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What is a meme?
A meme (from English meme) is an idea, symbol, or image that spreads rapidly among people and on the internet. Most often, memes have an informal, humorous, or satirical nature and can be related to specific events or well-known personalities. Internet users often create memes themselves, using ready-made templates and adapting them to their situations. For example, the phrase "Natasha, wake up! We dropped everything!" became popular thanks to images of cats waking up their owner, and soon many variations of this meme began appearing online, all based on the same visual image.
History of memes
The term "meme" was introduced in 1976 by British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. He proposed the idea that cultural heritage is transmitted in the form of distinct units, similar to genes in biology. Dawkins referred to these units as "memes," a shortening of the ancient Greek word μιμητής (mimetes), meaning "imitator" or "copycat." By memes, Dawkins meant popular societal trends, catchy tunes, fashionable expressions, and catchphrases.
The Cambridge Dictionary added a special meaning to the concept of memes, emphasizing their ability to spread rapidly on the internet. This leads to memes always being viral, making them particularly appealing to users.
Memes vs. viruses
The difference between a meme and a virus is quite simple. Viruses spread in an unchanged form: they are forwarded to one another without editing. A virus is a self-contained unit of information that is interesting in itself, outside of any context or situation. In contrast to viruses, memes are often adapted to specific situations, primarily achieved through editing the text accompanying the image. Memes are used as a way to express a specific emotion or attitude towards a situation.
It is important to note that a virus is forwarded to friends because it is interesting, whereas a meme is shared because it fits a particular context. Not every virus is a meme, but every meme can be considered a virus. This makes memes a unique and important element of internet culture, allowing users to interact and share emotions and ideas in the digital space.