What Do You Meme?

Memes Explained

From an AskReddit post on how to explain memes to your parents:

Memes are a shareable image, gif, or video clip, often including text. They are an accessible global injoke. Each meme is funny because it feels like special knowledge, often referencing popular culture, or things that have cult status. It's a big joke that everyone knows about, and anyone can change to fit their specific idea.

-Posted by HardAsFeathers

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meme |mēm|

noun

an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, especially imitation.

• a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc. that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by Internet users.

DERIVATIVES

memetic |mēˈmetik, mə-| adjective

ORIGIN 1970s: from Greek  mimēma ‘that which is imitated,’  on the pattern of gene.