What is a meme in social media?

While social media is a platform for communication, memes are a way of expressing a culturally-relevant idea. A meme is an image or video that represents the thoughts and feelings of a specific audience. Most memes are captioned photos intended to elicit humor. However, there are many viral video memes too.

Why do memes spread so quickly?

A piece of media, often humorous, that spreads rapidly through the internet. With the instant communication that services like Twitter, Reddit, and similar allow us to perform online, it's no wonder that memes spread so quickly. Often, memes go through small alterations like the game of telephone. Sometimes, memes even beget new memes.

Are memes shareable?

Memes are shareable by nature. “In a world where you are scrolling through news feeds for hours a day, the meme format catches your eye, and most of them can be read and understood within seconds,” said Samir Mezrahi, the deputy director of social media at BuzzFeed, who also runs Kale Salad, a meme account with nearly four million followers.

What are memes & why are they important?

Memes are a worldwide social phenomenon, and an increasingly important aspect of viral marketing and social engagement. Memes often relate to existing cultures or subcultures. Often, memes spread rapidly through social media, email, and forum boards.