The Linus Tech Tips meme, specifically the 'Sad Linus' variant, originated from a 2020 video thumbnail where host Linus Sebastian looked visibly distraught during a serious stream regarding his potential retirement. The image of his dejected, close-up face quickly transcended the tech community to become a universal symbol for disappointment, regret, or tech-related exhaustion. It is frequently used with captions describing expensive hardware mishaps, driver issues, or relatable everyday failures. Beyond the 'Sad Linus' face, the meme culture surrounding LTT also celebrates his legendary 'dropping' of expensive equipment and his seamless transitions into sponsor segments.