Snek is a popular internet slang term for a snake, characterized by intentional misspellings to evoke a sense of cuteness, innocence, or silliness. The term gained significant traction around 2015, often appearing in social media posts and webcomics that rebranded potentially frightening reptiles as 'danger noodles' or 'nope ropes.' One of its most famous iterations is the 'No Step on Snek' parody of the Gadsden flag, which replaced the traditional rattlesnake with a poorly drawn, smiling version. The meme is widely used to anthropomorphize snakes, stripping away their predatory reputation in favor of a harmless, derpy persona that resonates with pet owners and reptile enthusiasts alike.