The 'Is Now Playing' meme template mimics the notification pop-ups found on gaming platforms like Steam, Discord, or PlayStation Network. It typically features a user's name followed by a humorous or nonsensical activity presented as if it were a video game title. While digital notifications have existed for decades, this specific format gained traction in the mid-2010s as a creative way to mock celebrities, fictional characters, or abstract concepts by suggesting they are 'playing' with something unexpected. It is widely used for irony and satire, allowing users to create relatable scenarios or sharp social commentary through the recognizable lens of a simple gaming status update.