One possible reason memes remain relevant today is because they have become an effective form of self-expression. As psychology professor Dr. Constance de Saint Laurent explains, memes allow us to express our imperfections.
“Memes are often an invitation to stop taking ourselves so seriously,” Dr. de Saint Laurent wrote in an article for the Maynooth University website, adding that a meme’s shareability makes it a communal experience.
Another reason memes haven’t gone out of style is their ability to draw on the current cultural schema. People create memes to construct narratives about current events.
According to media psychology expert Dr. Pam Rutledge, memes can digest complex ideas and translate them into “short-form cultural commentaries.” They can also “humanize and simplify conflict.”
Memes perfectly fit the era of short-form content and visual content consumption. They can encapsulate an entire issue into one image, making them a preferred method of news delivery. Author and educator Kyla Scanlon summed it up perfectly: “Memes are visual. News articles are not.”
“Memes bring levity to the intensity of what we are experiencing,” Scanlon wrote in an article for Medium, adding that these images also hold enough power to “take a step back and reconsider.”
Because they are presented in a lighthearted and often humorous way, educators have used memes to deliver information to their students. A 2024 paper published in the Journal of Science & Justice concluded that memes not only boost a student’s interest in taught content but also help them retain knowledge better.
Now, it’s your turn to give insights. Why do you think memes have remained relevant in the last decade since they entered the mainstream? Are they really an effective form of expression? Share your thoughts in the comments!
