W5.3 Riding a Meme

An Internet meme is typically a video or image, spawned by some minute detail of an idea, that spreads from person to person, replicating, mutating, and evolving with selective pressure from the audience. Ex: Nyan Cat Links to an external site.

Nyan Cat Links to an external site.

If you're careful, you can ride a good meme into some fame and followers for your company. But don't try to ride a meme associated with a natural disaster or hardship of some kind (we'll see why in the next unit).

Read A Brief History of Internet Phenomenon "Harlem Shake" Links to an external site. by Joe Berkowitz, Co.Create, Feb 14, 2013

Instructure (the company I work for) rode the Harlem Shake meme all the way to the Today Show and over a million views on YouTube.  See our Instructure Harlem Shake here Links to an external site.. A meme can be a great way to "wake up" a new social media channel if you can strike the jackpot.

Memes played a role in the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election. See how in the two videos below.

Description (from WSJDigitalNetwork): From Big Bird and Binders to Horses and Bayonets, The Wall Street Journal looks at the hottest political memes from the presidential campaign, as well as which candidates some top celebrities are standing by. Plus, learn how political mad men create their fiery ads.

WSJ: Election Highlights: Best Memes, Celeb Nods, and Ads Links to an external site.

Description (from the Stream): Internet memes have taken off in popularity the past few years, and many argue they’ve also overtaken the US presidential election. With “empty chair”, “binders full of women” and Big Bird, 2012 has become the first meme election. Although sharing memes is considered fun and offers comic relief, how does it translate into discussing difficult and often complex political issues? We look at whether memes are dumbing down the American electorate or allowing citizens authentic expression in an otherwise staged contest.

Al Jazeera's The Stream: The Meme Election Links to an external site.

Read about the strange case of the hashtag #fuckyouwashington Links to an external site., created by Jeff Jarvis, July 24, 2011.

While hashtags on Twitter aren't necessarily considered "memes" they can form their own following for a brief time. I love a good hashtag, especially one with a bit of snark and purpose. One of my favorite recent hashtag "memes" was the "We need a Federal Agent ..." meme on Twitter (right after the NRA Press Conference following the Newtown shooting).  You can view a Storify of the We need a Federal Agent meme here Links to an external site..