Journal article
It's Obviously Funny to be a Meme: Viewing, Sharing, and Creating Memes for Political Entertainment and Observation
The journal of social media in society, Vol.11(2), p.53
12/01/2022
Abstract
Memes are cultural units that transmit among online users. Appearing as jokes, memes are a popular form of expression and appear to serve a greater role in the formation and spread of public opinion, changing the way citizens engage with politics. Driven by uses and gratifications theory, this work examines users' motivations for viewing, sharing, and creating political memes. A nationwide survey (N = 1,000) of Facebook users identified unique gratifications obtained from political memes use. Results show the uses of politically-related memes are nuanced behaviors strategically done to fulfill needs for political entertainment and observation. Specifically, individuals with high political trust, who think of themselves as being humorous, and those who frequently share or create memes used them to observe politics in action. Alternatively, those who prefer to observe humorous circumstances and frequently share and view memes, without engaging in creation, used politically-related memes for entertainment. Practical and theoretical implications regarding use of memes for engagement and effects are discussed.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- It's Obviously Funny to be a Meme: Viewing, Sharing, and Creating Memes for Political Entertainment and Observation
- Creators
- Bingbing ZhangSherice Gearhart
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The journal of social media in society, Vol.11(2), p.53
- Publisher
- Tarleton State University
- ISSN
- 2328-3599
- eISSN
- 2325-503X
- Number of pages
- 24
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2022
- Description audience
- Academic
- Academic Unit
- School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Center for Social Science Innovation
- Record Identifier
- 9984446973302771
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