The 'hub' emote is typically used to express confusion, bewilderment, concern, or a 'what is happening?' reaction. It conveys a sense of being caught off-guard or witnessing something unexpected or questionable. The emote captures that moment of uncertainty when you're trying to process what you just saw or heard. It's often used as a reaction to strange statements, awkward moments, or confusing situations in stream chat.
Origin
The 'hub' emote originates from a cat named Hub who belongs to Twitch streamer Yabbe. The emote features Hub, an orange/ginger cat, looking directly at the camera with a distinctive wide-eyed, slightly concerned or confused expression. The emote was uploaded to 7TV and became popular in various Twitch communities, particularly gaining traction around 2021-2022. The cat's expressive face and relatable demeanor made it a viral hit among Twitch chatters who connected with its bewildered appearance.
When to use
When a streamer says or does something confusing or unexpected
In response to awkward or cringe moments on stream
When chat witnesses something questionable or sus
As a reaction to plot twists or surprising revelations
When someone makes a statement that doesn't quite make sense
During moments of collective confusion in chat
When the streamer is struggling to understand game mechanics or puzzles
