What are Internet Memes?

An internet meme is a viral concept or cultural symbol that spreads rapidly through the internet, often in the form of a photo, video, or phrase. Internet memes are often created by users who modify or add to existing media, such as a photo or video, to create a new meaning or context. These memes are then shared and spread quickly through social media and other online platforms.

Internet memes are often used to express emotions, convey a message, or make a political or social statement. They can be humorous, satirical, or critical, and often reflect popular culture or current events. Examples of internet memes include the "distracted boyfriend" meme, in which a man is shown looking away from his significant other to look at another person, and the "Doge" meme, which features a Shiba Inu dog and is often used to express excitement or enthusiasm.

One of the key features of internet memes is that they evolve and change over time. As they spread and are shared, users will often add their own variations or modifications to the original meme, creating new versions and sub-memes. This evolution of internet memes can create a sense of community and shared culture among users who participate in creating and sharing them.

Internet memes have become an integral part of internet culture, and have also become an important tool for communication and expression. They are widely used by people of all ages, and have become a way for people to connect and bond over shared experiences and interests.

In summary, An internet meme is a viral concept or cultural symbol that spreads rapidly through the internet, often in the form of a photo, video, or phrase. Internet memes are created by users who modify or add to existing media to create a new meaning or context. These memes are then shared and spread quickly through social media and other online platforms. They are often used to express emotions, convey a message, or make a political or social statement, and can be humorous, satirical, or critical. Internet memes evolve over time.

Simplified Example

An internet meme is like a joke or funny picture that gets passed around and shared a lot online, just like how you might tell a joke to your friends at school and they tell it to their friends, and so on. Some internet memes are pictures with funny captions, and others are short videos or animations. They are often created by regular people and can become popular quickly. They spread through social media, messaging apps and the internet in general.

Who Invented Internet Memes?

The term "internet meme" gained prominence in 1993 through Mike Godwin's essay "Meme, Countermeme" published in Wired's June issue. Godwin's essay played a pivotal role in popularizing the term, proposing that the propagation of ideas in the digital realm resembled the spread of viruses, which he termed "memes". Although the concept of internet memes had earlier roots, Godwin's essay contributed significantly to the mainstream acceptance of memes as a distinct form of online communication. He likened the term "meme" to a "cultural analogue to a gene", asserting that these cultural units underwent rapid evolution in the digital era. Godwin also introduced the notion of "memetic engineering", emphasizing the intentional creation and dissemination of memes, cautioning against their misuse for malicious purposes. Subsequently, "internet meme" has become a widely used term encompassing various online phenomena, from humorous images and videos to catchphrases and viral trends, capturing the essence of digital culture.

Examples

Doge: "Doge" is a popular internet meme that features a Shiba Inu dog with captions written in broken English and colorful Comic Sans font. The captions usually include phrases like "such wow" and "very [adjective]". This meme became popular in 2013 and has been widely used on social media platforms like Reddit, Twitter, and Facebook. It has also inspired a cryptocurrency called Dogecoin.

Pepe the Frog: "Pepe the Frog" is an internet meme that features a cartoon frog with a wide-eyed expression. This meme became popular in the mid-2000s and has been used to express a variety of emotions, from sadness to excitement. "Pepe the Frog" has been the subject of controversy due to some individuals using the meme for racist or hateful purposes.

Harambe: "Harambe" is an internet meme that originated from the death of a gorilla named Harambe at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2016. The meme features an image of the gorilla along with captions that often include jokes and references to the gorilla's death. "Harambe" has been widely used on social media platforms and has become a popular meme format, with variations and spin-off memes being created.

Related Terms

• Web 2.0: The next generation of the World Wide Web, which emerged in the early 2000s and continues to evolve.

• Internet Service Provider: A company that provides internet access to customers.