The 'Characters Trapped Behind Smartphone Glass' meme trend involves digital illustrations where characters—most notably from anime or popular cartoons—appear to be physically pressing their faces and hands against the underside of a phone screen. Originating as a series of creative wallpapers on art platforms like Pixiv and Tumblr, the meme plays with the meta-concept of the 'fourth wall' of mobile devices. It gained massive popularity as a customization trend for smartphone lock screens, allowing users to make it look like their favorite characters are trying to escape the digital confines of the hardware. The meme is frequently used to represent feelings of being 'stuck' in a situation or simply as a clever aesthetic choice for tech enthusiasts.