if you always have the most recent Memes, them you my friend are so cool! You are even cooler if you’ve made some yourself. Memes are so popular on Social Media platforms. I can confidently guess that a large percentage of Internet users has laughed about or even shared a meme. So what’s a meme? Why are memes so popular on the internet?
What is a Meme?
A meme is an image, video, piece of text, etc, typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by Internet users, often with slight variations.
Most memes are usually from popular television shows, movies, cartoons and users then add humorous text over it.
Memes usually take this format.
The Meme is a worldwide social phenomenon, spreading from one individual to another like a virus. They are mostly shared on Social Media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram among others.
Meme Examples
Most of the internet memes have some element of humor. Perhaps some of the reasons why people keep smiling to their devices. However, there are some really mean memes
Who Uses internet Memes?
20-something millennials transmit most of the internet memes. This is because it is the most connected demographic, enamored with social media. However, the older generation and baby users are picking up the trend of spreading memes. Consequently, the average age of meme users is increasing in Uganda and everywhere else.
Who (kinda) Invented Memes?
Richard Dawkins coined the word “meme” in his 1976 book, The Selfish Gene. The book attempted to explain the way cultural information spreads. Meme comes from a Greek word “mimema” which means “something imitated”
However, in the June 1993 issue of the wire, Mike Godwin proposed the concept of the Internet meme. This of course varied from Dawkins’ pre-internet meaning of meme.
How do Memes Become so Popular?
We live in a connected World with instant communication at our disposal. Memes are mostly shared in WhatsApp groups, Twitter and Facebook. It’s sometimes hard to resist from sharing a viral meme with friends who might have no phones. The internet makes memes go viral through instant sharing.
Most memes are made after an occurrence. Remember all the memes that were coined after the Social Media Tax went live? Or those that went viral after Spice Diana allegedly got “32” points in UACE. Memes are always coming, especially for those high profiles that mess up. Anita Fabiola? Lol.
