The word meme was coined by the biologist Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book, The Selfish Gene. He defined it as ideas that could replicate, evolve, and enter popular culture in a process similar to the way genes spread.

Today, a meme is a variant of an image based on a common theme that has spread widely. It is often funny but also carries political messages.

Several online communities focus on creating and spreading memes, so the idea becomes viral. These communities have become very influential.

Little is understood about the way memes spread or how they influence.