Egyptians have turned to an unexpected character to voice frustration over daily struggles. AI-edited images of SpongeBob SquarePants and his cartoon friends have been used to comment on living conditions across the country.
The trend started last month with a Facebook group named "Complaints of the Residents of al-Hamour Bottom." That phrase is the Arabic name for Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob's underwater home.
Users created manipulated versions of scenes from the show. The posts pointed to issues like high rent, poor healthcare, and corruption.
One popular image showed President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi depicted as the greedy character Mr Krabs. Other posts showed an overcrowded seabed filled with tuk-tuks, a nod to traffic congestion.
Group Grew Fast Before Suspension
The Facebook group gained 1.8 million followers within a couple of weeks. That growth caught the attention of authorities.
One cartoon showed interior ministry staff hiding underwater with a warning to "be careful." Shortly after, the group was suspended. Reports suggest officials were reviewing its content at the time.
A teenage girl who said she ran the group posted a video online. She said she and other creators should not be blamed for political posts made in spin-off pages.
Pro-government commentators pointed fingers at the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. TV host Tamer Abdel Monaim said the trend was tied to the group, claiming its goal was to create confusion.
Egypt's military removed Brotherhood-backed President Mohammed Morsi from power in 2013. That followed large protests against his rule.
Economic Pressures Behind the Humor
Even after the most political posts were removed, many of the memes kept spreading. Celebrities, influencers, and brands picked up the joke format and shared their own versions.
Radio host Rabab Kamal spoke about the trend on Facebook. She said people were laughing because conditions had become hard to bear.
Egypt is the most populated country in the Arab world, with more than 110 million residents. The nation has faced years of economic strain since 2011.
Inflation from past currency devaluations has hurt household budgets. Tourism, Suez Canal income, and money sent home from workers abroad have also been affected by regional instability.
Fuel prices have gone up. This summer, the government raised some electricity rates by 12%.
Public criticism of the government carries risk in Egypt. Human rights groups say people have faced detention for online posts the state does not approve of.
Mahmoud Shalaby, a researcher at Amnesty International, said the crackdown reaches beyond political critics. He said it also affects religious minorities and social media creators.
President Sisi has said he supports free expression. Late last month, he referred to "social media chaos" without naming the SpongeBob trend directly.
A lawyer has filed a legal complaint against those behind the page. The complaint, reported by news site Cairo 24, calls for a review into content that "could disturb public security."
The case is still developing as authorities continue reviewing the online activity tied to the trend.
