The concept of a “meme” predates the internet. British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term in his 1976 book “The Selfish Gene,” describing it as a unit of cultural transmission or imitation, akin to a gene in biological evolution:
In Mr. Dawkins’s original conception, a “meme” was analogous to a “phoneme,” the smallest unit of sound in speech, or a “morpheme,” the smallest meaningful subunit of a word.”— The New York Times
14-Feb-22
Mike Godwin introduced the term “internet meme” in 1993 to describe how these cultural items spread online. Early internet memes included simple text-based emoticons like the smiley face “:-)” and viral animations such as the Dancing Baby and Hampster Dance from the late 1990s. These early memes were primarily shared through email, Usenet groups, and message boards.
Internet memes are cultural items that spread virally online, often evolving rapidly. They can take various forms, including:
- Images – Often overlaid with text (e.g., image macros like Lolcats).
- Videos – Short clips that go viral (e.g., Vine and TikTok videos).
- GIFs – Animated images shared widely on social media.
- Text – Catchphrases or hashtags (e.g., “YOLO”).
Memes are characterized by their humor, relatability, and ability to be easily modified and shared. They often parody existing cultural phenomena and may use intertextuality to create new meanings, like the commentary below on our addiction to smartphones and screensucking:
This meme provides biting commentary on the anti-social behavior of teens and older people due to smartphone addiction, which reduces face-to-face interactions and increases loneliness.
Memes Usage
Memes serve multiple purposes:
- Humor and entertainment – Most memes are created for comedic effect, providing a quick laugh or a relatable moment.
- Social commentary – Memes often comment on current events, politics, and societal issues, making them a form of digital folklore.
- Marketing – Brands use memes to engage with audiences in a relatable and humorous way. Meme marketing is cost-effective and can lead to high engagement and viral reach.
- Cultural Dialogue – Memes allow people to participate in cultural trends and conversations, even if they are not avid internet users.
Popularity and Trends
Memes have become integral to internet culture, with new trends emerging constantly. Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok are meme creation and dissemination hotbeds. Some recent trends include:
- Eclipse memes – Jokes about the solar eclipse, often using humorous or unexpected imagery.
- Movie and TV show memes – Memes based on popular media, such as the “Challengers” movie starring Zendaya.
- Event-based memes – Memes that arise from major events like the MET Gala or viral moments from trailers and live events.
Impact of Memes
Memes have a significant impact on digital culture and communication:
- Cultural influence – Memes shape and reflect societal attitudes and trends, often becoming part of the cultural lexicon.
- Political and social movements – Memes can mobilize social and political movements, spreading messages quickly and widely, like the uber-popular image of a black woman confronting riot police during the 2016 Black Lives Matter protests in Baton Rouge.
- Marketing and advertising – Memes offer a way for brands to connect with audiences in a relatable and engaging manner.
The meme concept has even transcended its traditional definition and is now used to describe certain financial stocks. GameStop famously became a “ meme stock” when Redditors engaged in a proxy war with the users of the investing app Robinhood, driving up its value to dizzying heights without much rationale.
Memes have become a dynamic and influential part of our Digital Lifestyle-influenced social dialog, evolving from simple text-based emoticons to complex multimedia creations. Memes reflect and shape cultural trends, becoming a central element of our new communication toolbox.
Ubertrend: Digital Lifestyle
