About

4 Panel Cringe refers to a series of exploitable multi-pane images, used to compile Facebook, Instagram or other social media posts that the author deems embarrassing or cringeworthy.

Origin

Following the popularity of Hey Girls, Didn't You Know… users began posting variations of the format using the phrases "4 panels" and "cringe" on Reddit. One of the earliest examples of these words being used together comes from a post by Redditor newcreationsurf. On December 31st, 2012, they posted a four panel compilation with the subtitles "Guys be like…Im fabulous And im like…dont tell me you have a vagina too." The post (shown below) appeared in the thread "Another 4 panel cringe" in the /r/cringepics subreddit.^[1]

Spread

Several weeks later, on January 22nd, 2013, more four panel posts appeared on Reddit. Redditor Pimente posted a parody of "Hey Girls…" in which a woman says "Hey guys, did you know…That um…Your banana goes inside your pants." The post (shown below) entitled "4-panel counterpart of 'Hey girls, did you know…'. Just as cringe worthy" appeared in the /r/cringepics subreddit, received more than 150 points (92% upvoted) before archiving.^[2]

On February 1st, 2013, Redditor konkedas launched the /r/4panelcringe subreddit. According to the subreddit's description, "/r/4panelcringe is the place for 4 Panel images usually posted on Tumblr and Facebook that fill you with embarrassment and shame just by looking at them."^[3] As of June 2017, the subreddit has garnered more than 53,600 subscribers.

Two weeks later, Redditor pencilinfrontofme posted a collage of four panels to /r/cringepics. The post (shown below) received more than 290 points (90% upvoted) and 80 comments.^[6]

On November 7th, Redditor george_s_4^[4] posted a four panel in which Hillary Clinton hunts Harambe as Donald Trump screams "Harambe Run." The post (shown below, left) received more than 7,200 points (89% upvoted).

A month later, on December 14th, 2016, Redditor feedmewif^[5]i posted an image of woman multi-paned in which the subtitles read "what if rappers raped likes …take off your clothes…and fold them nicely." The post (shown below, right) received more than 9,600 points (83% upvotes) and 300 comments.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References

^[1] Reddit – Another 4 panel cringe

^[2] Reddit – 4-panel counterpart of 'Hey girls, did you know…'. Just as cringe worthy

^[3] Reddit – /r/4panelcringe Moderators

^[4] Reddit – What in the living fuck is this?

^[5] Reddit – What if rappers raped like this

^[6] Reddit – A four panel montage full of cringe