitter, Reddit around 2019. That One Friend represents a relatable meme format built on shared experiences within friend groups. ### What are the best examples of That One Friend? The best examples of That One Friend showcase its core format at its most effective. Notable variations include Family Member Versions, Workplace Versions, Specific Archetype Templates. ### What memes are similar to That One Friend? Memes similar to That One Friend include Deep Fried Memes, Blursed Images, Dicaprio Laughing, Draw 25 Cards. These share a similar format, humor style, or cultural context. ### Is That One Friend dead? No, That One Friend is actively used in 2026. While it may not be at its absolute peak, you can still find fresh takes on it across social media. ### Has That One Friend been used by celebrities or brands? Various brands and public figures have referenced That One Friend in their social media and marketing. Memes with broad recognition like this one often get picked up for commercial use. ### Can I buy That One Friend merchandise? Yes, That One Friend merchandise is available on platforms like Redbubble, Amazon, and Etsy. You can find t shirts, stickers, mugs, phone cases, and other items featuring the meme. ### Where can I find the That One Friend template? You can find the That One Friend template on meme generator sites like Imgflip, Kapwing, and Meme Generator. The template is widely available for free use. ### How do I make my own That One Friend? To use That One Friend, find or create images representing a friend group where one member is distinguished by specific behavior or characteristic. The format typically contrasts the unusual friend with others, using captions to explain the distinctive behavior. ### Did That One Friend inspire any other memes? Yes, That One Friend inspired several variations and spinoffs, including Family Member Versions, Workplace Versions, Specific Archetype Templates. ### Is That One Friend copyrighted? Most memes exist in a legal gray area. The original image or video may have copyright protection, but meme formats are generally treated as fair use. That said, this is not legal advice. ## References 1. [That One Friend, Wikipedia]() 2. [That One Friend on Reddit]() 3. [That One Friend, Know Your Meme]() 4. [Google Trends: That One Friend]() 5. [That One Friend Meme Explained, YouTube]() 6. [That One Friend on X/Twitter]() 7. [That One Friend Meme Templates, Imgflip]() 8. [That One Friend on TikTok]() 9. [That One Friend Meme, Pinterest]() 10. [That One Friend, Memedroid]() 11. [That One Friend, 9GAG]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/that-one-friend Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library