The vast expanse of the internet makes
communication around the world immediate, and with it copying and
sharing of interesting (and not so interesting) information. The
neologism (a new word or phrase) 'meme' (rhymes with team) has
reached widespread use to describe the viral spread of jokes, ideas,
and more via the internet.
“Meme” was coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins before
the web was in use, in his 1976 book, The Selfish Gene. He stated,
"We need a name for the new replicator, a noun that conveys the idea
of a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation. ‘Mimeme’
comes from a suitable Greek root, but I want a monosyllable that
sounds a bit like ‘gene’. I hope my classicist friends will forgive
me if I abbreviate mimeme to meme. If it is any consolation, it
could alternatively be thought of as being related to ‘memory’, or
to the French word même."
The French word même means “same” or “alike.” The Greek word
“mimeme” he takes “meme” from comes from the Ancient Greek meaning
“that which is imitated” / “something imitated” / “something
copied”.
Dawkins was hoping that the word would be used as a unit of human
cultural transmission, such as a melody, fashion, or catch-phrase.
People refine memes as they sometimes alter the information when
they transmit it to another human. Bacon, while being still
being delicious has also become a meme.