The Onion meme is derived from the world-famous satirical news organization, The Onion, which has been parodying traditional journalism since 1988. In the digital age, 'The Onion' has become a meta-meme through the 'Ate the Onion' phenomenon, where internet users mistake satirical headlines for real news and react with genuine outrage. The meme format typically involves a screenshot of a ridiculous or hyper-specific headline that critiques modern society, politics, or mundane human behavior. It is widely used to highlight the absurdity of real-world events or to mock people who are easily misled by clickbait, making it a cornerstone of internet irony and social commentary.