2018 / Meme / Audio illusion and mass debate
Yanny / Laurel
It was Laurel. Unless it was Yanny. Unless it was both.
The original is hosted off-site; this page provides context and a link to it.
What was this?
People heard different words in the same recording and debated the result across group chats, offices, and social platforms.
Why it spread
The debate spread across social platforms, newsrooms, brands, families, and schools. Explanations from hearing experts followed almost as quickly as the jokes.
What happened
People heard different words in the same recording and debated the result across group chats, offices, and social platforms.
Where it came from
A short, low-quality audio clip shared from Reddit to Instagram and Twitter in May 2018 prompted listeners to argue over whether a voice said “Yanny” or “Laurel.”
Why it mattered
Yanny / Laurel followed The Dress as a viral debate about how different people can experience the same stimulus.
How it spread
The debate spread across social platforms, newsrooms, brands, families, and schools. Explanations from hearing experts followed almost as quickly as the jokes.
Keep going
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