This is the meme you're looking for. (Tim Hirst) #EUref pic.twitter.com/0c6U4xZkhE

— Pádraig Belton (@PadraigBelton) June 23, 2016

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Social media users reacted with a mixture of surprise, gloating and wry humour.

The most retweeted post was from US whistleblower Edward Snowden, who said the referendum held lessons for people all over the world.

No matter the outcome, #Brexit polls demonstrate how quickly half of any population can be convinced to vote against itself. Quite a lesson.

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) June 23, 2016

We ran out of paper towels. Guess we can just use these. #Brexit pic.twitter.com/ilQ9Ar0Gb2

— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) June 24, 2016

Google reported a sharp rise in UK-based internet searches for ways of obtaining a passport for the Republic of Ireland, which is in the EU.

+100% spike in UK searches for "getting an Irish passport" after #Brexit votehttps://t.co/qyssi0v91x pic.twitter.com/aUdHplLMaS

— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) June 24, 2016

Sharp-eyed viewers of Fox News spotted that it initially reported that the UK had voted to leave the United Nations.

FOX News - a little confused! pic.twitter.com/K0n1QdOiBV

— Sam Kiley (@kileysky) June 24, 2016

There was consternation among europhile cats.

How do I tell them?? #Brexit pic.twitter.com/6Y7hRIKINi

— James Offer (@joffley) June 24, 2016

One Canadian suggested a historical context.

Can't think about #Brexit without thinking about this. pic.twitter.com/uRfIw7LGgu

— Derek Simon (@DartmouthDerek) June 24, 2016

Jokes in Pakistan and India focused on the potential for a flood of British migrants to the subcontinent and a possible hidden meaning in British singer Adele's lyrics.

Wait. Just realised ADELE's 'Hello' was about #Brexit only. pic.twitter.com/w8BCMM5YBz

— Aisi Taisi Democracy (@AisiTaisiDemo) June 24, 2016

Lovers of schadenfreude - taking pleasure in someone else's misfortune - were treated to a new German compound verb - verschlimmbessern.

Heard in Baghdad: "I never thought Britain would break up before #Iraq."#Brexit

— benwedeman (@bencnn) June 24, 2016

And could "Departugal" or "Czechout" be next?

'Those going to the UK to study will be pleased'

On China's Twitterlike Sina Weibo platform, the hashtag #UKEUReferendum# gained more than 85m views.

Some said the result showed the limits of democratic processes.

"The whole world is watching the Brexit vote. I think socialism is still the better system," one user wrote.

"Although a lot of people have mocked us for not having the right to vote and flaunted the democratic systems of other countries. Although our country's political system is not perfect, a referendum in China definitely wouldn't work. A referendum requires educated individuals with independent judgement," user Horse Dog God wrote, with a series of smirking emojis.

Some users started sharing the poster for the latest "Independence Day" film and wondering whether Scotland would vote to leave the UK.

Others had more personal concerns.

"Brexit brexit. Those going to the UK to study will be pleased - the pound is going to fall," user DaisyBucket said.