The 'If You Read This You Are Gay LMAO' meme belongs to a long-standing tradition of 'gotcha' or 'trap' humor on the internet, evolving from schoolyard pranks and early forum signatures into a widespread digital bait-and-switch. Often hidden in small font, presented as a 'fine print' joke, or held up by a character in a still image, the meme relies on the viewer's involuntary action of reading the text to 'trigger' the punchline. While the phrasing reflects the juvenile humor typical of early 2000s internet culture, the meme remains a popular template for lighthearted trolling, Discord reactions, and ironic meta-humor. It is primarily used to prank friends or unsuspecting scrollers on social media feeds, making it a staple of low-effort but high-impact internet baiting.