The 'Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear' meme draws its humor from the standard safety warning printed on passenger-side mirrors in North America and other regions. While originally intended to prevent traffic accidents by warning drivers about distance distortion, the internet transformed it into a metaphor for impending dread, unavoidable consequences, or fast-approaching events. The meme usually features an edited reflection in the mirror—ranging from a T-Rex to personified social anxiety—suggesting that whatever the viewer is running from is much nearer than they think. It gained massive popularity across platforms like Reddit and Tumblr because of its versatility in expressing the anxiety of deadlines, aging, or simply the rapid pace of time.