While Italian Brainrot is most associated with TikTok, its roots stretch back to Tumblr-era meme culture. Early adopters began combining retro Italian TV aesthetics with surreal humor as early as 2015. By 2020, TikTok’s algorithm supercharged it—rewarding increasingly absurd edits.

The meme format thrives on visual intensity and cultural remixing. TikTok enabled this with fast-cut videos, low-res visuals, and sound overlays like:

Italo disco classics (e.g., “L’Amour Toujours”)

Glitchy AI voices mispronouncing Italian phrases

Eurobeat car chase remixes

On YouTube, it evolved again—through long-form edits, clicker games, and commentary videos. It’s not just a meme anymore. It’s a movement. A collective fever dream with marinara sauce on top.