Know Your Meme
Type of site
Encyclopedia
Available inEnglish
OwnerLiterally Media Ltd.
Created byRocketboom
EditorDon Caldwell
URLknowyourmeme.com
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedNovember 25, 2007 (2007-11-25)
Current statusOnline
Know Your Meme
GenreInternet documentary
Starring
  • Joanne Colan (Former)
  • Kenyatta Cheese (Former)
  • Greg Leuch (Former)
  • Elspeth Rountree (Former)
  • Jamie Wilkinson (Former)
  • Patrick Davidson (Former)
  • Mike Rugnetta (Former)
  • Kristina Horner (Former)
  • Forest Gibson (Former)
  • Sarah Hiraki (Former)
  • Alison Luhrs (Former)
  • Rob Whitehead (Former)
  • Brian Colbert Kennedy
  • Katie Molinaro
  • Eric Bellows
  • Jon Allen
Country of originUnited States of America
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes113 (as of March 28, 2023)
Production
Running timeVaries
Production companiesRocketboom (2007–2011), Cheezburger Network (2011–)
Original release
ReleaseDecember 17, 2007 (2007-12-17) 
present
Jamie Wilkinson and Kenyatta Cheese at ROFLCon II

Know Your Meme (KYM) is a website and video series which uses wiki software to document various Internet memes and other online phenomena, such as viral videos, image macros, catchphrases, Internet celebrities and more. It also investigates new and changing memes through research, as it commercializes on the culture. Originally produced by Rocketboom, the website was acquired in March 2011 by Cheezburger Network, which, in 2016, was acquired by Literally Media.[1][2] Know Your Meme includes sections for confirmed, submitted, deadpooled (rejected or incompletely documented), researching, and popular memes.

History

20072010: Web series origins

Know Your Meme was created in December 2007 as a series of videos which were part of the vlog Rocketboom. It was founded by employees Kenyatta Cheese, Elspeth Rountree and Jamie Wilkinson, and Rocketboom CEO Andrew Baron in their spare time, when host Joanne Colan could not finish the current season of Rocketboom.[3] They dubbed themselves the Rocketboom Entity for Internet Studies.[4] Noticing that internet memes were used by advertisers who failed to acknowledge their online origins, they found that they could trace their source by using public search tools. They also found that media coverage of memes seemed uninterested in how they began and spread.[4][5]

Each episode of Know Your Meme covered one meme in detail, exploring its history and context in internet culture. They were hosted variously by Colan, Cheese, Rountree and Wilkinson, who donned lab coats and dubbed themselves "meme experts".[5] Baron noticed that each episode attracted more views than typical Rocketboom shows.[6] According to Cheese, memes were only starting to become popular on sites such as 4chan when the series began, and Rocketboom allocated more resources as their popularity grew.[4]

Wilkinson had also been developing a personal database of internet memes.[3] It was repurposed as a companion to the videos and launched on the current website in 2008.[5] Due to the size of the task, Rocketboom decided to crowdsource and hire interns, including Amanda Brennan and future editor Brad Kim, to develop content. This was then collated by volunteer moderators and a small editorial team. By 2010, Know Your Meme had attracted a large following and was more popular than the original web series. However, it also attracted hostility from some online communities: the website suffered constant DDoS attacks and the controversial Encyclopedia Dramatica said it was "mostly safe for work, which is fucking lame".[3][5]

2011–present: Sale to Cheezburger

In January 2011, Cheese, Rountree and other employees left Know Your Meme, claiming that Baron had created an "atmosphere of paranoia and competing egos" within the company; Baron disputed this and claimed that Cheese organized a "mass exodus [out of] personal vengeance".[5] In March 2011, Baron sold Know Your Meme to Cheezburger for an undisclosed seven-figure amount.[7]

In April 2016, Cheezburger was acquired by Literally Media.[5]

In June 2021, the Doge meme was minted as an NFT by Atsuko Sato, the meme's original creator, and sold on June 12, 2021, for 1696.9 ETH (approximately 4 million USD). The NFT sale was certified by Know Your Meme.[8]

Website

At the end of 2008, after more than a year of growth, Rocketboom released an expanded database with Jamie Wilkinson as the lead developer.[9] The database includes entries for memes, trends and events, along with people and other aspects of subculture (such as films, video games and anime). Each entry has its own photo and GIF gallery; a video gallery was added in November 2010. As of January 2017, the database contained more than 2,700 entries of "confirmed" memes.[10]

The administrators have a say on what gets confirmed and what gets "Deadpooled", or rejected.[11] Some of the meme entries are graphic and Not Safe For Work (NSFW).[12] NSFW entries have warnings placed along the top of the entry and ads are usually disabled. These warnings may differ from consequences, such as bans. Know Your Meme also has a forum section, blog, and shop. Dr. Sean Rintel, who wrote The Automated Identity blog, described Know Your Meme as "lucrative, self-supporting research that blends the humorous and the serious."[13] As of March 2019, the site is maintained by seven editorial staff members (Don Caldwell, Adam Downer, Matt Schimkowitz, Briana Milman, Sophie Dickinson and Philipp Kachalin) and one developer (Mike Schwab) in conjunction with a group of dedicated moderators. Former staff researchers include Chris Menning, Amanda Brennan, Molly Horan and Ari Spool.[14]

The Know Your Meme website and web series were acquired in March 2011 by Cheezburger Network for an undisclosed seven-figure amount.[7]

Episodes

Episodes of the Know Your Meme show average a few minutes in length each. In a given episode, the KYM staff describe memes and the history behind them. New episodes appear in irregular intervals of time. Breaking meme episodes started in 2010. Separated in seasons, the videos describe the meme using handy images.

Season 2007

Episode Meme Covered Airdate
1One TakeDecember 17, 2007
2RickrollingDecember 18, 2007
3I Like TurtlesDecember 19, 2007
4Miss Teen South CarolinaDecember 20, 2007
5LOLCatsDecember 21, 2007
6TechnovikingDecember 24, 2007
7Dramatic ChipmunkDecember 26, 2007
8Reaction Videos & Piggyback MemesDecember 27, 2007
9Chocolate RainDecember 28, 2007
10Crank That (Soulja Boy)December 31, 2007

Season 2008

Episode Meme Covered Airdate
1Cory's SunglassesFebruary 6, 2008
2tinaecmusicAugust 1, 2008
3All your base are belong to usAugust 15, 2008
4Édgar's fallSeptember 5, 2008
5O RLY?September 10, 2008
6FAILSeptember 24, 2008
7Boom goes the dynamiteDecember 22, 2008
8Bush shoeing incidentDecember 23, 2008
9MagibonDecember 24, 2008
10The LipdubDecember 26, 2008
11Disaster GirlDecember 29, 2008
12Political Memes of 2008December 30, 2008
13Project ChanologyDecember 31, 2008
14Shiba Inu Puppy CamDecember 31, 2008

Season 2009

Episode Meme Covered Airdate
1Star Wars KidJanuary 2, 2009
2BoxxyMarch 10, 2009
3Numa NumaMarch 31, 2009
4Yo DawgApril 13, 2009
5Christian Bale RantApril 16, 2009
6Single Serving SitesApril 23, 2009
7Peanut Butter Jelly TimeMay 8, 2009
8Creepy ChanMay 28, 2009
9Keyboard CatJuly 7, 2009
10Three Wolf MoonJuly 30, 2009
11WeegeeAugust 7, 2009
12Bubb RubbAugust 17, 2009
13David After DentistSeptember 2, 2009
14Geddan / Get DownOctober 1, 2009
15Where the Hell is Matt?October 8, 2009
16Auto Tune (with special guest "Weird Al" Yankovic)November 10, 2009
17Balloon BoyNovember 18, 2009
18Om Nom NomDecember 18, 2009

Season 2010

Episode Subject Airdate
1Advice DogJanuary 29, 2010
2Phonetic TranslationsMarch 4, 2010
3Epic Beard ManApril 6, 2010
4Joseph Ducreux / Archaic RapApril 13, 2010
5Breaking Meme: Standing CatApril 23, 2010
6Breaking Meme: The Downfall of Downfall?April 29, 2010
7My New HaircutMay 25, 2010
8Magnets, How Do They Work?June 12, 2010
9Troll BaitJuly 1, 2010
10Double RainbowJuly 9, 2010
11Lying Down Game / Playing DeadAugust 3, 2010
12Antoine Dodson (Bed Intruder)August 27, 2010
13Leeroy JenkinsSeptember 2, 2010
14It's Over 9000!October 1, 2010
15Brother SharpOctober 12, 2010
16CreepypastaOctober 29, 2010
17TensoNovember 16, 2010
18GI Joe PSAsNovember 23, 2010

Season 2011

Beginning with the 2011 season, the cast of the episodes changed from the original cast (Jamie Dubs, Yatta, Elspethjane, Patrick Davison and Mike Rugnetta) to Forest Gibson and Kristina Horner.

Episode Subject Airdate
1Rage ComicsJune 14, 2011
2PhilosoraptorJuly 6, 2011
3My Little Pony: Friendship is MagicAugust 10, 2011
4Breaking Meme: Chuck TestaSeptember 29, 2011
5Hipster MemesOctober 11, 2011
6Occupy Wall StreetOctober 18, 2011
7MinecraftNovember 2, 2011
860's Spider-manNovember 15, 2011
9PedobearNovember 22, 2011
10Casually Pepper Spray Everything CopOctober 18, 2011
11Skyrim CatchphrasesDecember 15, 2011
12First World ProblemsDecember 22, 2011

Season 2012

Kristina Horner left the show in early 2012 and starting with the Ermahgerd episode in August 2012, the cast of internet scientists expanded to Forest Gibson, Sarah Hiraki, Alison Luhrs and Rob Whitehead.

Episode Subject Airdate
1SupercutsJanuary 12, 2012
2Protest PIPA/SOPAJanuary 18, 2012
3Friend zoneJanuary 26, 2012
4Shit People SayFebruary 3, 2012
5Guile's Theme Goes With EverythingFebruary 10, 2012
6Cinnamon challengeFebruary 17, 2012
7What People Think I DoMarch 12, 2012
8DerpMarch 19, 2012
9Slender ManMarch 27, 2012
10Nyan CatApril 3, 2012
11Ancient AliensApril 10, 2012
12Socially Awkward PenguinApril 17, 2012
13Ridiculously Photogenic GuyApril 28, 2012
14Scumbag SteveMay 10, 2012
15DolanMay 29, 2012
16ErmahgerdAugust 9, 2012
17Girl's Guide to the InternetAugust 17, 2012
18FuturamaAugust 23, 2012
19HomestuckSeptember 7, 2012
20That Really Rustled My JimmiesSeptember 14, 2012
21Fan fictionSeptember 22, 2012
22Troll ScienceSeptember 28, 2012
23Intro to Pokémon Memes (Part I)October 10, 2012
24Intro to Pokémon Memes (Part II)October 24, 2012

Season 2017

In 2017, a new season that was renamed "Know Your Meme 101" began airing. Many episodes star two hosts being two of these four: Brian Colbert Kennedy, Katie Molinaro, Eric Bellows, and Jon Allen. All episodes narrated by Tucker Maloney, written by William Applegate Jr. The pilot up to episode 7 edited by Lindsay Penn, while episode 8 gave the edit credit to Connel Post Production.

Episode Subject Airdate
PilotIncreasingly Verbose MemesApril 2, 2017
1The Mandela EffectApril 5, 2017
2Rule 34April 12, 2017
3Cash Me OussideApril 27, 2017
4Shooting StarsMay 3, 2017
5Who Would Win?May 10, 2017
6Pepsi United SpicerMay 18, 2017
7Foodom (Part I)May 31, 2017
8Foodom (Part II)June 12, 2017

Season 2018

Episode Subject Airdate
1To Be Fair, You Have to Have a Very High IQ to Understand Rick and MortyFebruary 3, 2018

Season 2023

Episode Subject Airdate
1How Donald Trump Getting 'Arrested' Became A Prevalent Meme Thanks To AI-Generated ImagesMarch 28, 2023

Special episodes

Episode Subject Airdate
N/AThe Game Show! Pwn, Win, or Fail!March 25, 2009
N/AKYM Meme Week: Geddan / Get DownDecember 21, 2009
N/AKYM Meme Week: Yo DawgDecember 22, 2009
N/AKYM Meme Week: Auto TuneDecember 23, 2009
N/AKYM Meme Week: BoxxyDecember 24, 2009
N/AKYM Meme Week: Keyboard CatDecember 26, 2009

Reception

Know Your Meme has been praised by numerous publications. Its entries are frequently cited in both journalism and scholarly works covering internet memes.[15][16] The Daily Dot and The Wall Street Journal described the site as "the Encyclopedia Britannica" of memes and internet culture.[3][17] Time included Know Your Meme on its list of the "50 Best Websites 2009" for the web series.[18]

Know Your Meme won a Streamy Award in 2010 for Best Guest Star in a Web Series. It won the People's Voice Webby Award in the Blog-Cultural category in 2012.[19] In June 2014, Know Your Meme was inducted into the Web Archiving Program of American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.[20] In May 2016, the website was cited as a source for explaining the concept of "dank memes" in regards to the political campaigning in the Australian federal election during a discussion on the ABC television programme Insiders.[21][22]

See also

References

  1. "Literally Media Buys Cheezburger To Reach Millennials". www.mediapost.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  2. "Cheezburger's new owner is Israeli digital-media company". The Seattle Times. April 21, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Morris, Kevin (November 30, 2012). "A day in the office with Know Your Meme—the Web's "Britannica"". The Daily Dot. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Conti, Allie (May 26, 2016). "A Co-Creator of Know Your Meme Explains What the Hell a Meme Actually Is". Vice. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tiffany, Kaitlyn (March 6, 2018). "The story of the internet, as told by Know Your Meme". The Verge. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  6. Gannes, Liz (April 6, 2009). "Intel Sponsors Rocketboom". Gigaom. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Hustvedt, Marc (March 28, 2011). "'Know Your Meme' Acquired By Cheezburger in Seven-Figure Deal". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on August 14, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  8. Rosenblatt, Kalhan (June 11, 2021). "Iconic 'Doge' meme NFT breaks record, selling for $4 million". NBCNews.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  9. "The History of Know Your Meme". Dembot. December 6, 2012. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  10. "Confirmed Entries". Know Your Meme. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  11. "Deadpooled Entries". Know Your Meme. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  12. "NSFW". Know Your Meme. June 17, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  13. Rintel, Sean (September 24, 2011). "Know Your Meme "Sean Rintel". Seanrintel.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  14. "About". Know Your Meme. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  15. Pettis, Ben T. (2022). "Know Your Meme and the Homogenization of Web History". Internet Histories. 6 (3): 263–279. doi:10.1080/24701475.2021.1968657. S2CID 238660211.
  16. Sonnad, Nikhil. "Finally, a scientific list of the most popular memes on the internet". Quartz. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  17. Winkie, Luke (January 5, 2023). "Behind the Scenes at the Encyclopedia Britannica of Memes". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  18. Fisher, Adam (August 24, 2009). "Know Your Meme". Time. Archived from the original on August 27, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  19. Paul, Sonia (May 1, 2012). "16th Annual Webby Award Winners: The Complete List". Mashable.
  20. "Getting serious about collecting and preserving digital culture | Folklife Today". blogs.loc.gov. June 5, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  21. "WATCH: 'Insiders' Had To Explain 'Dank Memes' To Boomers, RIP The Internet". Pedestrian.tv. May 22, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  22. Atkins, Denis (May 22, 2016). "Cool kids bring dank memes into the election campaign but only for a nanosecond". The Courier Mail. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
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