Kids

How Kids Are Learning Through Internet Memes

No, it’s not just “skibidi” and “sigma.” We’re also talking about the pictures that come with the kids’ memes!

Whenever we go on social media, we see pictures that seem to describe something and use different words each time. These are what kids call “memes.” Made short and easy for anyone to quickly pick up and understand, memes have evolved from describing situations to communicating visually how kids feel online. But what was originally meant for a quick laugh and good vibes has evolved into something more educational — a 2024 study conducted by Ateneo de Manila students Alyanna Nicole D. Carlos and Emmanuel D. Delocado revealed that students performed better on their Biology tests involving Cellular Division and Genetics and retained a better learning attitude after.

So how do kids learn via memes? This is where we have to dive a bit deeper into internet communication.

Photo from Archīum Ateneo

When did memes start?

Although the concept of memes started in 1972 and was discovered by Richard Dawkins, it only became more popular when users relied on memes to communicate online.

Memes were often derived from any form of media. Be it a YouTube video, a book, or a cartoon — so long as the particular snippet, expression, and character were memorable and applicable to various situations, it would eventually become a meme. They didn’t just stay as screenshots either; they eventually evolved into animated graphic interchangeable formats (GIF; pronounced as ‘jiff’).

As they became part of the ever-growing urban dictionary and list of Internet slang, some memes would either die out because another more recent version appeared or remain relevant because some would continue to use it.

Understanding the nature of learning

We’ve heard of so many teaching philosophies and strategies but, they all boil down to the same goal: to make sure the information gets passed on. Although we know our teachers studied and took a licensure exam to certify that they could teach, it’s the executions that count the most. After all, it’s as Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence says, “People have various intelligences which will also affect how they perceive and quickly process information.”

Sure, Microsoft and Google have created programs like Google Slides and PowerPoint to help teachers make it easier for the kids to visualize concepts. But these are just some of the tools. The next one is language; even the most brilliant teachers cannot teach if they can’t connect with their students! Perhaps memes may just be the next language both teachers and parents may have to learn.

Why memes have become so instrumental in learning

Memes do two things: make things funny and easy to understand (Blackmore, Dugatkin, Boyd, Richerson, and Plotkin, 2018).

Memes, because they come from a particular pop culture or show, already have an extra layer of assumptions that kids understand. With that in mind, kids then just swap out the original dialogue with the one they’re talking about. It’s a classic style of learning called “association.” But what the meme does is that it visually represents the relationship, lessening the jargon that kids need to memorize (Davison, 2012; Grundlingh, 2000).

Especially if the meme represents something funny, they’ll be more prone to remembering it. It triggers good feelings which has been proven to make information stick better.

The complexities of memes

Unfortunately, not all teachers are on board with using memes as a teaching tool.

Besides adding another language for them to learn, some may feel that using memes can “commercialize” learning which can ostracize students who don’t know the context behind the visual. Others may see it as adding another task to their ever-growing mental load — not only do they have to search for the meme but they have to learn their way around the internet too!

However, some teachers are putting effort into learning said memes as the process of studying the former is part of their passion. It may trigger a few cringes from the kids but, deep down, they actually appreciate the effort. Many students also find it easier to relate to their teachers and ask them questions because they use more casual visuals and teaching strategies.

Photo from Archīum Ateneo

How can parents figure out and use memes?

Unfortunately, there’s a fine line between knowing how to use a meme right or using it wrong to the point it’s what many would call “cringe-worthy.”

As our kids age and live in the Digital Age, we’re trying to find more ways to connect with our kids and memes are the usual way to go. Unfortunately, when we don’t understand the context of the meme, it kind of turns our kids off. While some are more willing to explain what the meme is, the usual response is nervous laughter, a shake of their head, and a muttering of, “OMG stop.”

So how do we figure out the meme when our kids are not patient enough to explain it to us?

One way is to “reverse Google.” By simply right-clicking the image, it’ll show us an option to search on Google. Click on the option “search on Google” and the image will show on the search engine and hopefully match it with the original material. If we want to understand it better, sometimes, it takes a bit of scrolling through the comment section. It may get a little toxic but hey, anything to understand the kids!

Another way is to ask an AI to figure it out. However, take note that not all AIs are capable of processing images.

The last one involves asking around. No shame in asking, someone’s bound to know the meaning.

It may feel weird at first but, it eventually goes down like a treat. Not only does it show kids our willingness to connect with them but, it also teaches kids how to connect with others and join the community. It’s like how the old saying goes, “When in Rome, do what the Romeos do!”

References

Blackmore, S., Dugatkin, L. A., Boyd, R., Richerson, P. J., & Plotkin, H. (2000). The power of memes. Scientific american283(4), 64-73.

CARLOS, A. N. D., & Delocado, E. D. (2024). Utilizing Internet Memes in Senior High School Biology to Improve Gen Z’s Academic Achievement, Attitude, and Self-efficacy. The Asian Journal of Biology Education16, 34-53.

Davison, P. (2012). The language of internet memes. The social media reader120, 134.

Grundlingh, L. (2018). Memes as speech acts. Social Semiotics28(2), 147-168.

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Traditional vs. Progressive Schools: Which is Best for Your Child?
UPDATED: Parents’ Ultimate Guide to Kids’ Modern Slang

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