The iOS 6 Maps meme originates from the disastrous 2012 launch of Apple’s proprietary mapping software, which replaced Google Maps as the default navigation app on iPhones. Users quickly discovered surreal graphical glitches, including 'melting' landscapes, misplaced landmarks, and life-threatening driving directions. This led to a viral trend of sharing screenshots of the distorted world as seen through Apple's lens. The meme is typically used to mock corporate overconfidence, poor software quality, or any situation where directions are hilariously wrong. It remains a classic symbol of early smartphone-era technical blunders and the growing pains of mobile technology.