For starters, Internet Memes is nothing but cultural information or concepts passed around on the Internet. Therefore, the definition of a "meme" is anything that culture can be turned into online. Most Internet users have become familiar with certain terms such as "meme," "motorized wheel," and "bagpipes." The differences between these Internet terms and what we usually think of when we hear the term, and the difference between a cultural and biological gene, are that a cultural gene can be passed from one person to another, while a biological gene will stay within a species.
As an example of the definition of cultural information, here's one: a joke, a piece of fiction, song, etc., which are transmitted from one person to another, either orally or non-orally, without the use of any tools or means of transmission. The way in which this definition applies to Internet Memes is that a "meme" is any idea, concept, or style which is passed around the Internet. A lot of Internet users are unaware of the basic functioning of Internet Memes, hence the popular saying, "I don't give a hard fluff," because it's a very simplified explanation of how these Internet terms are used. Basically, an Internet user creates a cultural document by means of pictures, images, words, and so on. Based on that information, a new cultural artifact is created, known as a "meme," which is then passed around through a number of human interaction processes, such as re-blogging, using images and so on. The key difference between Internet Memes and biological genes is that cultural genes, when passed from one generation to the next, tend to survive through the generations and have long lasting effects on human culture. Whereas, Internet Memes is just that: they're short-term cultural information passed around. So the answer to the question posed in the title is "no, they're not the same." In order for Internet Memes to thrive, two key elements have to be present: enough users interested in the topic, and a sufficiently established community of originators who can "sense" or "refer" to these newbies. It's been noted that as many as 95% of all Internet traffic comes from certain geographic regions or interest groups. The strength of these groups also determines the likely success of a particular Meta-Meme. For instance, if a user finds a cute picture of the Formula 1 car, he/she may share it with friends. This will undoubtedly spread the image, and new iterations will be developed along the same subject, thus starting a whole chain of new and different Forums, Facebook Pages, and other Online Places. As an example, a humorous video about President Obama being adopted by a gorilla named Baracktron is now available for those interested in cultural information passed around the Internet. This one video, and the like, are prime examples of "imuscle replication." The Internet, much like the body of water that supports the life of organisms, is a highly replicated environment, in which one person's idea is acted out by another, and in which cultural information is passed around in a sort of viral capacity. Of course, even in the case of Memes, cultural evolution is not perfect. Sometimes, a piece of artwork can gain popularity through the process of cultural transmission, but then it becomes too easily diluted by the presence of similar content on the Web. A clever way to combat this is to have various people create their own versions of a particular idea. By doing so, they ensure that the original content remains intact, while the "clones" (artworks created by various artists) spread the popularity of that idea. Some people have even taken to making money off of their own creations. There is, for instance, a company based in Australia that charges customers $50 for each photograph and then offers them exclusive rights to market and sell those photos under the name of "memeufacture." This allows companies and individuals alike to profit from the culture that exists through online discussion threads, user-generated websites, and the like. In this sense, the power of cultural evolution is truly alive and well.
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What is a Meme? Well, an Internet meme, more accurately referred to as a "meme" is any sort of cultural concept, behavior, or opinion that is shared through the Internet, most often for humorous or political purposes. Generally, all Internet Memes focuses on pop culture phenomena that are often controversial or funny. Some people refer to Internet Memes as a way to interact with other users of the Internet. A few well-known examples of popular Internet Memes include:
Buzz Word Memes - Buzz words are popular because of their simplicity in definition and application. A Buzz word is any word that is quickly said, but ultimately lost. In terms of culture, Buzz words are often used as insults or as comments on certain topics. Examples of popular Buzz words are: butt keyword, buzz word, butt bump, and poop stick. Open Letter Memes - An Open Letter Meme is similar to a poem, but instead of using the first or last name of the person being quoted, it uses a first name with a recognizable phrase or word. Open letters are very popular forms of Internet Memes that are usually posted on social media sites, discussion forums, and social networking websites such as Facebook. An example of an open letter message would be: "Dear Mr. Smith, I realize that you are completely out of touch with reality, but I have an offer for you... Come on down!" Open letters are commonly exchanged between friends, lovers, and business associates. Social Media Memes - A lot of people utilize popular social media services to post funny or witty messages that spread across the web with little effort. Examples of social media-based internet microbes include: status updates, uploaded photos, and status messages, mentioned people's comments and so on. Popular social media-meme examples include: the face book sticker, cat pictures, and potato chips. The Viral Meme is a good example of a viral website and example of a popular viral internet rumor. This type of web rumor is so popular because it's so easy to create and disseminate. Funny Ads - Online ads is a great source of internet jokes. Memes often accompany online advertisements, like: the ice bucket challenge, the penis pump commercial, the bungee jumping man, and the ladybugs cereal ad. Some studies indicate that advertising with jokes is more effective at getting target audiences to respond than other types of advertising, such as print or television ads. Web Original Recipes - A popular use for Memes is internet recipes. Examples of popular internet recipes include: sushi rolls, cupcakes, chili, pizza, and macaroni and cheese. The Food Network has even featured recipe shows on their television network. Popular TV shows are often picked up by other viewers who enjoy the foods the show features on their tiny television screens. Music Memes - The popularity of the music video has made internet jokes a common genre of internet communication. This genre often centers around an artist or song's voice instead of a more conventional spoken word. Memes often center around a singer or song title. Examples of popular music songs with a Meme theme include: Britney Spears' "Hit Me One More Time," Mariah Carey's "Oops," and Christina Aguilera's "God Give Me The Reason." Taylor Swift's "Forever Tonight" is another popular song with a musical theme. As you can see, the use of a particular topic to create a Meme can go far beyond the traditional use of a stalker or other Internet-savvy acquaintance. In fact, a single internet-based concept could encompass many if not all of these sub-categories. However, you don't have to be a member of a known website or forum to start your own Meme chain. Simply go browsing the web for a good old fashion Meme or two and share them with others! There are many different types of Internet Memes, although the most popular types are jokes, graphics, video-based content, and image macros. Most Internet-based jokes are topical in nature, dealing with a current event or culture. However, there are a few darker-humored GIFs, such as ones that poke fun at Internet celebrities. These types of Internet Memes deal with social commentary, controversy, and controversy. They may focus on one person (such as singer Beyonce Knowles), an issue (such as genetically modified food), or something else that the public at large seems to be concerned about at this point in time.
It seems that the term "meme" was first used in reference to online content that was later adopted by other outlets, such as newspapers, books, and television. Celebrities themselves have contributed to the popularity of internet memes across multiple platforms. For example, many people have uploaded pictures of themselves on the red carpet at various award ceremonies, with the caption, "Sheen up for the red carpet." Many internet celebrities have likewise made usage of the medium in order to promote their businesses, increase visibility for upcoming projects, and for various other reasons. The influx of celebrities into the field has helped to fuel the growth of internet Memes in general. There are two main categories of Internet-based jokes, both of which are extremely popular among users. Many people will associate a particular celebrity with a certain type of joke, while others will choose to subscribe to a more general category. Popular subject matter for Internet-based jokes is quite varied. Some of the most popular categories include images of poop, the Easter Bunny, famous internet celebrities, and darker-humored jokes. Different celebrities have their own unique style of making web-based jokes, so there is no "one size fits all" solution to this question. The key difference between a common joke and a proper Internet Meme is that a joke is more of a generalization of a given situation or idea. A joke, for example, might be "watermelon was a bun", which would describe a situation or idea. However, a proper Internet Meme is generally a video or image containing a single punch line. A good example of a common Internet-based joke is this: "She's hot, so I gave her watermelon juice." This example contains three distinct elements - the first is a generalization (watermelon), the second is a punch line (hot woman), and the third is an animated GIF (grapefruit) which quickly reveal that what is being said is a joke. There are also quite a few dark-humored Internet-based images and videos, which become viral on the Internet and find their way into the trending topics of various major news websites. An excellent example of a dark-humored joke that found a place in the zeitgeist is this: "Hearts on the run, Moms are taking control." This cute video is an animated GIF that quickly reveals that the heartbroken father is being controlled by his emotionally disturbed wife, who simply wants him to enjoy some alone time with her. Dark-comedians also like to popularize their jokes via Internet-based social commentary. For example, Bob Grant posted a sketch on his website that compared the Tea Party to the Yellow Man's Club. He then used the image of President Obama as the club's president to poke fun at the Tea Party's image in general. This sort of Internet-based humor is usually more subtle than a direct insult, and it often makes the intended target feel uncomfortable and even provoked. While it may not be immediately clear what the driving force behind such Internet-based texts, the history of Internet Memes makes it clear that the rise of these cultural trends comes from a basic need to connect with others. In many cases, Internet-based "memes" are not unlike the bonds between families and friends, and are typically very compatible for long-lasting relationships. In fact, the Internet has been helping people build long-lasting connections with each other since the beginning of the net. It's just that these relationships happen on a much smaller scale, when they happen online rather than through traditional social circles. What are some of the most common characteristics of internet memes? First of all, a lot of them are silly. They are often funny, and poke fun at current events and more topical topics. Some poke fun at people (especially women, minorities, and the elderly) for their behaviors or attitudes. Others poke fun at things that are often deemed "important" or "popular." Still others fall somewhere between these two extremes, making statements that can be offensive to some and important to others, but are nevertheless still ultimately harmless and funny.
What is a cultural information item? A cultural information item is a subset of a common type of internet joke, situation, or other type of online message board content that is intended to share cultural information about a specific topic. For example, you may come across a group of teenagers talking about the latest fashion trends in college. They'll quote a line from a popular book, wear tasteful neckties, and talk about what they'd wear if they had the chance to participate in the fashion. While all of this is funny, it isn't something that would usually be considered a "meme." So how do you know which internet memes are good and which ones are bad? The key is to look for the common characteristics of good internet Memes and spot the problematic elements of bad internet Memes. To determine the value of a particular piece of Meme content, it's important to look for three characteristics. These characteristics are originality (the Meme is creative and unique), subject matter, and popularity. Let's take a look at each of these to learn more about what makes a good or bad internet joke: Originality - All good internet Memes are original creations of someone else. Someone who chooses to post a particular joke, poem, or photo will have control over which internet memes they display, so if you find a lot of content from a certain artist, you'll probably want to stay away from that artist's work. However, even content that looks similar can vary quite a bit. For example, an image macro isn't necessarily a "pure" form of a Meme, but if an artist creates several different variations of the same photograph then the piece is probably original. Subject matter - As mentioned before, all good internet Memes are unique creations. However, there are some genres of internet Memes that seem to be more popular than others. For example, political and cultural political images and pictures dominate the top spots on many lists of Memes. Images of bacon, beer drinking, and weed use are also on high demand. You may not want to post these because they are considered "sensitive", but if you're on a conservative Facebook page, you might not want to display them. Popularity - All great things must have a wide fan base. That means that all good internet Memes are popular, as they are creations of people who care about the subject matter. Good examples of Memes associated with a culture include videos, comics, and songs. If a certain culture's cultural information has been lost somewhere along the line, certain types of posts may become outdated and worthless, so this is another aspect that you should consider when choosing a Meme. Popularity can be a good indicator of the quality of an image. Most Facebook users have a fairly close relationship with their profile page, so this makes it a great platform for posting and sharing internet Memes. Many people will check the background of a photo before browsing, so this makes a popular, highly searched, image macro a great place to post a witty, cultural information piece. There are a number of different categories on most of the popular Facebook pages, so if you're looking for a niche, you should be able to find it here. As mentioned, these are only a few of the many options available for posting and sharing great internet Memes on Facebook. Memes are short bits of text that are quickly posted on the Internet to quickly convey a message to millions of people.
A popular form of a meme is often related to technology. For example, there are certain types of games that, when won, release a code or feature that enables something special to be unlocked. The term "ROMs" ("Read/Recall/IO") is frequently used as a synonym for ROMs ("Read/Write/Operate System Memory"). As a matter of fact, a ROM is often used as a term relating to the Internet, as in "ROM the Internet." AROMs ("Read/Recall/IO") is often used in reference to any kind of memory, including the Internet or digital cameras. These are just a couple examples of how the word "meme" has become associated with a rapidly spreading form of communication. A good example of an internet-wide trend that started out as a joke or online observation is the so-called "horse-play" or "meme." Many internet users find it amusing when certain types of people or things do things that are either inappropriate or embarrassing. Memes are quickly spreading throughout the web as certain groups of people who belong to different countries or cultures engage in hilarious or embarrassing activities that are related to their heritage, religion, or culture. In fact, many people refer to certain events or things as a "hilarious Meme." There are even companies that specialize in the promotion of internet Memes as a means of helping users to express themselves through words or pictures on the web. The use of Memes is a way for many people to make online friendships and discuss common interests. However, the use of Memes in this way can have some negative repercussions. In addition to the use of jokes as a means of bringing a group of people together or in cracking down on specific social behaviors, the use of Memes may lead to greater ineffectiveness. This is because jokes are meant to be light-hearted and poke fun at an issue, which many times turns out to be more in the minds of the participants than what the comedian is attempting to say. In addition to the possible problem of getting people upset, there is also the potential problem of creating a social media overload. There is a large amount of content available on the internet that consists almost entirely of Memes, as well as videos and other types of multimedia. As a result, many people are having a hard time keeping up with the latest trends or popular terms on the internet and are instead forced to resort to the old standby of using a dictionary. While there are many positive aspects to the use of Memes, there are also some major downsides to it as well. One of the major downsides to the use of Memes is that there is no control over who can put the most controversial or comedic statements out there. As a result, there has been quite a bit of focus on the controversial or topics of the day on many popular social media networks, with a number of celebrities coming under fire for statements they made regarding the Iraq war, for instance. Additionally, as more celebrities become involved in the latest Memes that they are posting, the risk of "meme magic" takes place. As opposed to the idea of Cultural Information Networks which would allow for the spread of information throughout a community on a peer to peer basis, the internet is much more resistant to the transmission of information through commonality of cultural information. In essence, the Internet evolves by becoming more individualistic, and not because of any centralization of information technology. As a result, it is much more difficult to successfully replicate the existing culture in the form of a "selfie" or a "meme." Because of this resistance to cultural information, and the difficulty of the process of cultural transmission, the future of Memes may be limited. A future where all Internet users are forced to look for specific keywords to find relevant content is probably not where we want to go. For now, Memes are more popular on user profiles and are often associated with particular brands and companies. This allows them to be used more effectively to advertise but makes them seem very different from the actual brand or company itself. For instance, if you are looking to advertise the upcoming release of a Harry Potter film, posting a "Harry Potter" or "Hollywood" related Emoticon might be more effective than simply posting a generic "I love Harry Potter" Meme. A popular way of using memes is via internet meme generators (you can create e.g. kermit memes), which are tools that can create memes out of a variety of forms of content. A popular type of generator is one that randomly generates a quote for the user. For example, if the user types in the quote "Barry Greenstein was my favorite comedian before he was famous", the generator will give him a list of celebrities who are, in some way, related to Barry Greenstein. It will be up to the user to choose between them and other famous comedians that may interest him or her. This sort of generator is popular among young people who want to identify the people they admire or respect the most.
The term "meme" is now applied to any kind of online cultural information that is being shared and circulated on the Internet. Some examples of "memes" are images, jokes, sayings, and music. The word "meme" is now used often in hip hop circles, but it originated with the internet's earliest users. In fact, the earliest known reference to the term "meme" comes from an email hoax about the President of the United States and a supposed CIA plot. Another early use of the term is in a blog post by the rapper Lil Kim. The proliferation of the term "meme" across the web's many participating platforms has led to its use as a marketing tool in the social media arena as well. Companies can create their own unique versions of "memes," and then distribute them through various social media outlets. Examples of these businesses taking advantage of the growing importance of the "meme concept" in marketing include brands like Verizon and Yahoo! The growing popularity of the "meme concept" in marketing gives marketers an exciting new opportunity to create customized content for their target audience. If a brand wants to use a specific kind of "meme" in its marketing strategy, it is important to carefully determine which kinds of content are going to appeal to customers. A good rule of thumb is to look for "searched keywords" in the content of the "meme". Different kinds of "memes" may share similar traits, such as funny or controversial images, short videos, or even song lyrics. With the help of certain software, brands can easily identify which kinds of content will resonate with their customers. As the Internet continues to grow, the importance of this marketing technique will only continue to grow. Many businesses that successfully adapt to the changing advertising landscape will thrive because they took the time to properly understand the power of using "memes" to market their products. As the Internet evolves, new technology may make it even easier for brands to incorporate internet memes into their marketing campaigns. For instance, companies may find it more effective to advertise on sites where a large number of people have visited recently. Brands that offer coupons that encourage internet usage may also find great success. In addition to the use of search engine optimization, companies that rely on internet memes may also benefit from using social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare. All of these sites allow users to share pictures, content, and other internet-related items with others within the community. The power of internet Memes is only now becoming more understood by marketers who recognize its potential as a marketing technique. Although internet Memes do not yet have the popularity of other forms of advertising, brands that embrace them will likely see great results. Just as other forms of internet marketing are influenced by the human mind, certain internetMemes may evoke specific reactions from users based on their political ideas, types of content, and personal experiences. The rise of the Tea Party in America is a prime example of the impact that internetMemes may have on public opinion. When brands that use these techniques begin to appeal to their customers, it is very likely that other businesses will begin to use them as well. |
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