Adequate Memes Made Of Words And Images

Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor

Jul 21, 2022 10:00 AM EDT

What is a meme, really? Memes used to be a particular series of image macros that took over internet culture during the 2000s. These days, however, a meme is a much broader way of categorizing online content. Does a meme have to be made up of pictures and text? Must it be something that can be replicated in different forms, like how Bad Luck Brian was a consistent image with different white text every time? Does a meme belong to everyone or the person who created it? Is there any ethical way to consume memes when we know there's no system to financially compensate the person who made the meme? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

Whatever a meme really is, they sure are great…or fun. They're swell. You know what, they're fine. Although some memes are incredibly swag, most are genuinely just fine, and that is not only fine, but it's also okay.