The 'Why I Left Buzzfeed' meme parodies a specific wave of YouTube videos from the mid-to-late 2010s, where high-profile content creators like Safiya Nygaard and the Try Guys explained their departures from the media giant. These videos often featured high-contrast thumbnails with serious expressions and dramatic titles. The internet quickly turned this into a template for humor, using the 'Why I Left' format to explain quitting mundane activities, leaving group chats, or making light of minor inconveniences as if they were major career shifts. It serves as a satirical commentary on clickbait culture and the parasocial relationships built between digital creators and their audiences.