Memes and Media Literacy: The Power and Hazards of Viral Information

Source: https://stocksnap.io/author/mattmoloney

The history of the internet began in 1983, initially designed to interconnect computer networks. By 1989, it evolved into the World Wide Web, transforming over the decades from an academic tool into a fundamental aspect of our daily lives, driving social, economic, and technological change globally.

Memes play a crucial role in this digital landscape. Richard Dawkins, the anthropologist who developed "meme theory," described memes as "any cultural entity that an observer might consider a replicator." While initially viewed as an anthropological concept, memes today serve as commentary and satire on our world, reflecting the collective consciousness of online communities.

In contemporary society, memes are powerful tools for communication, providing commentary, satire, and political messaging. They shape our understanding of current events, politics, and social issues, but with this power comes responsibility. How can we navigate memes critically and avoid misinformation while enjoying digital culture? This is where media literacy becomes essential.

Source: https://taxproject.org/doge/

How Do Memes Fit into Media Literacy?

Memes combine visuals and text to convey messages quickly and effectively. They evolve rapidly, and when they make a lasting impression, they can lead to the creation of a new government agency. A prime example is the DOGE meme, featuring a Shiba Inu that sparked the creation of the first "memecoin" and allegedly inspired the name of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in 2025.

According to the National Association for Media Literacy Education, media literacy involves the ability to encode and decode symbols transmitted via media, allowing us to synthesize, analyze, and produce mediated messages. 

So why is this relevant? Well it might be surprising, but memes have been the forefront with how some people get their news and information. I for one learned about the Queen of Englands death through a Supernatural meme that was posted on Tumblr. It's common in these meme comments for a majority of the comments to say "Omg I can't believe that this is how I found out about (insert new event here)". Knowing this, its crucial for people in online spaces to cultivate internet literacy.

The SBCC Luria Library promotes media literacy through the SIFT method: Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, and Trace claims to their original context. Additionally, the PICK framework (Point of view, Information, Coverage, and Know-how) helps assess the credibility of sources by analyzing their perspective, depth, and expertise.

The Power of Memes in Communication

Memes condense ideas into simple sharable visuals. The fact that these memes are a simple PNG makes it easy for users to share and spread these memes across social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, TikTok and X.  This accessibility can make these memes susceptible to misuse. It's a known fact on the internet that there are bad actors out there to spread misinformation and disrupt the conversation. These memes fall under the umbrella of "shitposts".

Memes ultimately can:

• Raise Awareness: Highlight social and political issues.

• Coping Mechanism: Provide humor to cope with societal challenges.

• Misinformation: Mislead viewers and reinforce stereotypes.

During the last two election cycles, memes have exaggerated truths and influenced voter perception. For example, a meme-based ad in 2020 by Donald Trump titled "What's Wrong With Joe Biden?" illustrates the need for viewers to critically evaluate content before accepting it as truth.

Comparing Memes and Political Cartoons

Political cartoons have historically played a similar role to memes, using satire and symbolism to critique power structures. However, there are key differences:

• Authorship: Traditional political cartoons are often created by professional editorial illustrators, whereas memes can be created and circulated by anyone.

• Speed of Circulation: Memes can go viral within hours, while political cartoons primarily rely on print or digital news outlets.

• Interactivity: Memes invite remixing and reinterpretation, making them a more participatory form of media.

Consider a political cartoon from June 1925 contrasting it with a modern meme from March 2025:

                    

On the left, there's a political cartoon from 1925 published by The Pittsburgh Courier. The image depicts the American Press presenting a facade of prosperity in America, while behind it lie needy families, empty lunch pails, and a factory only offering part-time work. On the right is meme from Reddit featuring Vice President JD Vance sitting in front of a declining stock market, using the same words he directed at Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This contemporary meme repurposes Vice President Vance's statements to highlight the struggles Americans are facing due to recent legislative actions and the stock market's reaction. Both of these images have the same sentiment even a 100 years later; the public is not buying what the establishment and press is selling.

Transgenetic Mice vs. Transgender Mice: Memes Influencing Public Discourse

On March 5, 2025, The White House published an article titled "Yes, Biden Spent Millions on Transgender Animal Experiments." Since then, I have observed claims across the internet and television suggesting that the Trump administration failed to distinguish between "transgenic" and "transgender." However, this assertion lacks credible evidence and appears to be entirely unfounded.

On the right is a meme from r/PoliticalMemes, which repurposes a well known scene from The Office where Pam is asked to find differences between two identical pictures. The meme is satirical and exaggerated, yet it reflects a broader trend of mocking perceived scientific illiteracy in political circles. 

While there have been instances where public figures have demonstrated confusion about scientific or social concepts often even stating "I'm not a scientist." There is no verified evidence that the Trump administration specifically confused "transgenic" (genetically modified organisms) with "transgender" (relating to gender identity).

The phrase "I CAN'T READ" in the meme can be interpreted as satirical. However, if we are to analyze it seriously and have the view from the other side, it seems to undermine the intelligence of MAGA supporters, essentially branding them as uneducated. This approach is not only disrespectful but also diminishes the complexity of political discourse.

Examining The White House article, it is evident that the administration is critiquing the research surrounding hormone therapy and I believe that this is a direct attack on transgender individuals in the United States. Historically, mice have been used in medical testing, and it appears that The White House article is specifically targeting the research related to gender affirming care and steroid studies. President Trump even stated that the previous administration was "making mice transgender". However, the claims made in the article do not substantiate the narrative being pushed online and on television, and I believe this amounts to misinformation.

To clarify, there is no evidence that President Biden allocated $8 million for the purpose of creating transgender mice. Furthermore, there is no indication that the current administration has misunderstood the concept of transgenic mice. It's crucial to approach these discussions with accuracy and a commitment to truth, rather than perpetuating misleading claims that can further polarize our political landscape and misrepresent a group of individuals on both sides.

Conclusion

Memes have changed a lot since they were just funny internet jokes; they are now an important part of today’s media culture. As these digital creations shape how people see things and talk about them, it’s important to understand how they spread information and why media literacy is needed. Memes can express complex ideas, feelings, and social issues quickly, making them strong tools for communication. However, because they can influence people’s opinions, they can also spread misinformation if we don’t look at them critically.

As memes become a bigger part of our online interactions, it’s essential for people to develop media literacy skills. These skills help individuals navigate the digital world and take part in informed conversations. By engaging with memes thoughtfully, audiences can recognize the messages and motives behind them, leading to more meaningful and informed public discussions.

Cheers,

Sam

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