Frontiers in Communication: Internet memes

Yes, memes are 'propaganda.' Which only has a negative connotation if you are a purist and idealist who mistakenly believes that we can all just get along if we coolly reason with and respect each other. That is, if you've fallen for the myth of Enlightenment reason. 

In case you haven't noticed, fascism is overrunning the US via the Repugnaklan Party. The January 6 hearings are making that very clear by responsible Republicans. We are at rhetorical (PSYOP) war with those who don't give a shit about getting along and talking it out. If you want to defeat these evil forces then use what works.

According to this academic article:

"Internet memes are one of the latest evolutions of 'leaflet' propaganda and an effective tool in the arsenal of digital persuasion. In the past such items were dropped from planes, now they find their way into social media across multiple platforms and their territory is global. Internet memes can be used to target specific groups to help build and solidify tribal bonds. Due to the ease of creation, and their ability to constantly reaffirm axiomatic tribal ideas, they have become an adroit tool allowing for mass influence across international borders. This text explores the link between internet memes and their ability to 'hack' the attention of anyone connected to internet using dense modality and cognitive biases. Furthermore, the text discusses Internet meme's ability sew discord by consistently reaffirming preexisting tribal bonds and their relation to traditional PSYOP tactics initially used for analog leaflet propaganda."