The '[citation needed]' meme originated from Wikipedia's editorial tag used to flag unsourced statements in articles. It gained mainstream internet fame as a shorthand for skepticism or mockery toward unsubstantiated claims made in forums, social media, or real-life arguments. Often used by internet users to playfully challenge a 'hot take' or a bizarre personal opinion, the tag mimics the dry, authoritative tone of an encyclopedia. It has since evolved into a visual punchline, frequently added to images of signs, text posts, or subtitles to highlight the absurdity or lack of evidence behind a statement, embodying the internet's culture of pedantry and humor.