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So, if you see “iykyk” being used somewhere, there’s probably some sort of hidden message or reference only people “in the know” will truly comprehend. This leads us to its incorporation into meme culture.
If you want to use IYKYK, make a social post with a subtle hint to an event, experience, or shared interest that not everyone shares. Don’t give away too much, or the post will cease to be a fun, inside reference between you and others. The phrase “If You Know, You Know” (IYKYK) has permeated pop culture and social media, gaining popularity through various channels and contexts. Here are a few examples of cultural references to IYKYK:
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As you can see in the previous example and those below, there is a multitude of ways IYKYK can be used in memes of all shapes and sizes, but it’s most commonly used to suggest a subtle nod to a reference that only some will understand if they have previous knowledge of the topic. This is similar to an “inside joke,” which is a funny anecdote that only a couple of friends will understand. They both imply that there is some inside knowledge that makes something amusing.
You may be thinking, “Well now I know, you know? So what more do I really need to know?” But wait, there’s more. While it can be used as a simple abbreviation of that phrase, the actual context IYKYK is typically used in online is often linked to things like inside jokes among communities or vague references that actually have much deeper meanings.In your caption, you casually drop the acronym IYKYK – short for “If You Know, You Know.” This cryptic yet intriguing hashtag serves as a secret handshake, a shared understanding among those who’ve had the pleasure of discovering this hidden gem of a restaurant. Gaming: In the gaming community, IYKYK could refer to insider easter eggs, specific gaming strategies, or legendary gaming narratives. For instance, posting an image of a difficult level in a game with the caption IYKYK immediately connects those who’ve struggled with the same challenge. Wordscapes is a mix between Boggle and a crossword puzzle. You are given a bank of letters at the bottom of your screen and there's a crossword puzzle at the top. You make words with the letters in your bank and fill out the crossword with them. Once you complete the puzzle, you're rewarded with a nice landscape picture. It’s used in memes, TV shows, movies, fashion, sports, food, and gaming to hint at knowledge or experiences exclusive to certain groups.
The slang denotes an insider perspective: You understand (or get) the reference if you're a part of what the original post is talking about. The term is often used in social media posts and as a hashtag. The song If You Know You Know by Pusha T helped to make IYKYK mainstream in 2018 which is probably why it is used so often nowadays. The main driving force of the adoption of IYKYK en masse, however, was TokTok. In 2020, thousands of TikTok videos were posted with the tag IYKYK. These posts were designed for specific audiences and niche interests. Hence the use of IYKYK. Pin
Where IYKYK Comes From
in December of 2016, well into the social media age. It started appearing in social media posts earlier that year before becoming a popular acronym several years later. Wordscapes gives players letters and asks them to fill in a crossword puzzle with those letters. Google Play Wordscapes The acronym IYKYK, like many slang phrases, emerged as a convenient texting shorthand primarily among the 16-25 age group. Internet Memes: IYKYK has become a popular tagline for internet memes, typically used to describe scenarios or jokes that only make sense to those who share a particular cultural context or experience. These might refer to classic films, specific video games, historical events, or even shared experiences during the global pandemic.