INTERNET MEMES BY DILARA NUR OKA

Internet memes are phenomena that are spread anonymously on the Internet and they are usually in the form of a collection of popular pictures, videos, words, or sentences. Their meanings are understood by large masses. Internet memes are all kinds of phenomena that are available to spread on the internet. Memes can relate to gun violence, good music, and a variety of societal ills, values, and concerns. So, there are no topic boundaries. Memes are social media commentary. Because the memes allow the public to give insight into the societal discomforts, values, and concerns that contemporary society has.

For social media, a communication platform where people can easily share their ideas as we know them, memes are a way to express culturally relevant ideas. A meme can take the form of an image or video that represents the thoughts and feelings of a particular audience. Most of the memes convey divergent opinions and usually bring them out in a humorous way. Internet memes function as a form of language in which ideas and ideologies are mediated between online communities. They also serve as identity markers that enable online communities to establish and maintain the boundaries of their social space. If I were to give an example to explain how this digital communication process took place, I can give one of the Boogaloo, Proud Boys, and Antifa movements as an example.

For example, the Boogaloo movement, often called Boogaloo boys or Boogaloo Bois, is a loosely organized far-right anti-government extremist movement in the United States. They generally share what they want to express their ideas, ideologies, and ideas with different posts. In these posts that there are messages about members or people who know the group's existence will understand. If an idea or ideology is to be transferred to society, this idea is considered first. Then the best way to convey this idea and the message underneath is considered. Memes often help in this process. Then, these internet memes, which are prepared to reach large audiences, are shared through different social media applications and reach people. Not only the Boogaloo movement but also groups of people can reach a wide audience today by using memes to voice their opinions and give specific messages to people.