Sometimes, it's the simplest memes that are the most versatile and longest-lasting formats.

The "No Correlation Meme," also known as the "Scatter Plot Meme," is a reaction image featuring a basic scatter plot with the words "No Correlation," typically used to point out that two statements, ideas or events have no apparent connection.

The meme is based on an actual statistical concept, but its online usage is considerably less scientific. Instead, the image has become a prevalent way to respond to an unrelated or confusing statement, particularly when someone appears to connect two things that have nothing to do with one another.

So, how did a standard scatter plot become one of the most applicable reaction images on the internet? Let's find out.

Where Does the 'No Correlation' Meme Come From?

A scatter plot, or scatter chart, is a type of graph used to show the relationship between two numerical variables. Each point represents an observation based on two values, allowing viewers to identify potential patterns or trends between the variables.

In statistics, a lack of correlation means that there is no consistent relationship between the two variables.

The image used in the meme appears to have originated from a stock image, although the exact source is still unknown.

One of the earliest known examples of the image being used as a reaction meme dates back to October 16th, 2015, when Imgur user RussianMinority posted it in reaction to another post noting that a man is deaf but still more attractive than most.

Use of the scatter plot as a reaction image can also be traced to Twitter / X around the same time, although many early posts have since been deleted or become inaccessible.

A BuzzFeed article featured one such now-deleted tweet from November 6th, 2015, suggesting that the image was already being used as a humorous response by that point.

How Is The 'No Correlation' Meme Used?

As the image spread across social media in the following years, the scatter plot became a humorous visual shorthand for demonstrating that two things were unrelated.

It is commonly posted in response to a statement that appears to connect two ideas that have no obvious relationship, often serving as a sarcastic way of saying that there is "no correlation" between them.

The meme continued spreading across platforms throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s, appearing on Reddit, TikTok and other social media platforms as it became more prominent.

The meme also became popularized on TikTok, where users incorporated the image into videos as a reaction to statements they considered unrelated or confusing.

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The format has also been used during the 2020s to react to more unusual statements.

In September 2025, a TikTok about questioning one's sexuality after not eating all day prompted commenters to use the scatter plot image, suggesting that the two things mentioned in the post were completely unrelated.

What Are Some More Examples Of 'No Correlation' Memes?

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For the full history of the No Correlation / Scatter Plot meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry.