The 1700s Sea Shanties meme, often associated with the viral ShantyTok movement, gained global notoriety in late 2020 and early 2021. It primarily stems from Nathan Evans' rendition of 'The Wellerman,' which sparked a massive trend of collaborative singing via TikTok's duet feature. The meme often depicts modern situations or groups of friends suddenly transforming into 18th-century sailors, bound by the rhythmic and communal power of maritime folk music. It represents a collective longing for simple camaraderie and has been used to humorously contrast the complexities of the digital age with the rugged, vocal traditions of the high seas.