The 'Is That Seat Taken?' meme is inspired by the poignant scene in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, where a young Forrest tries to find a seat on his first day of school. As he walks down the bus aisle, various children cruelly tell him 'seats taken,' highlighting his status as an outcast until Jenny finally offers him a spot. In internet culture, this template is used to represent feelings of social anxiety, rejection, or the feeling of being unwelcome in specific groups or situations. It often serves as a humorous way to illustrate gatekeeping, cliquish behavior, or simply the universal dread of being the 'new person' in a room full of strangers.