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 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.

Origins and spread: The meme emerged from internet meme culture in the 2020s and has been adopted across languages and communities. There is no single creator or origin point; it spread through user-generated posts that iteratively refined the template.

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

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