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Home , Internet meme, Viral marketing

An (/ˈmiːm/ MEEM) is an activity, con- ties. Messageboards and newsgroups were also popular cept, catchphrase or piece of media which spreads, of- because they allowed a simple method for people to share ten as mimicry, from person to person via the Internet.[1] information or with a diverse population of inter- Some notable examples include posting a photo of peo- net users in a short period. They encourage communica- ple lying down in public places (called "") and tion between people, and thus between meme sets, that uploading a short video of people dancing to the Harlem do not normally come in contact. Furthermore, they ac- Shake. tively promote meme-sharing within the messageboard or A meme is “an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from newsgroup population by asking for feedback, comments, person to person within a culture”.[2] An Internet meme opinions, etc. This format is what gave rise to early inter- may take the form of an image, hyperlink, video, picture, net memes, like the Hampster Dance. Another factor in website, or hashtag. It may be just a word or phrase, the increased meme transmission observed over the in- including an intentional misspelling. These small move- ternet is its interactive nature. Print matter, , and ments tend to spread from person to person via social net- are all essentially passive experiences requir- works, , direct , or news sources. They may ing the reader, listener, or viewer to perform all neces- relate to various existing Internet cultures or subcultures, sary cognitive processing; in contrast the social nature of often created or spread on sites such as , the Internet allows phenomena to propagate more read- and numerous others, or by boards and other such ily. Many phenomena are also spread via web search en- early-internet communications facilities. Fads and sen- gines, internet forums, social networking services, social sations tend to grow rapidly on the Internet, because the news sites, and video hosting services. Much of the Inter- instant communication facilitates word-of-mouth trans- net’s ability to spread information is assisted from results mission. found through search engines, which can allow users to find memes even with obscure information.[8][9] The word meme was coined by in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, as an attempt to explain the way cultural information spreads;[3] Internet memes are a subset of this general meme concept specific to the culture 2 Evolution and propagation and environment of the Internet. In 2013 Dawkins char- acterized an Internet meme as being a meme deliber- An Internet meme may stay the same or may evolve ately altered by human creativity—distinguished from bi- over time, by chance or through commentary, imitations, ological genes and Dawkins’ pre-Internet concept of a , or by incorporating news accounts about itself. meme which involved mutation by random change and Advice Dog is one of the most famous types of these spreading through accurate replication as in Darwinian by giving rise to the Advice Animal image macros that [4] selection. Dawkins explained that Internet memes are are known today. Internet memes can evolve and spread thus a “hijacking of the original idea,” the very idea extremely rapidly, sometimes reaching world-wide pop- of a meme having mutated and evolved in this new ularity within a few days. Internet memes usually are [5] direction. Further, Internet memes carry an additional formed from some social interaction, pop culture refer- property that ordinary memes do not—Internet memes ence, or situations people often find themselves in. Their leave a footprint in the media through which they prop- rapid growth and impact has caught the attention of both agate (for example, social networks) that renders them researchers and industry.[10] Academically, researchers [6] traceable and analyzable. model how they evolve and predict which memes will sur- Internet memes are a subset that Susan Blackmore called vive and spread throughout the Web. Commercially, they temes—memes which live in technological artifacts in- are used in where they are an inexpensive stead of the human mind.[7] form of mass . One empirical approach studied meme characteristics and behavior independently from the networks in which they propagated, and reached a set of conclusions con- 1 History cerning successful meme propagation.[6] For example, the study asserted that Internet memes not only com- In the early days of the Internet, such content was pri- pete for viewer attention generally resulting in a shorter marily spread via email or Usenet discussion communi- life, but also, through user creativity, memes can col-

1 2 6 REFERENCES

laborate with each other and achieve greater survival.[6] 5 Further reading Also, paradoxically, an individual meme that experiences a popularity peak significantly higher than its average • Blackmore, Susan (March 16, 2000). The Meme popularity is not generally expected to survive unless it Machine (Volume 25 of Popular Science Series ed.). is unique, whereas a meme with no such popularity peak Oxford University Press, 2000. p. 288. ISBN keeps being used together with other memes and thus has 019286212X. Retrieved 30 November 2012. greater survivability.[6] • Writing for in 2013, Dominic Ba- Shifman, Limor (Nov 8, 2013). Memes in Digital sulto asserted that with the growth of the Internet and Culture. MIT Press, 2013. the practices of the marketing and advertising industries, • Wiggins, Bradley E. (2014, Sept. 22). How memes have come to transmit fewer snippets of human the Russia-Ukraine crisis became a mag- culture that could survive for centuries as originally envi- net for memes. The Conversation. Arti- sioned by Dawkins, and instead transmit banality at the cle available at https://theconversation.com/ expense of big ideas.[11] how-the-russia-ukraine-crisis-became-a-magnet-for-memes-31199

• Wiggins, Bradley E., & Bowers, G. Bret. (2014). Memes as genre: A Structurational Analysis of 3 Marketing the Memescape. New Media & Society. 1- 21. http://nms.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/ Public relations, advertising, and marketing professionals 05/23/1461444814535194.abstract have embraced Internet memes as a form of viral market- • Distin, K. (2005). The selfish meme: A critical re- ing and to create marketing "buzz" for assessment. Cambridge, U.K: Cambridge their product or service. The practice of using memes to market products or services is known as memetic marketing.[12] Internet memes are seen as cost-effective, and because they are a (sometimes self-conscious) fad, 6 References they are therefore used as a way to create an image of awareness or trendiness. [1] Schubert, (2003-07-31). “Bazaar goes bizarre”. Marketers, for example, use Internet memes to create in- USA Today. Retrieved 2007-07-05. terest in films that would otherwise not generate positive [2] Meme. Merriam-Webster Dictionary publicity among critics. The 2006 film Snakes on a Plane generated much publicity via this method.[13] Used in the [3] Dawkins, Richard (1989), The Selfish Gene (2 ed.), Ox- context of public relations, the term would be more of an ford University Press, p. 192, ISBN 0-19-286092-5, We advertising than a proper Internet meme, al- need a name for the new replicator, a noun that conveys though there is still an implication that the interest in the the idea of a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of content is for purposes of trivia, ephemera, or frivolity imitation. 'Mimeme' comes from a suitable Greek root, rather than straightforward advertising and news.[14] but I want a monosyllable that sounds a bit like 'gene'. I hope my classicist friends will forgive me if I abbreviate Examples of memetic marketing include the mimeme to meme. If it is any consolation, it could alter- FreeCreditReport.com singing ad campaign, the natively be thought of as being related to 'memory', or to “Nope, Chuck Testa” meme from an advertisement for the French word même. It should be pronounced to rhyme taxidermist Chuck Testa, and the with 'cream'. public announcement ad campaign by Metro Trains [4] Solon, Olivia (June 20, 2013). “Richard Dawkins on Melbourne. the internet’s hijacking of the word 'meme'". Wired UK. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013.

[5] Dawkins, Richard (June 22, 2013). “Just for Hits”. The 4 See also Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase. (video of speech)

• Cliché [6] Coscia, Michele (April 5, 2013). “Competition and Success in the Meme Pool: a Case Study on Quick- meme.com”. Center for International Development, Har- • vard Kennedy School ( 2013 Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence). Abstract of Coscia • List of Internet phenomena paper. Paper explained for laymen by Mims, Christopher (June 28, 2013). “Why you’ll share this story: The new science of memes”. Quartz. Archived from the original • culture on July 18, 2013. 3

[7] Zetter, K. (29 February 2008). “Humans Are Just Ma- chines for Propagating Memes”. Wired website.

[8] “Memes On the Internet”. Oracle Thinkquest. Retrieved 30 November 2012.

[9] Marshall, Garry. “The Internet and ”. School of Computing Science, Middlesex University. Retrieved 30 November 2012.

[10] Kempe, David; Kleinberg, Jon; Tardos, Éva (2003). “Int. Conf. on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining”. ACM Press. |chapter= ignored (help)

[11] Basulto, Dominic (July 5, 2013). “Have Internet memes lost their meaning?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013.

[12] Flor, Nick (December 11, 2000). “Memetic Marketing”. InformIT. Retrieved 2011-07-29.

[13] Carr, David (29 May 2006). “Hollywood bypassing crit- ics and print as digital gets hotter”. New York Times. Re- trieved 16 October 2012.

[14] memes.org

7 External links

• Gary Marshall, The Internet and Memetics - aca- demic article about Internet and memes. 4 8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

8 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1 Text

• Internet meme Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet%20meme?oldid=637367391 Contributors: Bryan Derksen, The Anome, In- frogmation, Skysmith, CesarB, Jpatokal, Darkwind, Scott, Lfh, Jm34harvey, WhisperToMe, Hyacinth, Saltine, Bcorr, Denelson83, Earl Andrew, Altenmann, MSGJ, Bkonrad, Alison, Sunny256, LiDaobing, Slowking Man, Sonjaaa, Antandrus, OverlordQ, Russco, Benji man, Discospinster, William Pietri, FT2, Somos, Sgeo, Nabla, Kwamikagami, Maqsarian, Bobo192, Smalljim, Nsaa, Wayfarer, Espoo, Jérôme, Alansohn, Querent, Riana, Woutersmet, Snowolf, Atomicthumbs, Wtmitchell, Einstein9073, Stephan Leeds, Amorymeltzer, Lerd- suwa, Rotring, Vanished user dfvkjmet9jweflkmdkcn234, Henrik, Mindmatrix, GVOLTT, Camw, LOL, Robert K S, Pixeltoo, MONGO, Waldir, Xiong Chiamiov, Graham87, Deltabeignet, DePiep, Mendaliv, Ceinturion, SMC, Vegaswikian, Nneonneo, Crazynas, Maurog, Husky, Yamamoto Ichiro, SchuminWeb, Pathoschild, PierceCheng, Jumpfroggy, Imnotminkus, King of Hearts, DVdm, Volunteer Marek, Korg, Rob T Firefly, Phantomsteve, RussBot, Red Slash, Bhny, Limulus, Stephenb, Theelf29, Bullzeye, NawlinWiki, Wiki alf, Anomo, Aeusoes1, RattleMan, Grafen, Badagnani, Feross, BlackAndy, Cleared as filed, Brandon, Moe Epsilon, Hakeem.gadi, Sebleblanc, Deeday- UK, Closedmouth, Th1rt3en, JuJube, Femmina, Tkrokli, TJF588, Tom Morris, Jmchuff, SmackBot, Amcbride, Aim Here, Felicity4711, Slashme, InverseHypercube, McGeddon, C.Fred, WilyD, Jagged 85, Renesis, Evanreyes, An Iarmhi, Gilliam, Carbon-16, Jprg1966, Gh0sT, BenBerry, Baa, Sanjayhari, Egsan Bacon, Frap, Efitu, Onorem, Nixeagle, Xiagu, Rrburke, Tommyjb, Xyzzyplugh, Cyberco- bra, Nakon, T-borg, Dreadstar, Richardc020, Sljaxon, DMacks, Richard0612, Rodeosmurf, Vertigo Acid, Qmwne235, TenPoundHam- mer, Qwerty0, Deepred6502, JzG, Chrishu, Soap, Kuru, Suitmonster, Ridr90, En3r0, Darz Mol, Eoseth, Dmcw127, Ryulong, Norm mit, Quaeler, DouglasCalvert, HisSpaceResearch, 293.xx.xxx.xx, Missionary, Joseph Solis in Australia, Blakegripling ph, Ljlego, Crackedlogic, Courcelles, GiantSnowman, ArrEmmDee, Danlev, George100, Psxer2600, Urutapu, Addict 2006, Jedzz, Halbared, Tbone2001, Frankthe- bunny, Myasuda, Mattbuck, Dredwerker, MC10, Vanished user vjhsduheuiui4t5hjri, Gogo Dodo, Anonymi, Redwoodneo, Adolphus79, Xep, Odie5533, Dougweller, X0lani, DumbBOT, Asenine, Johnfn, Karuna8, Epbr123, Wikid77, Opheicus, Qwyrxian, N5iln, Mojo Hand, Luigifan, Marek69, Tbmorgan74, TheTruthiness, Java13690, Gollod, Ultegra, Amrush, Aravindgnaick, Northumbrian, Ssr, Seaphoto, Prolog, Osubuckeyeguy, RapidR, Rossj81, Pixelface, EXP282, A&MFan, Golgofrinchian, Deflective, Leuko, Instinct, JDrage, Smiddle, Xeno, PhilKnight, Acroterion, Gumby600, Bongwarrior, VoABot II, HorseloverFat, Mclay1, Jéské Couriano, Kid Sonic, Twsx, KCon- Wiki, Catgut, WhatamIdoing, Indon, Giggy, Captin Shmit, Mkdw, Thibbs, Gentlemen, DerHexer, Esanchez7587, Katoh, Robin S, Kjhf, Rome Leader, Rcollins03, Jerry teps, R'n'B, Devpeck1, LedgendGamer, RockMFR, J.delanoy, Captain panda, Uncle Dick, WarthogDe- mon, Ownage2214, Erik1980, Ahtitan, Leeked, Barts1a, AntiSpamBot, Danielcsm, Es187, SJP, Joudoki, Joshua Issac, Juliancolton, Jef- fjrstewart, Stanqo, LoTekk, MegatronYES, Khargas, Ajfweb, Bonadea, RVJ, Ronbo76, TBF Bri 10, Fax10, Tony Darkgrave, Nintendere, Hersfold, Jeff G., Alexandria, VasilievVV, Pparazorback, Kurgus, Philip Trueman, Fran Rogers, Heyjokerman, Sookiehocky, Batsnum- bereleven, BuickCenturyDriver, Debito Arudou, Wikidemon, Zurishaddai, GcSwRhIc, Sankalpdravid, V3rb4t1m, Amsyy, Dotbenjamin, Anna Lincoln, Martin451, Gregsinclair, Woot21, Sanfranman59, Jackfork, LeaveSleaves, AtaruMoroboshi, Christopher Connor, Guided- ByPavement, BotKung, Njbob, Everything counts, MarseeR, Andrewaskew, Michaeldsuarez, Serious Cat, Eagle.ed, Brianga, Angelastic, NHRHS2010, Kbrose, WaltCD, Arjun024, Cosprings, Christoopherr17, Scarian, Dawn Bard, Matthew Yeager, 5150pacer, Artist For- merly Known As Whocares, Keilana, Toddst1, Tiptoety, Dacheatcode, Chanceloth, Antonio Lopez, Techman224, Earthere, Atosecond, Dillard421, NastalgicCam, Potato dude42, Mygerardromance, Martin H., DRTllbrg, Into The Fray, Fofopie, TableGlory, MaxwellHansen, ImageRemovalBot, WikipedianMarlith, Broooooooce, Martarius, De728631, Wintersoul, ClueBot, Taco Wiz, Onlinejaguar, Artichoker, Pressforaction, Mariomarioecw, Snigbrook, Fyyer, The Thing That Should Not Be, Theseven7, Voxpuppet, JustSomeRandomGuy32, Bus- par, Bushster, Mild Bill Hiccup, Silent Key, Paulytlws, SuperHamster, Kheyre, Blanchardb, Orthoepy, Dylan620, FunkyDuffy, I LIVE IN A HAT, McMarcoP, Excirial, Phil Ian Manning, Zomgwtfpwn, SuperZeroo, NuclearWarfare, JoelDick, Amzi, JamieS93, Holothu- rion, Account9000, SaltyDawg, Editor510, ChrisHamburg, Thehelpfulone, Sicklemonkey5, Thingg, Versus22, ANONYBALLER, Lx 121, MelonBot, Dontmentionit, Qwfp, Johnuniq, Egmontaz, Goodvac, DumZiBoT, Scapler, Zombie Hunter Smurf, Badmachine, XLinkBot, Salamander724, Qwsert, Rror, Dayyanb, Paulmnguyen, Gnarfard, Avoided, NellieBly, Ziggy Sawdust, Frood, WikiDao, Binary.koala, Darthfluffiny, HexaChord, Addbot, Cxz111, Kelly, Cantaloupe2, Some jerk on the Internet, DougsTech, Anon13, Ronhjones, Rklear, Tut- terMouse, Jncraton, Mrocklin, Cbauckhage, CanadianLinuxUser, Ps2god, Jnorm, MrOllie, SoSaysChappy, Pikawil65, Iainrobertsmith, Chamal N, Glane23, Gking92, Deadlyfish, Twicetowns, Favonian, 5 albert square, Deeno69, Socialgreenwood, Jacob infinity, Undestu, ,Avono, Al3xil, El Mexicano, SasiSasi, MuZemike, Intouchwithmemes, Jarble ,דוד שי ,Tide rolls, FrankenD, AdderGuyInnit, OlEnglish LiteralKa, Sherpaderka, SKiPMacD, Swarm, Tetedemelon, Samlehman, Cliketh, Jerrokun, Yobot, Jcae6, Wkpa678, Cflm001, 3$s^7*, NERVUN, Sucker2.12, CSimons, AnakngAraw, Nikolai Pchelkin, Vörös, CEEJMASTOR, Dirthouse6, AnomieBOT, Helixer, Rjanag, Jeni, Gitgo567, Hadrian89, Piano non troppo, Emp395, Aditya, Kingpin13, Flewis, Kn100, Materialscientist, Anto-chan, Are you ready for IPv6?, Xcdjy, Apollo, Quebec99, Lollillups, JimVC3, Capricorn42, Magroo, Tubulartoad, ChildofMidnight, Myrrdinn, Plqqsrp789, Lawnay, Quintus314, Crzer07, Jaeg4534, Shirik, Future2008, StarLegacy, Simonwilloughby, Macbookair3140, Amaury, 78.26, JulianDel- phiki, Pinky828, Cyw5, Love Hurts, SirCharlesDavid, Meggaa34, Datheroth, ShadowsRandom, RCraig09, MuffledThud, LazyMapleSun- day, Shadowjams, Ignium, Samwb123, Lauriefinley, Captain-n00dle, Forced meme, EtienneLichten, FrescoBot, Lundgren8, Aleksa Lukic, Lifesavers2, Zeldamaster2013, Gratton Railway, ZC Supernova, Ionutzmovie, Icorrectu, Fatjodz, Duanehaas, Askalan, El Kael, Scrotal69, Malak Wolynx, Chicago3j, JohnnyP2048, Mimzy1990, Notedgrant, Fjordn, Glenn1995, Mudkip677, Jschnur, Pawsalmighty, Orks1a2da, SpaceFlight89, Σ, MathiasRod, Secret Saturdays, Andallo, Robo Cop, Fykfyksdftyk, Nufcneilo, Balloonsmakemehappy, Akjub, Iokerapid, Quiin 3, Feuerrabe, Double sharp, Mudkupz, Squento, Juhko, Mono, Headbrain, Michaelcw10, Valdemarasl, The guy who roolz, Lotje, Amin196, Phoenix9508, January, Tbrkz9, Zombeh TK, 7107delicious, NoobMan365, Flowbeeshinobi, GarHTField234, SlimShadyPwnz, Reaper Eternal, Kapooht, Matt101ssx, Skakkle, NoverHover, Tbhotch, CuboneKing, DARTH SIDIOUS 2, RjwilmsiBot, Fredfredbug4, Greendayrulezwoot, NignogTheAfricanChildReturns, Bugattiboy22, ThisguyYEAH, DragonShiryu2, R4pT0r J3suS, Jdisand1, EmausBot, MemeRegime, GeneralCheese, Wiki.Tango.Foxtrot, Mordgier, Cheng michael, GUAU, Beeshoney, RickRollerExtreme, Killingcrafter, RenamedUser01302013, Exploritar, Solarra, Slightsmile, Wikipelli, Jameilious, Rammathunder, Baberg, Tuxedo junction, Comrade Ains- ley, Professionaleducator, Spencercook8, Daniel913, Typewriter10000, Uubucks, ZionistConspiracy, Josve05a, Traxs7, NathanielThe- Bold, JozeSlb, Lousit, Tempmusic, Vanished user sh304hjsj3hsl43, Yowyowcreek, TheSexyEditor, 1234r00t, Cheezy45, Blaiderofflwaf- fles, Unreal7, Velociraptor888, Larkspurs, Gz33, NGPriest, Wayne Slam, Axxonnfire, Scarlet Johansen, Magical allowance, L Kensington, Donner60, Cymbelmineer, Exequielhandig, WikiCopter, Orange Suede Sofa, HandCrimped, Georgy90, Hmfc4life, Tyfox, Xanchester, ClueBot NG, Lucasoutloud, Egillboy, Morgankevinj huggle, Joefromrandb, Higejolly, Deltalock, Millermk, LukasFT, Kiruaxx, Cntras, O.Koslowski, ScottSteiner, Geekman314, Troll’s Face, Widr, Karl 334, Muslim97, Oddbodz, Helpful Pixie Bot, TBmongoose, Iedit1, Im Soo Not A Troll, Valkyria9001, Natio98, Jamesthecat, Lowercase sigmabot, Invaderkeys, Gluonman, Astartledbeaver, Data1337, BG19bot, Jeremy4795, Ahd1601, M0rphzone, Atmac, TheLoverofLove, Martin123456789111222, Kndimov, CrazyPieriot, Hzy980512, As.yhwh, Bengoldenben, Darthcoleman, Billiam2323, A-wall206, Mark Arsten, Heinz nejal, Trollthex, Yerevantsi, Supernerd11, Mar- 8.2 Images 5

tin1o9, Vtrevino12, Emill054, Mythic Writerlord, Writ Keeper, Harizotoh9, Wout159, Snow Blizzard, Qwekiop147, Nothing much, you?, Cliff12345, Glacialfox, Ymmijselaw, Klilidiplomus, V4711, Humzarshad, Patchiman, Joelbelknap1, Fagop, MrDerperson, Hardring, TheSuperToaster, John from Idegon, Winkelvi, Rorossier, Webclient101, BoltThrower1998, 7ofQ, Lugia2453, Frosty, Jamesx12345, Cantstopmea55hole, User666riseSATAN, TehEpikBawsTS, JUSTINISABADASS, Thinker21, Passengerpigeon, Machine Gun Pew Pew -Everymorning, Dvdlevy120, JoshuaKGarner, Imsorryabouttheedits, Liv ,چالاک ,Die Pie, Kidsmakemovies2, CarlosTROLLMASTER erpoolboy2k13, DLBfan756890, Beanmemes, Anas19982013, JaconaFrere, 1Trolltoll2, Raining tacos, Epic joens, Swordsman82, Me gustan, Rnjckhpr, Emilyvetvick, Garbagechaninthecan, XDmeemqueen, Shrekbooty, Stella Marsh, Orangepeelsixtytwo, Zding2014, Love- andFriendship, Ruben Unzueta, Bobalishis, SirGentleman, Craftdraw and : 1028

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