The "Influence of Memes on Pop Culture" (Episode: "The Springfield Connection", 1997)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "Influence of Memes on Pop Culture" (Episode: "The Springfield Connection", 1997)

• What happened: The Simpsons often referenced memes and internet culture in a humorous way, predicting how viral content would influence the cultural landscape.
• Reality: In the 2010s, internet memes became a cornerstone of online culture, influencing everything from politics to advertising. Memes were used for social commentary and humor across platforms like Reddit, Twitter, and Instagram, becoming an integral part of modern communication.