thepsych532posts-blog

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Welcome to the Internet

I know what you’re all thinking. Probably something along the lines of, “Really Joelle, you used your final project as an excuse to look at memes all day?” While I’m definitely a sucker for all things The Most Interesting Man in the World and Doge -

*cue the memes*

- the reality is that the Internet is changing the way we entertain ourselves. From online movies and television to games and viral sensations, the Internet is a platform for a good time. However, there is much to be learned from the psychology behind the binge-watching, meme sharing, and overall lulz that the Internet provides. And I’m here to tell you all about it.

So without further ado...

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Image sources:

https://memegenerator.net/

http://imgur.com/gallery/6Wj2I

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But First... Cats 🐱

Ever wonder why the Internet has a cat for a mascot? Seriously though, why is it that we can never log on to our computers or scroll through our phones without seeing an image of Grumpy Cat or Lil Bub? Wouldn’t we rather see dogs?

Nope.

Much of this can be attributed to Internet users’ desire to be entertained. According to Tian Jin, “Nobody ever expected cats to be funny, because dogs have always done it first.” We can all probably agree that dogs have always been the goofy ones. As Tian Jin points out, a famous Disney canine was named just exactly that. Simply put, we just expect dogs to be funny. Cats… not so much.

Cats have been serious creatures since the dawn of time. Their air of arrogance and strong sense of attitude have kept us from seeing them from anything but funny - until the rise of the Internet. More specifically, in recent years, we as a collective Internet-loving society have come to find humor in things that we never would have expected to make us laugh. Hidden humor holds a special place online, which contributes to its potential to go viral. As a result, the creator of the popular Internet cat meme I Can Has Cheezburger? has managed to build a multi-million dollar corporation in the form of many websites, including LOLcats, “The best place to find and submit funny cat memes and other silly cat material to share with the world.” The original Nyan Cat video has received over 145 million views, and that’s just one of many viral cat videos. To put it simply, cats are seen by virtually everyone online. 

But why?

Cats are unexpectedly funny. The Internet is a fun place to be. It needed a mascot, and well... The rest is meme history.

Sources:

https://uwmad.courses.wisconsin.edu/content/enforced/3592213-psych532_001_sp17/501-CourseArticles/TianJen_Cats_NoDate.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=Ffr6eNI2uKGx7Hkc8ssplG6FY

http://icanhas.cheezburger.com/lolcats

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Cats vs. Dogs: A Battle for the Interwebz

Although Boo the Pomeranian’s official Facebook page has more likes than Grumpy Cat’s, this is mainly attributed to the fact that Boo has been around longer. Take a look at how many more people discussed Grumpy Cat in 2013, and just how many more pages are devoted to the famous feline.

Source:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/using-internet-metrics-to-answer-super-important-questions-do-we-like-cats-or-dogs-more/

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Still Need Convincing?

While Boo had seen more recent popularity as of 2013, this graph demonstrates that Keyboard Cat’s peak popularity dwarfs that of the famous miniature dog’s.

Source:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/using-internet-metrics-to-answer-super-important-questions-do-we-like-cats-or-dogs-more/

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Cat Hall of Fame

Collectively, these videos have received over 212 million views. Take that, canines.

Fellow dog lovers, don’t hate me. I’m simply acting as an Internet messenger. 🤷

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Cat Hall of Fame - Part II

“Hang in there, Baby” is a popular catchphrase and motivational poster. Here we see a colorized version of the poster in which a kitten is hanging from a rope. The original version was published in 1971 by Victor Baldwin, and featured a black and white image of a Siamese kitten clinging to a bamboo pole.

Sources:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/151503974937160197/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hang_in_there,_Baby

Tardar Sauce, more commonly known as “Grumpy Cat,” is a cat Internet and media personality and actress (LOL). She first gained public recognition after a photo of her was posted to Reddit, which sparked parodies that eventually went viral. She is perhaps best known for the popular Internet Meme “I Had Fun Once… It Was Awful” (pictured above). Her permanently grumpy facial expression (hence her Internet name) is caused by an underbite and feline dwarfism.  

Sources:

http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/95973887.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumpy_Cat

I Can Has Cheezburger? (also abbreviated as ICHC) first came to prominence when a photo of a smiling British Shorthair cat was posted with a caption saying, “I can has cheezburger?” (pictured left). This led to the development of further images (pictured right), which eventually served as the basis for a blog-format website featuring similar images and videos (http://icanhas.cheezburger.com/).

Sources:

http://skatedrops.com/entries/i-can-has-cheezburger-cat.rb

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Can_Has_Cheezburger%3F

Still hungry for more? (Cheezburgers, that is) 🍔

Check out BuzzFeed’s “The 100 Most Important Cat Pictures of All Time.”

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What Do You Meme?

When I say the word “meme,” what is the first image that pops into your mind? Perhaps you’re reminded of “Bad Luck Brian” or “Success Kid,” or maybe even more current images, such as “Salt Bae” or “Welcome to Your Tape,” given the recent success of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. However, what most people don’t know is that the word was originally coined by Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book, The Selfish Gene. In an attempt to explain the way cultural information spreads, he defined it as “an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture.” Often compared to genes and evolution Dawkins’ memes can experience variation and mutation. More specifically, they can become extinct or they can evolve with society.

But what about Internet memes?

In contrast, the concept of the Internet meme was first proposed by Mike Godwin in 1993. When it comes to the world of the Internet, memes are also ideas that spread - just through a different platform. They often take the form of images, hyperlinks, videos, websites, or hashtags, and tend to spread from person to person through social networks, blogs, or even various news sources. As we know, memes leave their mark on the Internet, which makes them traceable and analyzable.

Yes. This means that your favorite meme may actually be studied academically by researchers. Why? People want to know how memes evolve, as well as which memes will continue to spread throughout the Internet. But we’ll cover that more in depth later. For now, take a look at this infographic that provides a brief summary of the history of memes.

Sources:

http://www.martinshervington.com/psychology-of-memes/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_meme

http://www.amazinginfographics.com/the-history-of-internet-memes/

https://www.digitalnext.com.au/blog/the-history-of-the-meme/

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A website dedicated to documenting Internet phenomena, Know Your Meme (KYM) uses wiki software to present viewers with memes, image macros, viral videos, and more. Although the site was originally launched by Rocketbloom in 2008, it was acquired by Cheezburger Network (sound familiar?) in early 2013. With more than 9.5 million visitors every month, KYM is one of the most popular and authoritative sources of viral phenomena and Internet memes.

Sources:

http://knowyourmeme.com/about

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_Your_Meme

Many of the memes pictured above can be found on KYM along with a brief description and story of origin.

Image source: http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1137685-memetics

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📈 Meme Trends 📉

This chart from Google Trends is just one example of previously popular memes and at what times they reached their peak popularity.

Source: http://trapsquirrelco.blogspot.com/2017_01_01_archive.html

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Mark Your Calendars 📅

iFunny fans rank their favorite memes from each month of 2016. Each winner becomes thee meme of their respective month. You can check out last year’s winners in the image above. 

Source: https://ifunny.co/tags/calendar/1480196454

Best Memes of 2017 (So Far)

One example of the January, February, March, and April 2017 “Meme of the Month” winners, according to the Me.Me website.

2017 Predictions???

Source: https://onsizzle.com/t/2017-meme

Looking for more laughs?

Check out this article of “The absolute best memes of 2017 (thus far)” by The Daily Dot.

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The Psychology of Memes

As promised, it’s time to get back to how memes evolve and continue to spread throughout the Internet. Why is it that certain memes dominate for months on end, whereas others come and go, or even flop entirely? According to Shubeck, the basic mechanisms of how we process language influence meme memorability, and therefore their success. Huette goes on to explain that “Every word, every syllable matters.” Specifically, shorter words and sentences are easier to remember and process than longer ones, and concrete words are generally easier to recall in tasks that test short-term memory.

But how can this be tested?

In a study using linguistic analysis tools to determine the number of linguistic features (such as length, emotional arousal, concreteness, swear words, purposeful misspellings), Shubeck and Huette “fed memes into a neural network - a kind of machine learning model that approximates connections in the brain - that learned how with features correlated with success.” Although this is only the beginning of their research, Shubeck and Huette found that the machine could predict meme success with 80% accuracy. For example, it predicted the success of the meme “Banana for Scale,” as the sentence is short and benefits from the concrete word “banana.”

You don’t say.

However, linguistic factors are just one component of meme virality. According to “Meme Scientist” Ari Spool, visuals are just as important. In addition, memes become successful if they have an absurd, inside-joke kind of quality. More specifically, “This gives people who created the meme a sort of ownership of the joke, which they are sharing with people who "get" it...people like humor that seems tailored directly to them, and memes, while they may appeal widely, have the appearance of an inside joke that everyone is sharing and owning and creating.”

And with the Internet, everyone can be in on the joke.

Sources: 

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/scienceandtech/15155-What-Makes-Memes-Popular-The-Language-and-Science-of-Memes#&gid=gallery_5222&pid=1

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/banana-for-scale

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/we-asked-an-expert-why-some-memes-work-better-than-others

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“Meme” Me

Sites like Meme Generator and Img Flip allow Internet users to easily make their own memes, like the one pictured below.

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You know you want to.

[thepsych532posts-blog]

Just One More Season: Binge-Watching and the Internet

“Are you still watching this TV show? You’ve been here for 5 hours. You’re covered in chips. Go look at yourself, for gosh sake.” Nothing makes us more aware of our binge-watching behavior than the dreaded “Are you still there?” screen. Yet even with this mocking reminder, we sometimes still continue to watch multiple episodes of a television show in rapid succession. Here are some reasons why:

Because it’s fun

Because it’s available

“The Netflix Effect” - that is, having access to the entire thing makes you want to watch it

Because it allows developing deeper connections with the characters

Watching shows rapidly allows viewers to bond with characters more quickly

Because it’s already paid for

After all, people are more likely to pay for a dessert if it’s part of a package deal rather than if it’s something separate

Because it’s usually commercial free

Because it’s what many young people did as children

Because it’s what everyone else is doing

96% have watched at least 2 episodes in one day

25% of Netflix subscribers have watched a 13-episode season in 2 days

Because it provides community

Guys, there are even TV Binge-watching clubs (!!!)

Because it enables a shared culture

Because it’s becoming culturally acceptable

Because FOMO (fear of missing out)

We want to know what’s going on in the world

Because we want to find out what happens next

A basic cognitive motivation

Which reasons do you relate to the most?

Sources:

http://decider.com/2015/10/28/netflix-pause-remover-chrome-extension/

http://www.avclub.com/article/netflixs-are-you-still-watching-super-judgy-219371

https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/youtube-parody-netflix-are-you-still-watching/

https://uwmad.courses.wisconsin.edu/content/enforced/3592213-psych532_001_sp17/532-CourseMaterials/%20532_Unit08_LectureVideo_Transcript.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=zb1OpnkRojZbryEx4ySz3a4MC

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Even Netflix gets it.

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Online Streaming as Entertainment

Remember Blockbuster?

Most people today associate the company with an array of Internet memes. Long gone are the days where we would drive to the store, rent a DVD, and pop it into our DVD player, only to return the next time we wanted a new movie. After Netflix started delivering DVDs directly to consumers doorsteps back in 2007, Blockbuster began to lose significant revenue and eventually filed for bankruptcy. However, even DVDs are becoming an entertainment of the past, as more and more cable industries (including Nickelodeon, HBO, PBS, Amazon, The CW, Fox, ABC, NBC, and ShowTime) are continuing to transition over to online streaming. As a result, consumers are no longer concerned with ownership. Rather, they are primarily driven by access.

Why?

As I briefly mentioned before, online streaming puts the power in the hands of the viewer. It gives them the choice to binge-watch an entire season in a day, or simply watch a few episodes a week. Therefore, it has made each viewing experience more personal, thus transforming entertainment as we know it. For example, according to a study done by PricewaterhouseCoopers, “The streaming industry is going to exceed box office revenue by 2017 making streaming the biggest contributor to the film entertainment industry.” Additionally, an increase an online streaming has been met with a fall in DVD sales ($3 billion dollars from 2008-2013, and an estimated $4 billion by the time we reach 2018).

So what does all of this mean for the entertainment industry?

While cable networks are not going to become extinct any time in the near future, the reality is that consumers are thrilled with (and equally entertained by) online streaming. People want convenience, personalization, and affordability when it comes to film and television entertainment. As a result, we can expect that online streaming is something that will continue to dominate the Internet.

Sources:

https://www.memecenter.com/flamingrose/likes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockbuster_LLC

http://www.digitalbrew.com/video-streaming-changing-entertainment-industry/

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As more and more industries begin to embrace online streaming, Netflix continues to rank supreme. 

Source: https://www.statista.com/chart/1511/video-streaming-services/

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Online Streaming Showdown: Netflix vs. Hulu

It’s one or the other.

With online streaming on the rise, the main question seems to be “Netflix or Hulu Plus?” Although Netflix seems to win the popular vote, which service is truly better? According to Mashwork’s analysis of 10,283 tweets “expressing how users prefer to access their TV and movies,” users who preferred Netflix over Hulu Plus did so for three reasons: it’s cheaper, it’s commercial free, and there are few lags in its streaming. As for those who preferred Hulu Plus, they found that the site has better mobile apps, better catalogue, and higher quality. Also interesting to note was the gender difference between users: Netflix has a relative balance in the gender of its viewers (52% male vs. 48% female), whereas Hulu Plus users were mostly male (76%). Despite these differences, if viewers do agree on one thing, it’s that online streaming is almost always preferred over cable.

Source: 

http://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/835939/hulu-plus-vs-netflix-which-streaming-video-provider-comes-out-on-top