The "nihilist penguin" has been all over social media disguised as some philosphical genius. It's just a confused penguin.

Every few months, the internet latches onto an image that somehow captures a collective mood. In early 2026, that image turned out to be a penguin, quietly, almost stubbornly, walking away from ...

The penguin does not rush. It pauses, turns its head, looks back at the dark mass of its colony, and then continues walking, ...

A lone penguin's inland walk from a Werner Herzog documentary has now become a viral meme, as it symbolises modern emotional struggles and isolation.