What Is An 'Uncanny Valley' Feeling? Memes About Things That Just Look 'Off' Explained

Humans are hardwired to sense a deviation from normalcy, even as the AI and the internet age continue to blur the lines between human and otherwise. Memes about the Uncanny Valley, a theorized liminal space between the real and not-so-real, have picked up speed in recent years as well, addressing everything from oddly emotive robots to makeup trends that intend to freak you out.

But why do humans have an innate revulsion to things that try and fail to imitate the human form, and who first coined a name for the phenomenon? Here's a recap of when the term was first introduced in the 1970s, and why it exploded in popularity in meme culture in the early 2020s.

Who First Coined The Term 'Uncanny Valley'?

While the term "uncanny valley" is often evoked in the context of internet creepy pastas or horror stories, the term finds its origins in robotics research from the 1970s. A Japanese roboticist named Masahiro Mori was researching human-robot interactions, finding that people responded positively to human-shaped, anthropomorphic robots, but only up to a certain point.

According to Mori's findings, robots that were made to look a little too human actually evoked a feeling of revulsion from people interacting with them. Mori called this phenomenon the "uncanny valley."

How Did Discussions About The 'Uncanny Valley' Spread Online?

Some unnerving videos that depict the uncanny valley effect made the rounds in the late 2010s, as seen in a Reddit post about a wobbly Boston Dynamics robot dog. Redditor LaszloK said that the clip of the four-legged robot elicited an uncanny valley feeling, and recieved over 2,000 upvotes.

In fact, many discussions about the uncanny valley feeling revolved around videos and footage of creepy robots in the 2010s. A Popular Science YouTube video from 2008 gives an overview of all the different robots that had caused people to grimace with revulsion between that year and 1970.

What Are Some Memes Trends Inspired By The Uncanny Valley Effect?

In June 2020, a meme trend caused renewed discussions about the uncanny valley online. "Why are you scared? Isn't this what you wanted?" was a catchphrase often paired with photographs of people wearing anime girl masks, poking fun at people who desperately wished that their anime waifu would come to life. However, the horrifying reality of a bobble-headed, anime character with the body of a real girl inevitably invoked feelings of revulsion.

In 2023, a TikTok trend where women attempted to evoke an uncanny valley effect by putting on some creepy-looking makeup took off online. Videos showing women using makeup to make their skin paler, their eyes beadier, and their smiles creepier had people joking about the Uncanny Valley Makeup Trend that was quickly spreading across TikTok.

What Are Some Memes About The Uncanny Valley?

For the full history of the uncanny valley, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.