Memeology

: Memes undergo a form of "natural selection." They must be catchy (fidelity), spread quickly (fecundity), and stay relevant (longevity) to survive.

: Modern memeology also studies how memes move from harmless jokes into serious political or social tools, sometimes creating "discursive communities" that share attitudes through insider references. Anatomy of an Internet Meme Memeology

: Coined by Richard Dawkins in 1976, a meme is viewed as a cultural parallel to a gene—it replicates by jumping from one mind to another via imitation. : Memes undergo a form of "natural selection

Internet memes are a specific subset of general memes, typically defined by: 2018 Programs | Burst the Bubble - Elon University spread quickly (fecundity)