A brief history of the meme

A Typically humorous in nature, memes are images, videos, or bits of text that are copied and distributed rapidly by Internet users, usually with small variations. They can be inside jokes, or references to popular culture or current events. Memes often go viral, becoming Internet sensations.

The term “ meme ” was coined in 1976 by British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in his book The Selfish Gene. yes, you heard it right – the first recorded use of the word “ meme ” in English was in Richard Dawkins’ 1976 book The Selfish Gene. In it, he proposed that the spread of ideas and cultural phenomena can be thought of as a form of evolution, with memes spreading and mutating in a similar way to genes.

The word “meme” has been used in English since the late 1970s, but it only became popular after Dawkins’ book was published. It has since been used in a variety of different contexts, often with a humorous or ironic tone.

The popularity of meme has exploded in recent years, thanks in large part to the rise of social media. In particular, sites like Reddit and 4chan have played a big role in popularizing memes.

There are now countless meme in circulation, with new ones being created all the time. Some of the most popular include “Gangnam Style”, “Grumpy Cat”, “Success Kid” and “Bad Luck Brian”.

Some of the most popular memes over the years are listed below:

The ” Distracted Boyfriend ” meme, which went viral in 2017, features a man looking at another woman while his girlfriend looks on in disapproval. The meme is often used to express feelings of betrayal or infidelity.

The “Mocking SpongeBob” meme, which went viral in 2018, features the SpongeBob SquarePants character making a mocking face. The meme is often used to express mockery or disdain.

The “Ight, Imma head out” meme, which went viral in 2018, features a man saying “Ight, Imma head out” while walking away from an explosion. The meme is often used to express a desire to leave a situation that is becoming dangerous or unpleasant.

The “Change My Mind” meme, which went viral in 2018, features a man sitting at a table with a sign that reads “Change My Mind”. The meme is often used to express a willingness to have one’s opinions changed on a particular issue.

The “Yodeling Kid” meme, which went viral in 2018, features a clip of a boy yodeling in a Walmart store. The meme is often used to express a desire to leave a situation that is becoming boring or unpleasant.

Memes have also been used as a form of political and social commentary. For example, the “Bernie Sanders Dank Memes” Facebook group was created during the 2016 US Presidential Election to support Sanders’ campaign.

The word “meme” is often used in a negative way, to describe something as being overused or annoying. However, there’s no denying that memes are a big part of Internet culture, and they’re here to stay.