About

How TF Did They Build This Without Any AirPods is an exploitable image macro meme format in which an image of the Ancient Egyptian pyramids is associated with captions using the phrasal template "How TF did they build this without any X," with "X" being something that is perceived to be used to help work go more productively. The earliest known version of the meme was posted to iFunny in mid-March 2025, inspiring numerous edits over the following months and spreading to sites including Instagram, X / Twitter and Facebook.

Origin

On March 17th, 2025, iFunny^[1] user SolTearix posted a meme consisting of a drawing of Egyptians working on the pyramids, captioned, "How did they build ts without AirPods?" garnering over 2,300 smiles in three months. This is believed to be the earliest version of the meme

On the same day, Instagram^[2] user poomkinjuice posted a similar meme using a different image of people building the pyramids over the caption, "How tf did they build this without any AirPods," garnering over 2,500 likes in the same span of time.

Spread

The meme garnered viral spread over the following months, inspiring edits that change "AirPods" to something else that is perceived to help someone work more productively.

On March 25th, 2025, Instagram^[3] user epicjoko reposted the version of the meme by poomkinjuice, garnering over 25,000 likes in three months. On May 3rd, Facebook^[4] user Waris Leo posted a version replacing "AirPods" with an image of a pack of Marlboro cigarettes, garnering over 17,000 shares and 6,400 reactions in a month. It was also posted by iFunny^[5] user Your_Local_Serial_Killer that day, garnering over 1,500 smiles in the same span of time.

On May 7th, X^[6] user @sekarungberas posted a version of the same meme with a different image, garnering over 9,500 likes in a month.

On May 9th, Instagram^[7] user cyrakek_ posted a Demotivational Poster version of the meme featuring the caption, "They had camels idiot," referencing Camel cigarettes, garnering over 50,000 likes in a month.

On May 15th, 2025, Facebook^[8] page Saint Kincaidd posted a version of the meme featuring Marlboros and Sting energy drink, garnering over 22,000 reactions and 4,100 shares in a month.

On June 6th, Facebook^[9] page Music That Makes You Feel Better posted a version of the meme replacing "AirPods" with a screenshot of a DM reading, "Eat well baby," garnering over 6,200 reactions and 980 shares in 10 days.

Various Examples

Search Interest

Unavailable

External References