The Brief: Memes about the pros and cons of being perceived combine philosophical concepts with meme humor to represent some of the complexities of existence.

DEEP DIVE
Similar to the meme concept of “the mortifying ordeal of being known” and “the rewards of being loved,” internet memes about being perceived by others reflect how jarring it can be to exist in the world.
The ideas exhibited in these memes both directly and indirectly reference philosophical, psychological, and sociological concepts about the self. While people may have ideas about what it means to exist as themselves, the construction of “the self” is somewhat dependent on how they are viewed and perceived by others.
COVID-19 related quarantine measures have led many people to rethink what it means to be perceived while physically isolated from the rest of the world. For those who are staying in their homes close to 24/7, opportunities for people to perceive them occur mainly on social media. This means that Instagram stories, dating app profiles, Reddit accounts, etc. are becoming some of the only reflections of the self that are presented to the outside world. Some people who are living in isolation except for their online presence are finding that being perceived on social media makes them feel uncomfortable and exposed.
‘Being Perceived’ Memes
While there’s more to the complexities of being perceived than a simple image macro or tweet may be able to represent, these memes showcase some musings about trials and tribulations of the human experience.
the fact that i’m constantly being perceived,,, makes me uneasy
— neon black (@gradeint) April 7, 2020
When someone has the audacity to perceive me pic.twitter.com/Olvfin2Wlv
— joe p (@vertachi) April 13, 2020
Do not Perceive me While I Am Working pic.twitter.com/uINkArimho
— Big Lou (@bigbeefkitty) April 10, 2020
Being adored Being perceived pic.twitter.com/apLnNyHGjd
— Kendra 🐖 (@kendrawcandraw) April 14, 2020
Wait am I being perceived rn ? pic.twitter.com/IAusJH8JRV
— 𝖆𝖑𝖒𝖔𝖓𝖉𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖐𝖍𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖎 (@almondmilkhunni) April 7, 2020
thinking about how people genuinely let others call them by their name when they could be like “no my dear, call me dr. BITCHCRAFT” the whole idea of being perceived is so crazy to me pic.twitter.com/mavgU5ZSS3
— mari (@satanssniece) April 13, 2020
the fact that we r always being perceived by others is scary i wish to not exist pic.twitter.com/Poe5oKJ96g
— ☆ (@odaaalisss) April 8, 2020
lowkey quarantine slaps…i don’t want to meet anyone ever in life. don’t perceive me
— ✨laiba✨ (@confusedcolour) April 4, 2020
me: I don’t want people to perceive me
also me: pic.twitter.com/zUJ3ii2NCC— sierra (@SIERRAT0NIN) April 3, 2020
Just remembered people perceive me pic.twitter.com/woG1pY7kXU
— l*ke (@timeforsight) March 31, 2020
just remembered i exist in other people’s universes and that i’m perceivable and people have opinions and thoughts about me and even people i don’t know perceive me and existing means being known and being known means when i’m not around i can still be mentioned pic.twitter.com/qqzAWjpbUK
— gabs ¡! (@gabbagabsa) April 9, 2020