The GameStop meme phenomenon traces back to the historic $GME short squeeze of early 2021, fueled by the Reddit community r/WallStreetBets. Centered around figures like Keith Gill, also known as Roaring Kitty, the movement became a symbol of retail investors challenging institutional hedge funds. These memes typically feature imagery of rocket ships, apes, and the phrase 'Diamond Hands,' representing a refusal to sell stock despite extreme market volatility. Beyond finance, the meme represents a cultural underdog story of decentralized internet power disrupting traditional systems, often resurfacing whenever GameStop stock sees renewed market activity or social media buzz.