Memes – The internet rulers
Shruti Rajpara- Chief Visualiser, Spicetree Design Agency, talks about the rise of meme culture in today’s digital age.
We are living in a world where internet trends keep evolving with the blink of an eye. One such trend that has caught on and is here to stay is the meme culture. We all have witnessed the existence and rapid growth of memes in the past couple of years; how it started out by being a mere piece of content for entertainment, to influencing the masses worldwide on all aspects of their lives – psychologically, socially and politically.
Although it has been in existence for a long time now, we have seen a major shift in the last 3-4 years due to the tremendous presence of memes in our everyday lives. Out of a major chunk of information that we receive on the internet, one of the mediums that we instantly relate to, are memes. Because of their humorous, sarcastic, sardonic or punny nature, it makes them appealing and encourages people to spread them.
Sometimes, memes alert us to a news story we weren’t aware of before. Once we come across a meme and find it interesting, we research and try to figure out it’s context, thereby making us more and more aware of the news and events from across the globe. Memes are also a powerful force for brand marketing and awareness. What would capture your attention instantly – reading a detailed brand story about JCB’s history & equipments or looking at a funny meme of #JCBKiKhudai that effectively spreads brand awareness? We all remember the popularity and virality of #JCBKiKhudai memes! This proves that it doesn’t matter how bizarre or random the topic is; as long as it is entertaining, memes will go viral, and become a strong wave on which brands can ride on to influence and connect with people. It has also become a creative space for brand wars where brands take a hit on one another on a light yet satirical note.
Because of the informal and light-hearted nature, it has become easier to bridge the gap between the common man and politicians/celebrities /social activists through memes; thereby making them more approachable. Even profiles like Mumbai Police, at times use memes to spread important messages or create awareness among the masses.
Today, memes are a part of everyday social media interaction – consumed and shared every minute. Anything and everything has a scope of becoming a meme, even people. If you play your cards right, you may even become an overnight internet sensation through memes! Memes are a cultural phenomenon and will continue to evolve and amplify with time, and are here to stay!