The 'Ruin a First Date in Four Words' meme format gained massive traction as a viral social media prompt, primarily on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. It challenges users to condense an entire dating catastrophe into a punchy, four-word sentence that signals immediate disaster. While it started as a simple text-based interaction, it quickly evolved into a visual template where the prompt is paired with hilariously awkward stock photos or minimalist text layouts. Its popularity stems from the universal relatability of bad dates and the creative constraints of the word limit, making it a staple for internet humor regarding modern romance and social faux pas.