About

This Folder Is Empty refers to a series of parody system directory ending with an empty folder that comments on the one directly preceding it.

Origin

On July 21st, 2015, Twitter ^[1] user @kingmaIik made a text-based file directory that ends with a folder of number one singles by rapper Nicki Minaj being empty. The post (shown below) is the earliest known instance of the meme.

Spread

Shortly after this initial tweet was made, more users began using the format (shown below).

On August 31st, 2017, the chain restaurant Denny's tweeted^[3] a variation of the meme with the the heart's of bad tippers folder being empy. The post (shown below) received more than 4,400 retweets and 16,000 likes in three months.

However, some reacted negatively the Denny's use of the form. People on Twitter responded to their post with parodies of fast food chain, calling to attention some negative aspects of the restaurant, particularly their stance on raising employees' wages. Twitter user and journalist Jordan Uhl tweeted that "Livable Wage" folder was empty, garnering more than 10,000 retweets and 39,000 likes in three months. Others responded in a similar fashion (shown below, center and right).

Later that week, BuzzFeed ^[5] and Mashable^[6]

On November 7th, Facebook ^[2] user officialliquidmemes posted a variation that shows Lil Pump's "bad songs" folder as empty. The post (shown below) received more than 2,100 reactions and 200 shares.

The following week, November 14th, Redditor ^[7] PaulTheCarman posted the meme in the /r/MemeEconomy subreddit, where it received more than 1,200 points (29% upvoted).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References