The origins of Internet memes

An example of a rage comic, a type of Internet meme.

Meme (pronounced: meem): an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from one person to another through a culture. (Merriam-Webster.com)

The first use of the word meme was in a book on evolutionary theory written by Richard Dawkins, which was published in 1976.

Internet memes have recently taken over Facebook and other social networking sites as students are trying to avoid homework and boredom. They have kept us entertained during those hard times of sitting on Facebook and clicking until we can no longer stand being online.

Scouring the Internet, we have found memes that have revealed the truth about everything from residence hall chairs to ones that have made a statement about something. However, the ones that seem to be the most popular are the memes that are humorous.

Pulling pictures, text and the Internet are the basic elements of creating memes and with an online generator [http://memegenerator.net/], it is easy for people to access the resources they need and create a memes.

Memes can also be tailored to a certain audience, like Kent State, to make what the creator is trying to say more relatable. (We have our own meme page that specifically applies to Kent State, and it’s on Facebook.) However, there is more than one medium of memes.

There are also video memes, like the cinnamon challenge (originated in the early 2000s). For those that do not know what the cinnamon challenge is, it’s when people take a spoonful of cinnamon and consume it without vomiting or coughing it up. For those that want to watch it, here is one by Jenna Marbles, who is dressed as Drake.

While doing research, I came across a site that has multiple memes, their origin and other memes that are related to a selected meme. Have an amazing time laughing.