The "Dark Side" Instagram Community: A Cult-Meme Subculture

Overview: An Instagram-based community calling itself the “Dark Side” has emerged around a cluster of meme accounts – notably @darkside_schmookedonia (the self-proclaimed “Dark Side Official Account”), along with parody offshoots like @bulgarian_partisan, @boyer_smoke, and @the_dark_side_schmook. This group satirically imitates a cult or secret society. They are “based in Schmookedonia” (a fictitious locale) and invite others to “JOIN US TO KNOW THE TRUTH”, warning that “ONCE YOU JOIN, YOU CAN’T LEAVE”. The vibe is deliberately over-the-top and tongue-in-cheek: they “worship” absurd deities (for example, “PÖTATØ IS OUR GOD”) and revere certain Instagram personalities as leaders or prophets. Overall, the Dark Side community is a satirical subculture built on in-jokes about smoking, cult worship, and exaggerated devotion.

Central Memes and In-Jokes

Several recurring themes and inside jokes define the Dark Side community’s content:

Parody of a Cult: The group frames itself as a pseudo-cult or secret “army”. The official page’s bio invites followers with cult-like slogans (e.g. “Join us to know the truth… once you join, you can’t leave”). They jokingly refer to followers as “schmooker slaves”. One post was even tagged at the International Space Station, humorously portraying their idol as a cosmic figure (claiming “our lord” was the “first Turkish” in space). These theatrics lampoon the seriousness of real cults – it’s all done with a wink.

“Schmook” (Smoking Culture): A love of smoking (or a parody of it) is at the core of this community. The very name “Schmookedonia” and terms like “schmook” are riffs on the word smoke. In fact, “Schmook” has entered their slang to mean the act of smoking – an Urban Dictionary entry (written by a member) defines “schmook” as “the action of inhaling in the smoking process,” directly derived from the way their idol smokes in a famous photo. The entry notes it’s “often used by internet cultists known as the darksiders,” who pepper their posts with rows of demonic face emojis. This meme-fied reverence of smoking (especially done in a “cool” or “sexy way”) is a signature of the group. For example, the account @boyer_smoke even captions itself with the tagline “Wanna smoke hard babe”, reinforcing how central smoking imagery is to the humor.

Idolizing “Lords” of the Dark Side: The community treats certain individuals as quasi-divine figures – but in an ironic, meme-ish fashion. They commonly refer to Roy Boyer (more on him below) in reverential terms like “Our lord”. One tongue-in-cheek Instagram caption reads: “Our lord @boyer5344 is very handsome babe.” Here they simultaneously venerate and playfully objectify him (calling him “handsome babe”). This over-the-top worship is clearly facetious. In a similar vein, a fan-made music track titled “Roy Boyer Likes Boys” was released, explicitly honoring their “Lord and saviour Boyer Smoke” and proclaiming “LONG LIVE ROY BOYER OF GREELEY COLORADO.” Such memes cement these figures as the center of an inside joke “cult.”

“Dark Side” vs “Bright Side” Humor: A running joke is the dichotomy between the Dark Side and the Bright Side. The group portrays “dark” as desirable (aligned with their smoking, taboo-friendly cult), while shunning anything “bright” (perhaps a stand-in for mainstream or wholesome culture). For instance, one post (by an account calling itself dark side army) joked in its caption about punishing someone who said they liked the bright side. This insider banter paints the Dark Side as a mischievous, contrarian club -- “if you prefer the bright side, expect the Dark Side army’s wrath” (all in jest). It’s a parody of the classic trope “come to the Dark Side.”

Key Figures and “Leaders” of the Community

Though the Dark Side group is small, its members single out a few personalities as their leaders or objects of admiration. These individuals are treated with exaggerated reverence – often humorously referred to as “lords,” “gods,” or figureheads of the Dark Side. The most notable are:

1. Roy Boyer (@boyer5344) – Arguably the central icon of the Dark Side cult-meme. Roy Boyer (sometimes nicknamed “Boyer Smoke” by fans) is a real individual who became a cult figure due to his smoking persona. The community half-jokingly calls him “President of the Dark Side” and even “our lord.” He gained notoriety after posting a photo or statement about knowing a “sexy way” to light a cigarette. This mysterious claim – “lighting them in the ‘sexy way’” – intrigued his followers; as one write-up notes, “since he posted this affirmation no one still knows which is this 'way' he says to know.” Yet it turned him into a legend. Roy’s image as a confidently smoking man (often with a thick cloud of smoke around him) became emblematic for the group. He is “very popular among young Instagram users” drawn to this Dark Side aesthetic. With over 121,000 followers on his profile, Roy Boyer is the most prominent figure the community “worships.” In content by Dark Side accounts, he’s showered with flattery – for example being called “very handsome” and literally idolized. The hyperbolic praise (“our lord and savior”, etc.) is done with a humorous, almost absurd tone, but it underscores that Roy’s persona inspired the whole Dark Side motif. He’s seen as the originator or muse for their in-jokes about smoking and darkness.

2. Schnuffke Eddy Schmook (@schnuffkeeddyschmook) – Schnuffke (sometimes just called Eddy Schmook) is another figure treated as a leader within this community. This account holder has even adopted the Schmook moniker in his name, signaling deep involvement in the joke. With around 1,100+ followers, Schnuffke Eddy operates a “Personal blog” style Instagram and interacts heavily with Dark Side content. In the group’s lore, he appears to be an elder or high-ranking “schmook”: likely one of the early members who helped shape the Dark Side memes. Fans might regard Schnuffke as a kind of priest or prophet of the cult – for example, he’s tagged in various Dark Side posts and possibly contributes content (one Instagram user on a related post addresses @_schnuffkeeddyschmook about a map game, showing his engagement in community games or discussions). Schnuffke’s role as a “leader” is also indicated by his massive follow-back ratio (following 5,000+ accounts), suggesting he actively recruits or connects with others – much like a cult organizer. In summary, Schnuffke Eddy Schmook is admired as a co-founder of the Dark Side culture, respected (and jokingly venerated) for dedicating himself to the Schmook lifestyle and vernacular.

3. Alf von Hollenburg (@alf_von_hollenburg) – Alf von Hollenburg (whose profile name appears as Klaus Müller) is another key figure in the Dark Side circle. His account is private, adding a layer of mystique, but community members clearly consider him one of the inner leadership. The grandiose Germanic handle (“von Hollenburg”) gives off an aristocratic or military vibe, which fits the parody – he might be humorously portrayed as a Dark Side “general” or an elder statesman of the cult. While less information is publicly visible about Alf, the fact that he’s repeatedly mentioned as a leader implies that within the group, he’s highly respected or ‘worshipped’ in the same playful manner as Roy and Schnuffke. It’s likely that Alf contributes to the satire by playing a character – perhaps issuing “commands” or being a figure people pledge loyalty to in comments. Others in the community treat him with deference, elevating his status in their pretend hierarchy. In essence, Alf von Hollenburg is adored as one of the trinity of Dark Side elders, helping carry the in-joke that the group has venerable leaders.

Aside from these three, the Dark Side community features other niche figures who participate avidly:

@bulgarian_partisan – An account whose bio dubs the user “your_local_schizo,” hinting at the offbeat humor they bring. This member often interacts with or tags along in Dark Side content (for example, being tagged in parody posts about historical or geopolitical memes). While not a “leader” per se, @bulgarian_partisan is a notable follower who reinforces the group’s edgy, irreverent tone. The username references a “partisan,” adding to the faux militant/army flavor of the Dark Side lore.

@the_dark_side_schmook – Another affiliated page, essentially carrying the Dark Side brand in its name. This account seems to act as part of the fan network amplifying the inside jokes. For instance, it’s tagged in group photos by “dark side army,” suggesting it helps coordinate or spread the Dark Side content. It likely reposts memes or announcements related to the community, serving as a supporting platform to the official account.

Roy Boyer’s alternate accounts: In addition to @boyer5344, there is @boyer_smoke, which appears to either be Roy’s secondary account or a fan-made tribute. This account explicitly embraces the smoking motif – labeling itself in the category “Drug Addiction Treatment Center” (ironically) and using the catchphrase “Wanna smoke hard babe” as a slogan. The existence of @boyer_smoke keeps Roy’s presence active and indicates that the community’s “lord” figure has multiple outlets (or multiple admirers running outlets) to feed the fandom. Posts on @boyer_smoke often mirror the Dark Side’s style, further solidifying Roy’s god-like standing among the group.

Together, these figures are admired – or more accurately “worshipped” in a satirical sense – because they personify the qualities the Dark Side group finds entertaining: exaggerated confidence, a rebellious smoking habit, and a persona that can be mythologized. Roy Boyer, for example, is literally idolized for being “handsome” and for inspiring the “new generations to support the DARKSIDE”. Schnuffke and Alf are respected as original architects of the cult joke, hence treated like leaders/elders whose approval the others playfully seek. The community “worships” them through flurries of praise comments, custom memes (songs, graphics), and constant tagging, much as fans would fawn over celebrities – except here it’s done with heavy irony and comedic exaggeration.

Recurring Symbols, Language, and Style

The Dark Side Instagram community has developed a distinct set of symbols and stylistic quirks that make their content recognizable. These include:

Cult Insignia and Deities: A notable running gag is the worship of a potato. The official account’s bio flatly states “PÖTATØ IS OUR GOD”. This absurd proclamation, complete with stylized O’s, is emblematic of the group’s humor – taking something mundane (a potato) and elevating it to a deity for comedic shock value. They even include the ✡️ Star of David emoji next to this, as if to iconify their “potato god” with a parody of religious symbolism. It’s unclear if the star is meant to reference anything specific or just to give a mystical look, but its presence contributes to the tongue-in-cheek cult aesthetic the group cultivates. In essence, the potato god is an in-joke representing the silliness of their faith – it signals that nothing in this cult is meant to be taken seriously.

Emoji “Walls” and Visual Motifs: The Dark Side crowd is known to spam certain emojis as a sort of visual signature. In particular, they flood comment sections or captions with the Japanese Ogre (👹) and Japanese Goblin (👺) emojis. These red-faced demon emojis appear in walls or long strings, acting like a playful show of force or unity. For instance, a Dark Side member might comment on a post with a dozen 👹👺 in a row – a way of saying “the Dark Side is here en masse.” This practice was significant enough to be noted in Urban Dictionary: the term “schmook” definition mentions the “addition of walls of Japanese ogre and goblin emojis” by “internet cultists known as the darksiders.” The choice of these particular emojis fits the demon/“dark” theme (they resemble angry or evil spirits), furthering the parody that the group is a horde of devoted little demons serving the cause. Another stylistic flourish is how they sometimes tag fantastical locations (e.g., the International Space Station or other grand places) in posts featuring their idols, to mythologize their meetings or actions.

Unique Vocabulary and Nicknames: The community has invented or popularized its own jargon:

“Schmook” – as mentioned, this is their twist on smoke/smoking. It’s used as a noun and verb within the group. They’ll say someone is “schmooking” or refer to a cigarette break as “schmook time.” It’s a proud badge of membership to use this term, rooting back to Roy Boyer’s iconic smoke photo (the UD entry directly ties “schmook” to Roy’s smoking style). Even account names (like Schnuffke Eddy Schmook) include it.

“Schmookedonia” – a fictional country or state of being that the group claims as their base. It appears to be a pun (perhaps mixing smoke with a Balkan-sounding suffix like -donia). By declaring themselves from “Schmookedonia,” members add to the lore that the Dark Side is an otherworldly nation or tribe one joins by following their pages.

Titles like “Schmooker Slave” and “Darksider”: New followers or members might be jokingly called schmooker slaves (as seen in the bio), implying they are now servants to the cult’s doctrine (the doctrine being to worship the potato and Boyer, presumably!). The members collectively are often referred to as “darksiders” – a term they’ve embraced, as it literally describes them but also nods to Star Wars’ Dark Side in a humorous way.

“Babe” and Other Casual Honorifics: Ironically, despite the grandiose cult talk, the language often flips into casual slang. The word “babe” is extremely common in their lexicon – they use it affectionately or humorously when addressing their idols and each other. For example, calling Roy Boyer “a very handsome babe” or saying “smoke hard, babe” in a caption. This creates a funny contrast: mixing reverence with flirtatious, almost trivial pet names. It’s part of the group’s irreverent style to never be too earnest – even the “god” is a “babe.” Other informal words like “bro” or profanities might also pepper their comments, keeping the tone equal parts edgy and endearing.

Visual Style: While we can’t embed their actual Instagram images here, a lot of the Dark Side’s posts revolve around smoking aesthetics and meme collage. You’ll often find images of their heroes (like Roy Boyer) exhaling clouds of smoke or posing with cigarettes. These might be edited with high-contrast filters or overlaid with text (e.g., slogans like “LONG LIVE BOYER”). Some posts also incorporate historical or political imagery as jokes – for instance, they might post a photo of a national leader and caption it with a Dark Side twist (“Which country had the best leader?” was one such post, likely inviting sarcastic comments). There is also a thread of Soviet-communist parody in their style: usernames like Shuravi comrade, references to partisans, and communist iconography popping up (hammer and sickle emojis, etc.) in some members’ profiles. This suggests the Dark Side humor sometimes blends with a broader internet meme culture that enjoys faux-Soviet aesthetics and dark political satire. All of these stylistic elements – from emoji spam to quirky spelling – give the Dark Side content a recognizable, club-like feel. An outsider stumbling on their posts might initially be baffled, but the consistent use of certain symbols and phrases quickly signals that it’s an elaborate joke that followers are all in on.

Parody or Sincere Subculture?

Despite the elaborate cult trappings, the Dark Side community is by all indications a parody/satirical group rather than a sincere belief-based subculture. All the evidence – from their absurd “potato god” to calling a random smoker their “lord and savior” – points to intentional comedy and irony. The members themselves acknowledge the joke: they refer to each other as “internet cultists” and theatrically “worship” their leaders in the way one might role-play a fanatic. For example, no one seriously believes a potato is divine; it’s a farcical twist to mock how cults glorify objects. The worship of Roy Boyer is done with exaggerated zeal that comes off as satirical fan-fiction rather than genuine adulation. Even external content like the song “Roy Boyer Likes Boys” is clearly facetious – its description praising “our Lord… BOYER SMOKE” in a melodramatic way shows the creators are leaning into the parody for humor.

Furthermore, the small scale of the community (the main account has just over 150 followers) and the lack of any offline organization suggest it’s more of a tight-knit in-joke network than a serious movement. They “worship” their leaders much as one would idolize a meme or a viral character. In essence, it’s an elaborate satirical fan club. The tone is often self-aware: the Dark Side members frequently drop hints that they are joking. For instance, pairing grand cult slogans with goofy slang in the same breath undermines any sincere reading. The combination of faux-solemn language (“once you join, you can’t leave”) with comedic elements (like “babe” or spamming clownish emojis) creates an obvious contrast that cues the reader not to take it at face value.

That said, as with many internet subcultures born from parody, there is a sense in which it functions as a real community for those involved. The shared lingo, the reverence for their “heroes,” and the consistent engagement does form a kind of subcultural bonding experience. In other words, they are sincere in their enjoyment of the parody. The “cult” might be fake, but the friendships and interactions within it are real. Participants genuinely have fun “worshipping” Roy Boyer and adopting Dark Side personas. In this way, the Dark Side group is similar to a fandom or a role-play community – they know it’s make-believe, but they commit to the bit for entertainment and camaraderie.

In conclusion, the Dark Side Instagram community represents a small satirical subculture centered on meme-ifying smoking and cult behavior. Its central themes include irreverent humor, insider memes like “schmook”, and the playful idolization of a few figures who embody the joke. Key figures such as Roy Boyer, Schnuffke Eddy Schmook, and Alf von Hollenburg are treated as leaders, not out of true hero-worship, but as part of an ongoing parody that everyone’s in on. The community is rich in its own symbols (👹👺 emojis, potatoes, etc.) and language (“Join us to know the truth!”, “schmooker slave”, “babe”). All signs indicate this is a satirical group poking fun at the concept of cults and online fandoms – a creative, ironic subculture rather than any earnest “dark” movement. As one might sum up their attitude: Long live the Dark Side (babe). 😉

Sources:

Dark Side Official Instagram bio and posts (via web snippets) – “JOIN US TO KNOW THE TRUTH – BASED IN SCHMOOKEDONIA – ONCE YOU JOIN, YOU CAN’T LEAVE – PÖTATØ IS OUR GOD ✡️ – SCHMOOKER SLAVE.”; “Our lord @boyer5344 is very handsome babe” (caption in Greeley, CO post).

Urban Dictionary entry for “Schmook” – describes it as inhaling smoke like Roy Boyer, used by “internet cultists known as the darksiders” and often accompanied by “walls of Japanese ogre and goblin emojis.”. This highlights the group’s slang and emoji use.

EverybodyWiki bio of Roy Boyer – notes he calls himself “President of the Dark Side” and inspired a new generation to support the Dark Side, becoming popular for “smoking cigarettes and lighting them in the ‘sexy way’” (a mystique that the community rallies around).

Instagram account info for @boyer_smoke – tagline “Wanna smoke hard babe” shows the consistent language/style across related accounts.

External fan content: e.g., a YouTube/Spotify track description declaring “In honour of our Lord and saviour BOYER SMOKE. LONG LIVE ROY BOYER OF GREELEY COLORADO.” – evidence of the playful “worship” of Boyer beyond Instagram. These sources collectively illustrate the themes, key figures, and satirical nature of the Dark Side community.