The Kony 2012 meme stems from a 30-minute short film released by the non-profit Invisible Children Inc. in March 2012. The campaign aimed to make African cult leader Joseph Kony 'famous' to prompt international intervention, resulting in over 100 million views in just a few days. While initially praised, the movement quickly became a focal point for criticism regarding 'slacktivism'—the idea that sharing a video provides a false sense of activism without real-world impact. Today, the meme is used to reference the fleeting nature of internet trends, the absurdity of early 2010s social media culture, and the dramatic public meltdown of the film's director, Jason Russell.