With the evolution of memes, society has seen this phenomenon transcend traditional boundaries. What does this mean? Simple, they are more than just common communication elements.
Ultimately, memes are now a unique expression that is being widely shared. This is not surprising, primarily since they represent a way of communicating something fun and unusual.
The evolution of memes: From rage comics to AI-generated humor
Before considering the evolution of memes, it is worth noting that they existed long before visual elements such as the “Distracted Boyfriend.” For example, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term in his work The Selfish Gene (1976).
Dawkins used the term when comparing fragments of human culture. At that time, he shortened the word “meme” to “meme” and suggested that memes were phrases, melodies, or data that went from one brain to another.
Thus, memes have likely existed for as long as humans have shared cultures. Their evolution has led to their success, even in the oldest forms of popular culture.
For example, memes can show mundane reality as comedic art. They may even show disturbing things that happen every day but in a funny way.
The evolution of these visual elements also spans early digital forums, where they began to be part of Internet culture. Over time, they have made their way to social media to generate a lot of humor.
Therefore, memes have evolved so much that they are found on popular sites like Instagram, TikTok, etc. On these platforms, people worldwide share ideas with humor using visual elements like these.
Evolution of memes and virality: the science behind what makes us laugh
Maybe you’ve wondered how the brain sends signals to make us smile or laugh. The evolution of memes, like other factors, also plays a role.
To clarify, at Insiderbits, we’ve analyzed what laughter represents. It should be noted that humans are not the only ones capable of laughing—animals can too (though we don’t know if something seems funny to them).
For example, dogs and rats can laugh (at least make happy sounds). What does this mean? We assume it is an early evolutionary mechanism representing playful behavior in these animals.
The laughter mechanism is more complex in humans because it usually includes social relationships (although it can be exempt from them). In the brain, this system seems to occur in the inferior frontal lobe and left posterior temporal lobe.
Later, the amygdala comes into play, releasing dopamine, and von Economo neurons are activated. This complex mechanism can transmit happiness to different areas of the human body.
How does the brain decide what is funny or not?
There are no conclusions about how and why something can cause joy. However, certain data are specific: if expectations are incorrect, it can cause laughter. Memes often enter into this context.
In any case, memes can help us because they cause laughter. This can help release stress and avoid unpleasant moments.
Is there more behind Internet memes and their virality?
For most people, memes have evolved because people see them as funny images—an omnipresent source of light entertainment that allows users to express themselves in another way.
Memes combine text, images, and videos to convey a message that is not always explicit, which causes laughter due to their format. However, this doesn’t mean that for some regions of the world, they are not or have not been serious elements.
For example, some of these images may have a deeper meaning in China. Something like what happened with the “rice bunny,” which emerged as part of the #MeToo movement among women who suffered harassment.
Memes have evolved to spread ideas and beliefs, whether part of a movement or simply for digital entertainment.
So, what does this mean? According to some researchers, this modern form of communication represents a language. Therefore, memes transcend cultures and build collective identities.
Evolution of memes: the role of AI in the creation of this visual art
Are AI-generated memes possible? Of course. This combination sounds both futuristic and enjoyable. It is not unusual that, with technological advances, they do so as ways to communicate and laugh.
Within the evolution of memes, creating them with artificial intelligence is possible and is revolutionizing the way humor is shared.
But how is this possible? AI can analyze humor patterns to structure an image or video based on thousands of existing memes.
In a nutshell, Insiderbits gives you this example. Imagine a computer that understands our humor cycle and then replicates it. This means that it can make us laugh as if it knew us.
At the same time, means that artificial intelligence can generate images and suggest clever texts. Therefore, if you want to create a meme, you can use the AI algorithm to make it for you.
How has comedy changed towards visual and fast-consumption humor?
The evolution of memes is not the only factor in the change of comedy towards visual humor. Thanks to the interaction of people with digital tools, it is possible to generate graphic content with humor.
Since ancient times, jokes have allowed people to distract themselves with humor. However, the arrival of the Internet opened up new possibilities for entertainment.
It is about considering everything from symbolic images to funny moments recorded on video. Above all, this humor format has become a form of fast consumption that attracts people’s attention.
Undoubtedly, memes are part of it, especially when their creators want to express an essential idea through images that may or may not disturb without forgetting the humorous touch.
Enjoy the evolution of memes with humor
In short, these visual elements have had a significant impact since their emergence. So, if you want to know more about this topic, for example, apps like Memedroid, which are ideal for creating memes, visit the rest of our website.
