If you've seen people post memes and images of anguish after losing a so-called IDGAF War and remain confused about what they mean, here's a rundown of the disparate cultural events that coalesced into one meaningless and lighthearted trend. From the etymology of the acronym IDGAF to photos of Sydney Sweeney gussied up for war, here's a history of the winners and losers of the IDGAF war.

What Does IDGAF Mean, and What Is The IDGAF War?

IDGAF is a text shorthand acronym that predates the internet, with an Urban Dictionary user defining it as "lazy shorthand" back in 2003. The IDGAF War, however, is a relatively new term that has a contested and perhaps no legitimately agreed upon meaning. The term was originally used described in 2021 as the act of not expressing interest in a lover or friend, and entering a sort of Cold War with them. The loser in this scenario would be someone who, for instance, texts first.

How Did News About the IDGAF War Spread?

Various meme creators began to post images using the phrase "IDGAF War," describing how and when they lost the war. In late 2022, internet users began to post images of anguish combined with a statement attesting to how they lost the IDGAF War.

As the trend progressed, memes about people who "DGAF" evolved from Cold Wars with friends and lovers to not caring about anything at all. An example of someone who won this kind of IDGAF War can be seen in an edited video where a bus driver is made to appear as though they are driving extremely rashly.

he won the idgaf war pic.twitter.com/mAxEJJy2eG

— ❒ (@RlCKYRAGE) May 6, 2023

Why Does Sydney Sweeney Often Feature In Memes About The IDGAF War?

In 2021, Sweeney appeared in a bizarre advertisement for a Call of Duty game that showed her relaxing on a beach that was being torn apart by war. Her peaceful and serene attitude in the midst of a battle zone made her a prime candidate for a winning IDGAF War soldier.

You shouldn't just be in the middle of a war zone. You could get seriously hurt. https://t.co/DQIAe5Gp5F

— lilsamsquanch (@lilsamsquanch66) December 9, 2021

More memes about Sweeney continued to spread, including one photo showing her in what appears to be an US Air Force enlisted uniform. Sweeney's participation in the IDGAF War was thus cemented in history.

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