My Journey to Discover Why Everyone Online Has Suddenly Become “Very Humble”

Hi. You may know me, but if you’re new here — I’m Kayla.

I am funny. There is one caveat: you have to have a special sense of humor to understand me. Think dryness, think dispassion, think sarcasm without intonation.

I am also chronically online. But no matter how much time I spend browsing the nooks and crannies of the Internet, there are still many things that overwhelm me. Including the sudden influx of people, situations, and activities that suddenly become (or are not) very seriousI really need to be more careful.

So why has the internet suddenly become “very humble, very careful”? My initial reaction is that it’s funny, catchy, and everyone loves satire.

What does modest mean?

Here’s the definition: Modest (adjective) – defined as “reserved, modest, and shy (usually applied to women).”

Example: “a modest young lady”

Are we using the exact definition of modesty in this trend? Absolutely not. Instead, we are being cute.

Where did this trend come from?

This trend appears to have its origins in a TikTok video posted by @joolieannie in early August. In the video, she says: “See how I do my makeup for work? Very modestly, very carefully.”

@joolieannie explains the humble trend in this movie. She said that for her, these films are clearly a joke. “Every humble film is just me referring to myself. That’s the whole joke. But people say, ‘Maybe we shouldn’t judge people for how they come to work?’ I’m only judging myself.”

The videos went viral, and suddenly the internet was flooded with people who were “humble” and “mindful.” On TikTok, people began mouthing off the original video, quoting it, or commenting on how humble things were (or weren’t).

But do I really need to explain how memes work? That wouldn’t be very careful. It basically boils down to people on the internet doing what they’ve always done.

We’ll be “modest” and “mindful” until we get tired of hearing/reading/watching it, and then another trend will come along and we’ll share it. I’ll probably keep using “modest” and “mindful” for a bit longer than is socially appropriate.

Then the cycle repeats itself. Memes will continue to meme, and people on the internet will continue to be sarcastic and funny. Will I ever fully understand why anyone does anything? No. But if we remove ourselves far enough, we’re all just specks of dust hurtling through the vastness of space.

Now that we’re here, we can have some fun.