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realitybut

Realitybut is a meme format used on social media where a familiar situation is altered by a single constraint introduced by the phrase "Reality, but." The idea is to imagine how ordinary life would unfold if a specific rule applied to reality, often for humorous or satirical effect. Posts typically present the setup and then the constraint, followed by a consequence or punchline.

Format and usage: The caption usually begins with "Reality, but" and completes with a twist. The format

Origins and spread: The meme emerged from internet meme culture in the 2020s and has been adopted

Examples and themes: Common twists explore absurd or exaggerated consequences, social commentary, or playful what-if scenarios.

Purpose and reception: Realitybut serves as humor, satire, or social critique, inviting audience participation with their

is
widely
used
in
image
captions,
short
videos,
and
threads
on
platforms
such
as
Reddit,
Tumblr,
X
(formerly
Twitter),
TikTok,
and
Instagram.
It
can
feature
everyday
activities,
institutions,
or
popular
tropes,
and
may
involve
escalating
or
surprising
consequences.
across
languages
and
communities.
There
is
no
single
creator
or
origin
point;
it
spread
through
user-generated
posts
that
iteratively
refined
the
template.
Examples
might
include
"Reality,
but
every
time
you
blink
the
calendar
jumps
forward
a
year"
or
"Reality,
but
every
door
creaks
open
to
reveal
a
different
person."
The
format
often
relies
on
relatability
and
surprise
rather
than
technical
accuracy.
own
twists.
It
is
a
flexible,
widely
used
meme
format,
though
it
can
become
repetitive
or
insensitive
if
misapplied.
Related
meme
formats
include
would-you-rather
and
hypothetical
prompt
formats.