I chose the dolphin meme because it has become a popular trend on TikTok, often accompanied by the song “Symphony” and paired with humorous captions. This specific meme format works both with and without the background music, making it a versatile example of internet culture. This meme’s trend on TikTok is a good example of how memes can evolve and adapt, taking on new meanings depending on the context in which they are shared. The dolphin image in particular, when paired with the right text, creates an absurd but relatable moment that speaks to the power of internet humor. My intended message with this meme is to comment on how meme culture is very generational, with certain memes being more understandable to younger audiences who are more immersed in social media trends. The meme illustrates how some humor and references may not translate well across different age groups or generations, making memes a form of communication that is often not universal.
I chose this meme and text, “When your mom understands a meme without needing an explanation,” to highlight the surprising moment when something that was once an exclusive part of younger internet culture becomes understood by older generations, in this case, parents. This unexpected understanding of memes by an older generation is be both humorous and relatable because it reflects the expansion of the current meme culture. The image of the dolphin represents the exaggerated emotional reaction that young people might feel when their parents grasp something that is often seen as “theirs” in the digital world. This choice makes the meme a meta-meme because it comments on how memes themselves have become a generationally-encoded form of communication. The meme reflects on how certain memes are tied to specific age groups and communities, and the humor in the text comments on the divide and occasional overlap in how memes are understood. By using a format that’s familiar to younger social media users, I’m pointing out the way memes have become a way of expressing generational identity and communicating shared experiences online, making it both a reflection on meme culture and a product of it.