AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The 'Won't Somebody Please Think of the Children' meme primarily features Helen Lovejoy, a character from the television show The Simpsons. In the meme, she is depicted yelling the phrase 'Won't somebody please think of the children!' during an episode dealing with the topic of prohibition in the fictional town of Springfield. This catchphrase was originally used to express exaggerated or mock concern, often regarding the welfare of children in various societal debates. Over time, it became a versatile expression used to comment on different issues, typically with an ironic or satirical tone. The meme is commonly seen in the form of image macros or text posts that feature Helen Lovejoy or thematically similar imagery.

OriginWho did it first?

The meme 'Won't Somebody Please Think of the Children' originates from an episode of The Simpsons titled 'Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment'. This episode was first broadcast on March 16th, 1997, and features the town of Springfield deciding to enforce prohibition. One of the memorable moments in the episode is when Helen Lovejoy, advocating for prohibition, dramatically exclaims 'Won't somebody please think of the children!' as a method to emphasize her point. This phrase is a known rhetorical technique often used to create an emotional appeal in political or social debates. The scene gained further popularity when it was uploaded to YouTube by whatdafuhk on November 8th, 2008, amassing significant viewership Watch the clip on YouTube. Additionally, the phrase was noted online as early as April 5th, 2006, in a post by a user on X (formerly Twitter) @dom discussing credit issues. The meme was also frequently shared on platforms like 4chan as early as 2010, often used in ironic contexts.^[1]

Origin: 1997