Ow The Edge is a catchphrase used to mock content that is perceived as excessively dark, nihilistic, or 'edgy' to the point of being cringeworthy. The meme gained significant traction through the infamous fan character 'Coldsteel the Hedgeheg,' an MS Paint creation designed to parody every edgy Sonic the Hedgehog OC trope. It typically features imagery of Shadow the Hedgehog or other brooding characters accompanied by text warning the viewer not to 'cut themselves on all that edge.' It has become a staple of internet culture for calling out pretentiousness and melodramatic social media posts, serving as the go-to retort for anyone trying a bit too hard to be cool.