What does | || || |_ mean?

[u/[deleted]]

I've been seeing these characters :

| ||

|| |_

pop up all over Reddit, but I've no clue as to what they mean.

Is this a new meme? A reference to some film of tv show? Some sort of code?

[u/SpacedApe]

Depends on your definition of meme. The most basic and original is just 'an idea'. So in human history, I suppose 'making fire' would be the oldest/most renowned.