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Memers
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Memers are an online community dedicated to the creation, sharing, and remixing of internet memes, using inside humor and rapidly evolv...Show more
General Q&A
Memers are people who create, share, and remix internet memes—visual jokes or references that quickly spread online and reflect insider humor, current events, or trends.
Community Q&A

Summary

Key Findings

Irony Hierarchy

Identity Markers
Memers maintain a complex hierarchy of irony, where mastering levels of self-parody and meta-humor defines social standing and signals deep cultural insight.

Format Purity

Gatekeeping Practices
Debates over 'format purity' determine meme legitimacy; insiders fiercely police originality vs. overused templates, making format choice a gatekeeping tool.

Platform Dialect

Communication Patterns
Each platform has a unique meme dialect, shaping styles and in-jokes; crossing platforms requires insider fluency to avoid being labeled 'cringe' or outdated.

Real Time Subversion

Insider Perspective
Memers view memes as real-time subversive commentary, using fast cycles of remix and irony to react collectively to social and political events.
Sub Groups

Dank Memers

Focus on surreal, absurd, or highly referential meme formats often found on Reddit, Discord, and 4chan.

Instagram Meme Pages

Curators and creators who run popular meme accounts, shaping trends and remixing content for wide audiences.

TikTok Meme Creators

Short-form video meme creators who drive viral trends and audio-based memes.

Classic Meme Forums

Communities on niche forums and imageboards dedicated to the history and evolution of meme culture.

Facebook Meme Groups

Broader, often regional or demographic-specific meme communities sharing relatable and viral content.

Statistics and Demographics

Platform Distribution
1 / 3
Reddit
30%

Reddit hosts highly active meme-focused subreddits where memers create, remix, and share memes, fostering a vibrant and participatory meme culture.

Reddit faviconVisit Platform
Discussion Forums
online
Twitter/X
20%

Twitter/X is a major platform for real-time meme sharing, trend creation, and viral meme propagation among memers.

Twitter/X faviconVisit Platform
Social Networks
online
Instagram
15%

Instagram's visual-first format and meme pages make it a central hub for meme sharing and remixing.

Instagram faviconVisit Platform
Social Networks
online
Gender & Age Distribution
MaleFemale60%40%
13-1718-2425-3435-4445-5455-6415%40%30%10%3%2%
Ideological & Social Divides
Meme ArchitectsTemplate RemixersCasual ScrollersWorldview (Traditional → Futuristic)Social Situation (Lower → Upper)
Community Development

Insider Knowledge

Terminology
Internet JokeCopypasta

Casual users refer to repeated jokes online as 'internet jokes', but memers use 'copypasta' to describe text blocks that are copied and shared repeatedly with humorous intent.

MemeDank Meme

Casual observers use 'meme' broadly, whereas insiders distinguish particularly humorous or niche memes as 'dank memes' to denote higher cultural or comedic value.

Random picture with textImage Macro

Outsiders see these as merely random pictures with captions, but insiders call them 'image macros', a defined meme type with text overlay to convey humor or commentary.

Funny PictureMeme

Outsiders often call meme content simply funny pictures, but insiders recognize 'memes' as units of cultural humor that include images, formats, and formats beyond simple pictures.

ThreadMeme Format

While outsiders see a 'thread' as just a sequence of posts, memers talk about 'meme formats' indicating templates or styles that memes follow and evolve from.

Popular Meme CharacterMeme Template

Casual users see meme characters as popular memes but insiders use 'meme template' to describe the reusable foundation used to create many variations.

Inside JokeReference

Observers may say 'inside joke' for niche humor, but memers refer to shared cultural elements specifically as 'references' embedded in meme culture.

Ridiculous or absurd contentSurreal Meme

Casual observers might say something is just 'weird', whereas insiders use 'surreal meme' to refer to intentionally bizarre and absurd memes with layered humor.

Popular VideoViral Clip

Casual viewers call widely shared videos 'popular videos', but memers term highly circulated meme-related videos 'viral clips' emphasizing rapid spread and cultural impact.

Internet slang abbreviationsAcronyms (e.g., LOL, SMH)

Both outsiders and insiders use acronyms, but memers treat these as part of essential meme vocabulary integrating humor and tone.

Greeting Salutations
Example Conversation
Insider
Hey, got any fresh OC?
Outsider
Uh, fresh what now?
Insider
OC means original content, like memes you made yourself. We ask this because fresh OC shows creativity and status.
Outsider
Ah, got it! So not just reposts from the internet.
Cultural Context
This greeting tests if someone contributes new memes rather than sharing old or copied ones, signifying respect and insider credentials.
Inside Jokes

"Is this loss?"

An in-joke questioning whether a given meme or event resembles the 'Loss.jpg' comic strip, implying melodrama or poorly executed emotion; understood only by those familiar with the meme’s history.

"Nice,"

A sarcastic or deadpan acknowledgment used after seeing a meme involving the number 69, capitalizing on the number's juvenile humor in internet culture.
Facts & Sayings

OC

Short for 'Original Content,' it refers to memes created by the poster themselves rather than reposted or copied from others, signaling creativity and respect in the community.

Shitposting

The act of posting low-effort, absurd, or intentionally bad memes, often for humor and to provoke reactions; it can be both derided and embraced depending on context.

Dank memes

Memes that are considered especially funny, clever, or edgy; often highly referential or ironic, reaching a higher status among memers.

Loss.jpg

A meme referencing a specific webcomic strip (a tragic miscarriage storyline), used ironically to comment on dramatic or melodramatic situations within meme culture.

Deep fried memes

Memes that have been intentionally distorted with heavy filters, artifacts, and saturation, exaggerating the absurdity for comedic or ironic effect.
Unwritten Rules

Credit original creators when reposting OC.

This respects the effort behind creating memes and maintains trust within the community.

Don’t overuse popular meme formats; it causes 'meme fatigue'.

Repeating the same joke too much lowers its impact and irritates the audience.

Understand the context before using ironic or meta-memes.

Misusing these can mark one as an outsider and lead to social exclusion within meme circles.

Avoid 'normie' memes in specialized meme spaces.

Memers value niche or underground humor to differentiate themselves from mainstream or casual meme consumers.
Fictional Portraits

Jake, 22

college studentmale

Jake is an avid meme creator who shares his content on multiple social media platforms and enjoys contributing to viral trends among his peers.

CreativityCommunityHumor
Motivations
  • To gain recognition and social validation through popular memes
  • To express humor and creativity
  • To connect with like-minded peers online
Challenges
  • Keeping up with rapidly changing trends and formats
  • Balancing originality with relatable content
  • Occasionally facing negative feedback or meme theft
Platforms
Discord meme serversInstagram meme pagesReddit comment threads
dankshitposttemplateshitpostingmeme stock

Aria, 30

social media managerfemale

Aria uses memes professionally to engage audiences and isn’t afraid to remix content to fit brand voices while keeping online communities entertained.

AuthenticityInnovationEngagement
Motivations
  • Leveraging memes to boost brand engagement
  • Staying current on meme trends for professional relevance
  • Balancing humor with sensitivity for diverse audiences
Challenges
  • Navigating meme copyright and originality issues
  • Avoiding tone-deaf or overused meme formats in marketing
  • Keeping professional work creative without alienating audiences
Platforms
Slack meme channelsLinkedIn creative groupsTwitter
going viralbrand voicesharable content

Li Wei, 16

high school studentmale

Li Wei is a newcomer to memes who enjoys sharing and remixing simple jokes with his friends but is still learning the nuances of meme culture.

FriendshipFunExperimentation
Motivations
  • Social bonding with classmates
  • Learning how to create memes
  • Entertainment and distraction
Challenges
  • Understanding complex meme references
  • Feeling overwhelmed by fast-moving meme trends
  • Less confidence in original meme creation
Platforms
Snapchat group chatsTikTok comments
memevibeXD

Insights & Background

Historical Timeline
Main Subjects
Works

Pepe the Frog

Long-running anthropomorphic frog meme used to express a range of emotions from sadness to smug satisfaction.
Early2010sComicOriginsEmotionalVersatility

Doge

Shiba Inu–based meme featuring multicolored Comic Sans captions conveying inner monologue in broken English.
2013ViralShibaInuComicSans

Distracted Boyfriend

Stock-photo template depicting a man checking out another woman, used to illustrate shifting attention or priorities.
2017StockPhotoRelatableHumorTemplateKing

Expanding Brain

Multi-panel format showing increasingly cosmic ideas or absurd comparisons, often with ironic commentary.
IronicMetaMultiPanelSurreal

Mocking SpongeBob

Screenshot of SpongeBob bent over in chicken mode, overlaid with alternating-case text for sarcastic mocking.
NickelodeonFlashbackSarcasticToneTextPlay

Woman Yelling at a Cat

Juxtaposition of a Real Housewives screencap and confused cat photo, used to dramatize arguments.
CrossMediaReactionMemeContrastHumor

Galaxy Brain

Variation on Expanding Brain with cosmic imagery to lampoon “big ideas” or absurd reasoning.
CosmicIronyBrainpowerSatire

Drake Hotline Bling

Two-panel reaction meme from Drake’s music video, contrasting likes vs. dislikes.
2015TrapBeatReactionFormatSimpleBinary

Wojak

Black-and-white drawn character used to depict relatable or existential feelings.
MSPaintAestheticRelatableFeels

Advice Animals

Genre of image macros featuring animals with overlaid text giving sarcastic or earnest “advice.”
ClassicMemeAnimalHumorMacroStyle
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First Steps & Resources

Get-Started Steps
Time to basics: 2-3 weeks
1

Immerse in Meme Culture

2-3 hoursBasic
Summary: Spend time browsing active meme communities to absorb humor, trends, and formats.
Details: Begin by actively observing meme communities on platforms like Reddit, Instagram, or Discord. Focus on popular meme subreddits, meme pages, and group chats. Pay attention to recurring jokes, meme templates, and the tone of humor. Take note of how memes reference current events, internet culture, or niche topics. This immersion helps you understand the fast-paced evolution of memes and the unwritten rules of meme sharing. Beginners often struggle with context—don’t rush to participate; instead, lurk and learn. Try to identify which memes are trending and why. This step is crucial because meme culture is highly contextual and self-referential; understanding the landscape prevents you from unintentionally posting outdated or misunderstood content. Evaluate your progress by recognizing meme formats, understanding in-jokes, and being able to explain meme references to others.
2

Learn Meme Creation Tools

1-2 hoursBasic
Summary: Familiarize yourself with basic meme-making apps or image editors used by the community.
Details: Explore free online meme generators and basic image editing tools. Start with simple platforms that allow you to add text to images, then experiment with more advanced editors for custom memes. Learn how to find and use popular meme templates, adjust font styles, and crop images for comedic effect. Many beginners overcomplicate things—focus on mastering the basics first. Practice by recreating existing memes to understand layout and timing. This technical foundation is essential, as meme creation is both an art and a craft. Evaluate your progress by being able to quickly produce a meme that matches the style and quality seen in active communities.
3

Analyze Popular Meme Formats

2-3 hoursIntermediate
Summary: Study trending meme templates and their typical uses to understand structure and humor.
Details: Identify and research the most popular meme formats currently circulating. Use meme databases and community-curated lists to find templates like 'Distracted Boyfriend' or 'Drake Hotline Bling.' Examine how each format is used, what kind of jokes fit, and how the template evolves over time. Beginners often misuse formats by missing the intended tone or context. To avoid this, compare successful examples and note the subtleties in text placement, punchlines, and image choice. Try categorizing memes by type (reaction, surreal, political, etc.) and practice explaining why a format works. This analytical approach helps you internalize meme logic, making your future creations more authentic. Progress is evident when you can identify and explain the appeal of a meme format without external help.
Welcoming Practices

Posting a Welcome to the Meme Fam graphic or sticker

A way to warmly onboard newcomers, signaling acceptance and encouraging participation in meme creation.

Inviting new members to join meme challenges

Including newcomers through shared activities helps them feel part of the creative community and learn current meme language.
Beginner Mistakes

Posting normie memes in niche meme spaces.

Observe the tone and style preferred before posting; aim for originality and insider humor.

Claiming memes as your own when they are not OC.

Always clarify if memes are reposted to avoid community distrust.

Facts

Regional Differences
North America

North American memers often incorporate references to mainstream media and political satire related to US-centric events.

Europe

European meme communities frequently mix multiple languages and cultural references in meme formats, reflecting linguistic diversity.

Asia

Asian meme culture, especially on platforms like TikTok and LINE, exhibits rapid remix culture with a focus on visual and dance trends integrated into memes.

Misconceptions

Misconception #1

Memers just waste time looking at silly pictures.

Reality

Meming involves rapid creativity, social insight, and commentary that engages with current events and cultural trends in sophisticated ways.

Misconception #2

Memes have no impact beyond jokes.

Reality

Memes often influence advertising, political messaging, and wider cultural norms, shaping public discourse and spread of ideas.

Misconception #3

Only young people participate in meme culture.

Reality

Meme culture spans all ages, with veterans of internet culture and older generations participating in meme creation and sharing.
Clothing & Styles

Graphic T-shirts with meme references

Wearing shirts with popular or niche meme phrases or images signals membership and appreciation of meme culture in real life.

Snapback caps or beanies with internet humor badges

Accessories that showcase a wearer's engagement with online humor and current meme trends.

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