The Vertikal Rotierender Fisch meme—the vertically rotating fish—is a brain rot meme and trend from German TikTok. Here's what it's about.

Soon people weren't celebrating the fish's journey so much as they were desperately, nihilistically envious of it. The fish tube became escape. The fish tube became sweet, sweet, semi-ironic oblivion.

That’s not the say that every meme will have a similar effect, though. Emma, 27, takes no comfort from the fish tube, nor does she experience any longing to join these piscine pals on their tube ...