Why's the internet obsessed with "crashing out" right now?

We’re all prone to a little crash out once in a while.

In the world we live in, it’s expected. Wait, no, encouraged.

Because girl, I could give you at least five reasons off the top of my head at any given moment that could cause a breakdown of epic proportions.

And no, it’s not just me (this time).

If you’ve spent more than five minutes online lately, you’ve probably seen someone say they’re about to “crash out.”

Maybe it’s after a long day at work, a minor inconvenience, or a full-blown emotional spiral.

Whatever the reason, the phrase has become a staple of meme culture—shorthand for the kind of spectacular meltdown that can only be expressed through exaggerated internet slang.

But how did “crash out” go from niche slang to the internet’s favorite way to describe an existential collapse? And why does meme language like this embed itself so deeply into how we talk?

The art of the crash out.

To crash out isn’t just to be tired or frustrated—it’s to fully and dramatically give in to the forces of chaos. It’s the moment when the mental blue screen of death hits, and all that’s left to do is embrace the collapse.

For the unfamiliar (or not chronically online community) crashing out boils down to one thing: absolutely freakin’ losing it.

Urban Dictionary defines “crashing out” as "get[ting] really mad or upset; los[ing] all your self-control."

But it can also mean you're almost willingly doing something or acting in a way that will 100% bite you in the ass later – because you just don’t have the capacity to think about consequences in the moment.

Think: Spongebob hyperventilating, Morty losing it, Lemongrab screaming, or even Squidward when life is just too much. These characters are my crash out kings. They live in this perpetual state. And honestly, I see so much of myself in them.

This is not a new phrase.

However, given the internet’s propensity to latch onto words and shape our current vernacular, it is the phrase of the minute.

Meme culture has a way of seeping into our vernacular, turning internet-born phrases into real-world expressions.

Just like “let him cook,” “be so for real,” and “it’s giving,” “crash out” has transcended its meme origins to become an actual way we describe our feelings. It’s hyperbolic, yes—but that’s exactly why it sticks.

We internet folk also thrive on dramatisation.

Saying “I’m tired” doesn’t quite hit the same as “I’m about to crash out like an overheated Dell laptop.”

These phrases don’t just communicate information; they capture a vibe. And life is all about the vibes, even if we need to sprinkle in a little theatricality.

The psychology of the crash out.

Part of what makes “crashing out” so real is that it taps into something deeply relatable.

We all have moments where we feel completely fried, where our emotional bandwidth hits zero and we need a full system reboot.

The internet has a way of making things like this into a shared experience. Seeing a “chill guy” meme replaced with a battered, crash out king after “sending one email” makes us laugh because it’s ridiculous—but also, painfully accurate.

This is the magic of meme language: it gives us exaggerated, funny, and relatable ways to describe life’s smallest (and biggest) struggles.

And once a phrase captures the collective mood, there’s no stopping it from embedding itself into everyday speech.

Think of it like your friend group during high school. I can bet you had buzzwords and shorthand, a shared language that was exclusive to your group only.

You spent so much time together you literally developed a language only you could understand. This is the same thing with the internet, except we’re kind of just one giant friend group. Awww.

Let’s be honest though, these internet cycles of vernacular trends tend to be short and sweet. While we may all be crashing out right now, I’m sure we will be collectively fixated on something else in two weeks' time.

So, in honour of the mighty crash out, let’s take a moment to appreciate some of the most iconic in pop culture history.

Here’s my top three:

1. Kanye’s “imma let you finish” interruption speech.

There’s just no one who can do it more shocking than Mr. West. Even his famous rants and online episodes. I genuinely think he might be the one true crash out king.

2. Flavor Flav eliminating Tiffany Pollard on Flavor of Love

The fact that this show even existed feels like a fever dream to me but, hey, that’s MTV in the early 2000s for you. ANYWAY as the story goes, Flava Flav brought back Tiffany for Season 2 after eliminating her on Season 1.

Then, she went all the way up to second place, where he eliminated her again. In my opinion, her crash out was mild because I’d be committing arson.

3. And finally, Tupac’s “Hit Em Up”.

This has to be the cleanest crash out in all history. The Biggie Small's diss is as full of rage as it is style. Maybe that’s why no diss track has ever had impact like this one.

Final thoughts.

The rise of “crash out” is just another example of how meme culture shapes our behaviours in the real world, and online.

In an era where the internet is one big, collective coping mechanism, phrases like this give us a way to laugh at the chaos while also making it just a little bit more bearable.

All we can do is hope for the best and try not to crash out. Well, not too hard, anyway.

-Sophie, Writer