What does the symphony dolphin meme mean?

If there’s one thing that the kids of Generation Z and Alpha are going to do, it’s to bring back our favorite nostalgic memories and turn them into TikTok trends. What is their latest inspirational goal? The adorable dolphin photo is reminiscent of the colorful artwork of ’90s and 2000s icon Lisa Frank.

With over 11.5 million views and counting, the younger generation has taken these psychedelic photos and used them as new meme formats. The posts often feature depressing messages or complaints scrawled over brightly colored images, with Zara Larsson’s song “Symphony” playing in the background.

So, what is the Symphony Dolphin Meme? Below, we’ll take a closer look at what the dolphin meme means and why it’s become so popular lately.

The origins of the symphony dolphin meme

according to new york postTikTok creator @heiratet started the trend in August 2024, sharing an image of a dolphin with the words “I’m depressed.” Since then, hundreds of thousands of accounts have jumped on the trend, posting their own sad messages such as “$1,000 vet bill” and “I have social anxiety.”

Steffi Cao, a writer and critic of Gen Z culture, said: “The dolphin meme has been trending on social media for a while, but it was linked to Zara Larsson’s song ‘Symphony’ on TikTok earlier this year. It started to gain traction when paired with “This is a more repeatable continuation of the original meme’s use as a satirical representation of the mundanity of our daily lives. Some of the original iterations I saw on Twitter were “eat” How do I see the world after finishing my sandwich” or “How does it feel to listen to NewJeans”.

The trend eventually took For You Page (FYP) by storm, propelling Larsson’s song into the Top 50 charts in 2017. The singer eventually made her own video copying the trend, writing a “what the hell happened” message over the dolphin image. Her posts have racked up over 11.2 million likes and counting, and she even added dolphin visuals to her latest performance, a move the creator calls “reaction marketing.”

“The colors are saturated and bright, and a happy dolphin leaps out of the ocean in the center, contrasting with nihilistic or deeply personal titles like ‘I Suffer from Depression,'” explains Cao. The anthemic nature of the song only adds to the hyperbole of the matter—the tools used in comedy extend far beyond the realm of computers.

The trend has become so big that even Lisa Frank’s official TikTok account has started posting about it, with one video saying “Blissfully surrendering to the swirling darkness of eternal oblivion” and another saying “I’m Lisa Frank and I “It started this trend.”

Symphony Dolphin Meme Explanation

While the message scrawled on the bubblegum pop image may seem alarming, Cao said it’s ultimately just a way for teenagers to use dark humor to cope, similar to things like trauma-dumping candy salads and apocalyptic images of Skibidi toilets How the film performed at FYPs everywhere.

“This type of humor is relevant to the times we currently live in, which can feel jarring compared to the healthy, positive humor of the millennial internet age like ‘ermahgerd’ or the Doge meme,” she explains. Like “boy summer” and “demure,” these sarcastic dolphin memes are just another cog in the ever-changing trend cycle.

symphony dolphin memes social media trends

There are a few different ways teens use the symphony dolphin meme on social media. The first is to spread a message that contrasts with the carefree photos we see above.

But not everyone is choosing to take advantage of the trend to express their dark thoughts. Some people started sharing more positive messages. “August will feel like this because I said so,” said one user on

Meanwhile, brands are jumping on this trend as a way to market their services, with Duolingo releasing a “end your streak and I’ll end you” tease to remind users to complete daily language lessons.

Should Parents Worry About the Symphony Dolphin Meme?

While the primary goal of dolphin memes is dark humor, if you see your child posting something that discusses violence toward others or themselves, it might be a good idea to seek professional help. Otherwise, Cao said, this trend may be something parents don’t need to worry about.

“With or without the Internet, with or without the Internet, your children are going to be taught hatred, violence and prejudice because of the system we live in,” Cao said. “What parents need to focus on is making sure their children have a perspective and teaching critical thinking skills when it comes to their relationship with social media, rather than getting hung up on individual memes that always come and go.”

However, at the end of the day, you know your child best, and if something goes wrong or is concerning, don’t hesitate to ask questions or raise your concerns with a healthcare professional.