How Netflix and chill became the best thing to do in 2015

10 Dec 2015

A photo that evidently was taken precisely 20 minutes into Netflix and Chill. Photo via Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

‘Binge-watch’ may have been word of the year, but 2015 will go down in internet history as the year another streaming-related phrase slipped into our vocabulary.

Netflix and chill memes

Either you’re the type making a move ‘20 minutes into Netflix and chill’ or you’re the one caught off guard.

Netflix and chill memes

Netflix and chill memes

On both sides of the equation, this seemingly innocuous act has become code for hooking up thanks, in no small part, to associated images providing the necessary wink-wink, nudge-nudge.

Netflix and chill memes

Netflix and chill memes

Though Know Your Meme dates online usage of Netflix and Chill as a euphemism back to late 2014, it was this year that it became so popular that even your granny (probably) knows what it means.

Netflix and chill memes

By the time summer rolled around, the brand itself cottoned on to the virality of the term and tweeted its own take.

Pretty soon after that, it was getting international media coverage. With the world chiming in, the code is lost, but the joke is still going strong.

Netflix and chill memes

Netflix and Chill memes

Netflix and chill memes

In September, this champ of Netflix and Chill posted this photo to Reddit titled ‘My new Tinder pic’. Genius.

View post on imgur.com

Netflix and chill button?

Later, Netflix brought things to the next stage at the 2015 World Maker Faire, unveiling a special button that could dim the lights and silence your smartphone as you stick on Netflix.

Just what you need while you binge-watch with your bae.

Netflix and chill memes

The best part is that, years from now, children will have these memes to let them know the story of their conception.

Netflix and chill memes

Keep watching Siliconrepublic.com as we look back on the greatest memes of 2015. Let us know your favourite at @siliconrepublic on Twitter.

Main image of couple watching TV by Monkey Business Images via Shutterstock

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com