How to respond when he texts you random memes

A meme is a test run. It lets him reach out without committing to a full conversation or asking something that could get rejected. He's gauging whether you'll play along, whether you have similar humor, whether you're in the mood to engage. Some guys do this because they don't know what to say. Others do it because they like you but don't want to seem too eager. Either way, the meme itself matters less than the fact that he picked one he thought you'd laugh at or relate to.

If he's sending random memes consistently, he's actively thinking about you between other things. That's the signal under the surface.

Your job is to match the lightness he started with, prove you're not going to turn it into something weird, and give him a reason to send another one. This means responding quickly enough that it feels natural, reacting to the meme itself rather than ignoring it, and adding something of your own instead of just laughing at his. Send a related meme back, riff on what the meme says, add a joke, or comment on why it's funny. Show him you're amused and you're willing to play.

Don't make him work to understand your reply. Keep it easy and short. You're not writing a thesis, you're having a fun exchange.

Reply within an hour or two of getting the meme. Waiting days signals it didn't land with you or you're not interested. But don't spiral if he doesn't respond right away after you reply. He sent the meme, you sent something back, you both did your part. He might be busy, he might wait to send the next meme later, or he might follow up with something bigger.

If he stops sending memes altogether and goes quiet for days, that's different. But one unanswered reply to a meme isn't a sign anything went wrong. Keep the bar normal. If this is your regular rhythm with him, just keep matching it. If he ever sends three memes in a row with no replies from you, that's when you know you've let it go too long.