The HowToBasic meme originated from a mysterious YouTube channel launched in 2011, which initially seemed to offer genuine DIY advice before quickly descending into violent, egg-centric destruction. The visual language of the meme involves a POV camera angle, frantic hand gestures, and an inevitable bombardment of raw eggs and household messes. It subverts the 'Life Hack' and 'Tutorial' genres by using bait-and-switch humor to transition from calm instruction to utter insanity. Today, it is used to represent situations that start reasonably but spiral out of control with unnecessary intensity or absurdity.