Memes have a staying power that has allowed them to outlive many internet trends that have come and gone. Even with the drastic switch in content creation these days, they still remain relevant. Why is that?
One possible reason is their impact on society. An article by the University of Westminster pointed out a meme’s ability to elicit emotions through a simple image and text. Greenpeace co-founder Bob Hunter called this concept a “mind bomb,” a photo that sends a strong message and urges action.
Greenpeace also used memes to make statements about the causes it promotes. Most of their posts covered misinformation about climate change and protecting the environment, which got the younger audience's attention.
Another possible reason for memes' longevity is their pop culture connection. Many of them include images of some of the biggest celebrities in the world. Remember crying Michael Jordan? How about Ron Burgundy’s famous catchphrase from the first Anchorman movie?
These famous faces have been used to express an emotion that everyone could always relate to, making these memes stand the test of time.
But what makes a meme so effective? Entertainment publishing entrepreneur Kit Chilvers attributes it to their shareability through humor, which brings people together.
In an interview with the New York Times, he pointed out how memes can make people feel like they belong to a tribe of like-minded individuals. Content creator Saint Hoax agrees, describing these images as "editorial cartoons for the internet age."
Saint Hoax has over three million Instagram followers, building their online presence almost exclusively from memes. They also credit the “transmissibility” of these funny yet relatable posts and how they can translate within different cultures.
“It has the ability to capture insight in a way that is in complete alignment with the zeitgeist,” Saint Hoax said in the same Times interview.
Now, we’d like to hear your opinions. Why do you think memes are still as popular as they were almost 15 years ago? What do you think is the reason behind their longevity? Let yourself be heard in the comments!
