Doge dog memes are very well known.
Meme is a term coined by British biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976 , from the word gene (which translates as "gene" ) and mímēma (something that is imitated). The latter is a Greek word which, in turn, comes from the term mimeisthai (which can be translated as "the action of imitating" ) and the noun mimos ( which is synonymous with "imitator" ). It should be noted that the first time Dawkins used the term publicly was in his work entitled "The Selfish Gene" .
The first meaning of meme mentioned by the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) in its dictionary, thus, refers to a behavioral or cultural characteristic that spreads from generation to generation or from individual to individual.
The meme on the Internet
The most common use of the concept , however, is linked to a joke , a cartoon or a prank that is shared on the Internet . It is a short video, a photograph, a drawing or an animation (gif) that usually distorts reality with a mocking intention . Many times the image has superimposed text.
Memes convey ideas or reflect situations with the aim of being funny and making people laugh. These contents usually reach a wide diffusion thanks to the transmission made by the Internet users themselves on social networks , such as Instagram , Facebook , Twitter or TikTok . Even YouTube can contribute to the virality of the meme.
In recent years, memes have become a new vehicle for expression . Many people summarise their thoughts or make their emotions public through this type of image, which is often based on humour.
There are numerous cat memes (or cat memes)
Keys to its viralization
When creating a meme that can go viral , there are a number of key points or recommendations to keep in mind:
- Imagination and creativity must be developed to the maximum.
- It is a great success to bet on elements or situations from real life with which anyone can identify.
- No foul language should be used. Language should be appropriate to the topic being discussed and should be easily understood by everyone.
- It is important to take into account the trends that currently exist on social networks.
- Written comments should be as short as possible.
- Irony, satire and parody are some of the tools that should be used to shape a meme.
When an influencer decides to share a meme, the viralization is set in motion or accelerated. Popular figures cause likes and retweets to multiply.
The spread of memes on social media is constant.
Most popular memes
Currently, the most popular memes are those related to work-related issues, education issues, and also those that refer to political or social complaints.
The photo of an angry child, a girl with a surprised expression and a man who invites us to think, for example, are very popular memes. When faced with one of these memes, the recipient quickly decodes the message and understands what the sender wanted to convey.
Distracted Boyfriend (the distracted boyfriend turning his head to look at a girl dressed in red), photos of Grumpy Cat (a cat that seems to have an angry face) and This Is Fine (the dog that is calm or resigned and about to drink coffee in the middle of a fire) are some of the most popular memes.
Memes are also often used to mock a sporting rival . Supporters of a team that wins early produce and spread memes with the intention of annoying the followers of the defeated team. This practice is part of folklore in many countries , although it can generate violent responses.
Aggressive content
While memes are funny, they can often be used aggressively. Accompanied by user-generated content or a particular hashtag, their offensive power can be heightened.
Trolls often use memes in their attacks. A meme can also be used for cyberbullying or to promote the so-called cancel culture .
Sometimes, the unwitting protagonist of a meme becomes a victim of the behavior of Internet users. Let's say a young person trips and his fall is recorded on video. Unintentionally, the material is spread over and over again on social networks. Thus, this content becomes a meme and begins to be used to illustrate any situation where a person shows his clumsiness.
The meme boy never wanted to be famous, much less did he want to become famous for a possible stumble. However, due to the logic of the Internet, he becomes a star. Of course, positioning oneself as an emblem of incompetence or incompetence is not pleasant for anyone. However, it is almost impossible to stop the spread of a meme once it has been adopted by the digital community.