I interviewed people about how the create, use and interact with memes in online communities as part of a research project into building online communities using memes. These are the key takeaways from one of those interviews. The interviewee is has been anonymized for privacy purposes. You may use these notes for secondary research purposes as long as I am credited.
INTERVIEWEE: LG
Platform Preferences:
- Primarily uses Reddit for viewing and sharing memes after moving away from Facebook. Occasionally uses Google to search for specific memes.
Meme Sharing Behavior:
- Shares memes within a few meme groups related to philosophy, Bernie Sanders, and education on Reddit. Also shares with friends.
Meme Sharing Motivation:
- Shares memes that she finds clever, original, and unique. Particularly enjoys absurdist humor and memes that highlight the ridiculousness of reality.
- Motivated by the wit and creativity behind the memes, especially those that resonate with her personal interests, such as Kendrick Lamar.
Frequency of Meme Sharing:
- Shares memes irregularly, depending on whether she finds something that stands out. This could be several times in a week or not for weeks at a time.
Content of Shared Memes:
- Prefers memes that are clever, absurd, and resonate with niche interests like philosophy, Kendrick Lamar, and ADHD.
- Sometimes shares more general memes if they align with the interests of her friends, but avoids sharing overly specific or niche content on her main social media accounts.
Meme Success Factors:
- Believes successful memes need to be original, clever, and often a bit weird or absurd.
- Enjoys memes that provide commentary on reality or are rooted in reality but presented in an out-of-context or surreal manner.
Interest in Meme Analytics:
- Not particularly interested in analytics, especially when it comes to niche memes that may not have widespread appeal.
- Would be more interested if memes were a professional pursuit, as it would help her understand what resonates with a broader audience.
Final Remarks:
- Appreciates the creativity and humor in memes and enjoys the role they play in internet culture, particularly in how they can highlight the absurdities of life.