The Language of Gen Z: What's that Meme?

"Young people have always been the pioneers of language, but it seems like young people today are rewriting the dictionary faster than ever before." - Caleb Ledbetter, Millenial Marketing

What do you meme?

Generation Z can be defined as the generation born between the years 1997 to 2012. Don't let this generation's age fool you, although this audience might be young they are actually quite advanced in many ways. There are approximately 170,000 words in the English language currently and new words added each day. Gen Z is constantly innovating and coming up with new ways of expressing themselves.

One unique way many members of Gen Z express themselves is through the use of memes. Memes can tell stories with little to no words. Instead, memes use commonalities and culture to communicate ideas, thoughts, and feelings. "A meme is, in its very basic form, a conduit for propagation of cultural ideas, symbols, messages and beliefs that might transmit like human genes do, replicating and mutating constantly in the boiling pot that is the Internet" (Barodawala, 2017).

So when did communicating become a game of Pictionary?

Above is an example of a meme.

According to the BBC, it is hard to know for sure when the first meme came into existence but it can be traced all the way back to 1921. Gen Z may not have invented the meme, but they are responsible for its rise in popularity as a form of communication.

This is an example of a GIF. GIFs are similar to memes but the main difference is GIFs are animated.

Ethical Conflict

The main ethical conflict Generation Z faces is whether this form of communication is responsible and effective. That's not to single out Gen Z because everyone is prone to ethical conflicts stirring up from the use of memes. Unfortunately, what's funny to some might not be very funny to others. There have been instances where embarrassing photos of people have gone viral. In many cases, these individuals did not ask for their photos to be turned into a meme nor to be criticized.

Pros

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what is a meme worth? Communicating using pictures helps emulate messages clearly and concisely with as few characters as possible. Memes can be used to successfully spread ideas, thoughts, and beliefs. Using memes as a literary motif more accurately conveys feelings than words at times. When Gen Zers send memes it is easier to understand sarcasm and jokes.

With the rise of technology, this is a major advancement in the way audiences are able to communicate. The majority of memes are light-hearted and can be viewed alone or with a group of friends. Memes are messages that can bring the Gen Z audience together and help them grow closer by being able to relate to one and other.

Cons

There is a fine line between funny and insulting when it comes to humor and poking fun at people. One of the ethical dilemmas Gen Z faces when creating/using memes is crossing the line. Harmless jokes to some might be extremely hurtful to others. There are countless memes targeting certain groups of people or in some cases a person. Making memes about disabilities, race, and religion can seem like a good idea but usually ends up hurting the person who the joke is about.

Another con is a lot of the images used to make memes were not intended for that purpose. Hypothetically, if you had a yearbook photo from fifth grade and it goes viral because your mom decided to give you the worst haircut of your life the night before you probably don't want everyone seeing that. An ethical question Generation Z must ask themselves is whether or not this person asked for their picture to become a meme. On several occasions, internet trolls have taken full advantage of other's misfortune.

Where do you draw the line?

The Solution

It is pertinent to inform Generation Z about how to properly use memes because when used right they can bring people together and communicate innovative ways of thinking. Technology has far surpassed what Gen Z is being taught in school. A class like 'Online Social Media Etiquette' in Middle School or High School would vastly improve the clouded ethics surrounding the use of memes for Gen Z. Using photos where permission to use is explicitly stated is important, in addition to using good judgment about what is being said in the meme.