The 'How Long' meme template is a versatile tool used to express feelings of impatience, time distortion, or existential fatigue. Often featuring characters in states of distress or boredom, it captures the universal feeling that a short period of time feels much longer due to a tedious or stressful situation. While the phrase appears in various media and movies, its meme usage spiked as people shared the common feeling of being stuck in repetitive loops—from long work hours to software updates. It serves as the perfect visual shorthand for anyone who feels like they’ve been waiting for an eternity for something that just won't end.