Blog #9

Memes have been a part of our digital culture for at least a decade or more. Many of us know them as the photos or gifs with text that typically make us laugh and are there for our entertainment. But, memes can actually be another tool for advocacy. 

Whether it be learning of a toxic man trait or spreading alt-right agendas, memes can be a powerful and influential tool.  Memes are a part of our culture now and they can be used to share to the masses and shed light on certain behaviors or actions. They have the opportunity to allow readers to rethink things in a more positive way. They can be used to reset cultural norms and expectations. 

Memes can be an effective tool for teaching readers about the importance of certain social issues. Take China for example, in a country where information is censored, regular citizens helped shape the way the Chinese government looked at pollution. Collective postings of air quality in China and pressure from Western countries forced China to implement some type of measures for pollution control. 

Overall, memes can be used to address social issues that bring awareness and are serious, but adds a slight comedic flare. Memes are rather simple to make, allowing anyone to make one. They can be easily shared across platforms, spreading as much awareness as possible. In our extremely divided country, memes can be a source to light heartedly laugh about our troubles. 

Gif created by me