WataMote, short for 'No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!', centers on the painfully awkward life of protagonist Tomoko Kuroki as she struggles to navigate high school social hierarchies. The series became a cornerstone of internet culture because of Tomoko’s intense social anxiety and her tendency to blame others for her lack of friends. Memes featuring her character often utilize her messy hair, dark eye circles, and exaggerated facial expressions to represent feelings of social exhaustion, 'cringe' behavior, or the internal monologue of an introvert forced into a social situation. Since its debut as a manga and subsequent 2013 anime adaptation, Tomoko has remained a symbol of relatability for those who feel socially out of place.