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About

The Social Contract is a parody infographic meme format that illustrates monetary exchanges and the flow of taxpayer money and in a certain country or society, with the central figure carrying the largest burden usually being an exhausted male in their 30s. Originally used to humorously illustrate the flow of money in European countries, the format saw a surge in popularity in November 2024 and inspired parodies.

Origin

The name of the meme format refers to the concept of the "social contract", first discussed by philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in a 1762 book of the same name, in which he contemplates how free individuals can co-exist in society, bound together by an implied contract.[1] The meme format reduces the concept to simply the flow of money from productive members of society to less productive ones.

On April 29th, 2020, X[2] user @sidounours posted the original, French version of the meme which illustrated the distribution of taxpayer money from a 30-year-old French male named Nicolas through various social services and programs, supporting elder citizens and a 25-year-old immigrant, and ending up being spent on goods and services used by them (shown below).

Le contrat social e pôle emploi ALLOCATIONS FAMILIALES Isa revenu de Solidarité active WU WESTERN UNION Nicolas 30 ans URSSAF Sécurité sociale Seloger® Karim, 25 ans Bernard & Chantal, 70 ans Costa CROISIERES

On September 30th, 2022, X[3] user @karnoctis republished it, presenting it as document by consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

On February 5th, 2023, X[4] user @bouliboulibouli posted a collection of four earliest found examples of the meme, including the French version as well as British, Spanish, and Portugal versions (British version shown below). The post garnered over 1,900 reposts and 9,100 likes in nine months.

米 Ukaid from the British people The Social Contract Nick, 30 jobcentreplus Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government 203 Department for Work & Pensions rightmove NHS P&O CRUISES WU Karim, 25 Simon & Linda, 70

Spread

The infographic format started gaining further spread online in early 2024. On March 9th, 2024, X[5] user @KraZMagazin posted a German version of the meme that received over 250 reposts and 1,500 likes in eight months (shown below).

European Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung Der Gesellschaftsvertrag Gefordert vom Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend GERMANS millions of of Poles BAföG GERMANS Demokratie leben! BAföG mehr für dich Bernd, ü30 AOK Lina, 22 BVKhe BEANTENVERSORGUNG NO RACISM NO SEXIGM NO Susanne und Günther, 65 Ahmed, 24 TUI Cruises Paon fhe mind Palma De Mallorca

On July 23rd, 2024, X[6] user @Neerlandist posted a Dutch version of the meme that received over 100 reposts and 910 likes in four months (shown below).

Leo, 62 jaar importeert Abdi, 22 jaar exporteert Western Union Ruchtelingen Werk Nederland elle IND Kijkt neer op Het "sociaal contract" financiert geweldigpleging Exporteert importeert Spuugt op Jeroen, 30 jaar kritiek op Facebook financiert Rachid, 24 jaar Criminaliteit financiert AOW ***** stemt op Willem & Elsbeth, 68 jaar ZEETOURS Un Cruisespecialisi

Starting on November 14th, 2024, X[7][8] user @kunley_drukpa shared multiple versions of the meme online, including Chinese, African and United States version. The latter (shown below), posted on November 17th, 2024, garnered over 1,500 reposts and 18,000 likes on X[9] / Twitter in one week.

USAD The Social Contract 樂 USAID FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE dream ACT James, 30 AND URBAN EVELOPMEN SOCIAL ADMD SECURITY USA ATION SNAP Supalemental A Nutrit Program Tysheeqa, 39 Medicare Jose, 25 Phil and Deborah, 70

In the following days, multiple versions of the meme were shared by users on X / Twitter, with some examples breaking away from the original formula.

Various Examples

GREGORIVS, XXXIII 0000 Scheldt FRANKS Noviomagus Castra Vetera Meuse Weser Ruhr Lippe Novaesium Elbe Moselle Colonia C.A.A Bonna Mogontiacum Rhine Main * PACTVM SOCIALE * SPOR GVDOMAR, XXVII CLAVDIVS, XXX IVLIA ET IVLIVS, XXXVI ANVS FLAVIVS, AVRELIVS XXI
SERVIZIO SSN SANITARIO NAZIONALE Il Contratto Sociale PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA Alessandro, 30 anni PNRR 100mdr Liliana, 86 anni INPS Istituto Nazionale Previdenza Sociale European Commission casa.it Antonio, 73 anni Maria, 71 anni W Western Union Adama, 28 anni Abraham, 29 anni Jemal, 35 anni Mamadou, 37 anni Silvio, 75 anni (Sindaco, Senatore, Primo Ministro) immobiliare.it idealista Giulia, 24 anni Isabella, 28 anni Natasha, 29 anni C Costa
750 500 250 1990 Canada: Average Dwelling Prices (Absorbed Newly Built) 188 RENT 1995 www.omics.com 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 (C) 2018 B. Romanchuk "Major metropolitan areas. Source: CMHC SOLD OVER ASKING Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada THIS IS STOLEN LAND Gladue Sentencing Principles 2021 Canadian church burnings The Social Contract Nick, 30 Food Banks Canada Tim Hortons CAFE EXPRESS WISE Service Canada Calgary In Depth Some foreign workers paying $30K or more in illegal fees for a job in Alberta Immigration experts are sounding the alarm over scam Karina Zapata CBC News-Posted Jul 15, 2024 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated July 15 CPP Investments Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Mapdeep, 27 Gurpreet, 26 Saranjeet, 25 Terry & Dianne, 70 Gulf of Mexico m ДЕСНОА FLORIDA Portage T Warth • Rat VKLADE Caral Gas Ma yLarges

Pacific Hisp MARRUECOS -EVO Oc Oct Addin 0 El contrato social Ca aecid Unai, 30 años MINISTERIO DE INCLUSIÓN. SEGURIDAD SOCIAL Y MIGRACIONES MINISTERIO DE DERECHOS SOCIALES Y AGENDA 3030 EL TE WDE 4 TECNOCASA @jabatoreacciona TESORERÍA GENERAL DE LA SEGURIDAD SOCIAL Agencia Tributaria SEGURIDAD SOCIAL idealistal PENSIONES DIGNAS ¡YAI IMSERSO Ria Paco, 72 años Wilson Orlando, 19 años
Nick, 30
|中华人民共和国财政部 社会契约 中国援助 CHINA AID FOR SHARED FUTURE terstoc Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China 张伟毅,30 C⭑ Ababakri, 50 Gyaltsen, 25 |S|S|F| 全国社会保障基金理事会 苏云亭和古镜民,70 Eddy

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The Social Contract

The Social Contract

Updated Dec 05, 2024 at 11:21AM EST by Philipp.

Added Nov 22, 2024 at 01:09AM EST by gert7.

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About

The Social Contract is a parody infographic meme format that illustrates monetary exchanges and the flow of taxpayer money and in a certain country or society, with the central figure carrying the largest burden usually being an exhausted male in their 30s. Originally used to humorously illustrate the flow of money in European countries, the format saw a surge in popularity in November 2024 and inspired parodies.

Origin

The name of the meme format refers to the concept of the "social contract", first discussed by philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in a 1762 book of the same name, in which he contemplates how free individuals can co-exist in society, bound together by an implied contract.[1] The meme format reduces the concept to simply the flow of money from productive members of society to less productive ones.

On April 29th, 2020, X[2] user @sidounours posted the original, French version of the meme which illustrated the distribution of taxpayer money from a 30-year-old French male named Nicolas through various social services and programs, supporting elder citizens and a 25-year-old immigrant, and ending up being spent on goods and services used by them (shown below).


Le contrat social e pôle emploi ALLOCATIONS FAMILIALES Isa revenu de Solidarité active WU WESTERN UNION Nicolas 30 ans URSSAF Sécurité sociale Seloger® Karim, 25 ans Bernard & Chantal, 70 ans Costa CROISIERES

On September 30th, 2022, X[3] user @karnoctis republished it, presenting it as document by consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

On February 5th, 2023, X[4] user @bouliboulibouli posted a collection of four earliest found examples of the meme, including the French version as well as British, Spanish, and Portugal versions (British version shown below). The post garnered over 1,900 reposts and 9,100 likes in nine months.


米 Ukaid from the British people The Social Contract Nick, 30 jobcentreplus Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government 203 Department for Work & Pensions rightmove NHS P&O CRUISES WU Karim, 25 Simon & Linda, 70

Spread

The infographic format started gaining further spread online in early 2024. On March 9th, 2024, X[5] user @KraZMagazin posted a German version of the meme that received over 250 reposts and 1,500 likes in eight months (shown below).


European Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung Der Gesellschaftsvertrag Gefordert vom Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend GERMANS millions of of Poles BAföG GERMANS Demokratie leben! BAföG mehr für dich Bernd, ü30 AOK Lina, 22 BVKhe BEANTENVERSORGUNG NO RACISM NO SEXIGM NO Susanne und Günther, 65 Ahmed, 24 TUI Cruises Paon fhe mind Palma De Mallorca

On July 23rd, 2024, X[6] user @Neerlandist posted a Dutch version of the meme that received over 100 reposts and 910 likes in four months (shown below).


Leo, 62 jaar importeert Abdi, 22 jaar exporteert Western Union Ruchtelingen Werk Nederland elle IND Kijkt neer op Het "sociaal contract" financiert geweldigpleging Exporteert importeert Spuugt op Jeroen, 30 jaar kritiek op Facebook financiert Rachid, 24 jaar Criminaliteit financiert AOW ***** stemt op Willem & Elsbeth, 68 jaar ZEETOURS Un Cruisespecialisi

Starting on November 14th, 2024, X[7][8] user @kunley_drukpa shared multiple versions of the meme online, including Chinese, African and United States version. The latter (shown below), posted on November 17th, 2024, garnered over 1,500 reposts and 18,000 likes on X[9] / Twitter in one week.


USAD The Social Contract 樂 USAID FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE dream ACT James, 30 AND URBAN EVELOPMEN SOCIAL ADMD SECURITY USA ATION SNAP Supalemental A Nutrit Program Tysheeqa, 39 Medicare Jose, 25 Phil and Deborah, 70

In the following days, multiple versions of the meme were shared by users on X / Twitter, with some examples breaking away from the original formula.

Various Examples


GREGORIVS, XXXIII 0000 Scheldt FRANKS Noviomagus Castra Vetera Meuse Weser Ruhr Lippe Novaesium Elbe Moselle Colonia C.A.A Bonna Mogontiacum Rhine Main * PACTVM SOCIALE * SPOR GVDOMAR, XXVII CLAVDIVS, XXX IVLIA ET IVLIVS, XXXVI ANVS FLAVIVS, AVRELIVS XXI SERVIZIO SSN SANITARIO NAZIONALE Il Contratto Sociale PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA Alessandro, 30 anni PNRR 100mdr Liliana, 86 anni INPS Istituto Nazionale Previdenza Sociale European Commission casa.it Antonio, 73 anni Maria, 71 anni W Western Union Adama, 28 anni Abraham, 29 anni Jemal, 35 anni Mamadou, 37 anni Silvio, 75 anni (Sindaco, Senatore, Primo Ministro) immobiliare.it idealista Giulia, 24 anni Isabella, 28 anni Natasha, 29 anni C Costa 750 500 250 1990 Canada: Average Dwelling Prices (Absorbed Newly Built) 188 RENT 1995 www.omics.com 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 (C) 2018 B. Romanchuk "Major metropolitan areas. Source: CMHC SOLD OVER ASKING Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada THIS IS STOLEN LAND Gladue Sentencing Principles 2021 Canadian church burnings The Social Contract Nick, 30 Food Banks Canada Tim Hortons CAFE EXPRESS WISE Service Canada Calgary In Depth Some foreign workers paying $30K or more in illegal fees for a job in Alberta Immigration experts are sounding the alarm over scam Karina Zapata CBC News-Posted Jul 15, 2024 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated July 15 CPP Investments Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Mapdeep, 27 Gurpreet, 26 Saranjeet, 25 Terry & Dianne, 70 Gulf of Mexico m ДЕСНОА FLORIDA Portage T Warth • Rat VKLADE Caral Gas Ma yLarges
Pacific Hisp MARRUECOS -EVO Oc Oct Addin 0 El contrato social Ca aecid Unai, 30 años MINISTERIO DE INCLUSIÓN. SEGURIDAD SOCIAL Y MIGRACIONES MINISTERIO DE DERECHOS SOCIALES Y AGENDA 3030 EL TE WDE 4 TECNOCASA @jabatoreacciona TESORERÍA GENERAL DE LA SEGURIDAD SOCIAL Agencia Tributaria SEGURIDAD SOCIAL idealistal PENSIONES DIGNAS ¡YAI IMSERSO Ria Paco, 72 años Wilson Orlando, 19 años Nick, 30 |中华人民共和国财政部 社会契约 中国援助 CHINA AID FOR SHARED FUTURE terstoc Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China 张伟毅,30 C⭑ Ababakri, 50 Gyaltsen, 25 |S|S|F| 全国社会保障基金理事会 苏云亭和古镜民,70 Eddy

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Matsuo_kun
Matsuo_kun

Been awhile since I studied it, but if my memory serves me: the "contract" in question is that the individual gives up some of their freedoms to the government, which in turn uses the powers gained to protect the rest. Does that about summarize it, or am I thinking of something completely different?

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