Memes and our online interaction culture || 10% to @steem4nigeria
There's no doubt that memes have had a major impact on the way we interact with each other on social media. They've become an integral part of our online culture, and we often use them to communicate our thoughts and feelings about current events, pop culture, and just about anything else.
While some people may see memes as a frivolous way to waste time, there's no denying that they can be used to start important conversations and spark new ideas.
What's more, memes are often highly shareable, which means they can reach a wide audience quickly. This makes them an ideal tool for spreading awareness about important issues and starting important conversations.
But have memes always being in existence?
No, memes are a relatively recent phenomenon. The term "meme" was first coined in 1976 by British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, but it wasn't until the rise of the internet that they truly came into their own.
Today, there are countless meme communities online where people share and create new memes. These communities are often highly creative and competitive, and the best memes often go viral, reaching a wide audience.
It has even become an avenue for certain persons to gain social media popularity by going viral.
Yes, this is definitely true. In recent years, we've seen a number of people become social media celebrities thanks to their memes.
For example, the "Gonna Tell My Kids" meme became hugely popular in 2018 after it was used to mock the Trump administration's family separation policy. The meme features a father and son walking hand-in-hand, with the father telling the son that he'll tell him about the time when "Donald Trump ruined America."
Similarly, the "Woman Yelling at a Cat" meme went viral in 2019 after it was used to mock the way some people were reacting to the impeachment hearings. The meme features a shot of a woman yelling at a cat, with the cat's reaction perfectly encapsulating the way many people were feeling about the situation.
In both cases, the memes sparked important conversations and allowed people to express their feelings about current events in a humorous way.
Of course, we have our own Osita Iheme, popularly known as Pawpaw, who literally has a meme for everything.
Meme are now a somewhat core part of our interactions on the world wide web and several positives can be seen from it.
There are definitely some positives to be found in the way memes have shaped our social media interaction culture.
For one, they've allowed us to express ourselves in new and creative ways. They've also given us a way to bond with others over shared experiences and common interests.
What's more, memes have the potential to start important conversations and spread awareness about important issues. In many ways, they're the perfect medium for social media interaction because they're quick, easy to understand, and often quite funny.
It is however not without negative impacts as well.
There are also some negatives to consider when it comes to the way memes have shaped our social media interaction culture.
For example, some people may find them to be a frivolous way to waste time. Additionally, they can sometimes be used to spread misinformation or hate speech.
Finally, it's important to remember that not everyone enjoys memes. Some people find them to be annoying or even offensive. It's important to be respectful of other people's opinions on this issue.
I am a meme usage advocate... Are you?