The 'Learn to Code' meme gained massive notoriety in early 2019 following significant layoffs at major digital media outlets like BuzzFeed and HuffPost. The phrase was used by social media users to mock journalists, mirroring the advice previously given to blue-collar workers, such as coal miners, who were told to transition into the tech sector after losing their livelihoods. While it initially sparked a heated debate regarding online harassment and resulted in numerous platform bans, the phrase has since evolved into a broader cultural shorthand for career cynicism, the pressure of automation, and the perceived divide between the working class and the 'laptop class.' It remains a biting piece of internet commentary used to highlight hypocrisy or unrealistic career expectations in a rapidly changing economy.