(Hint: I’m not talking about a funny cat video.)
It’s the digital-age question that will determine the future of our society: Do you know where your information truly comes from?
The term “meme” has two definitions, and the first is the one we should be worried about. The widely-used, modern definition is clear: an image, video, or text that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users, often with slight variations.
But the original, scientific definition—coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976—is far more profound: an element of a culture or system of behavior passed from one individual to another by imitation or other non-genetic means.
If you understand how a gene works, you understand the deeper nature of the meme.
The Code of Culture: Genes vs. Memes
We know the gene is the fundamental unit of biological evolution. Found inside DNA, genes are self-replicating, provide the code of life, and determine the characteristics of all living things. Success in the gene pool means survival and replication.
The meme is the cultural equivalent. It’s a distinct, memorable unit of information—an idea, a catchphrase, a piece of art, a technology, or an entire religious doctrine—that seeks to replicate, survive, and influence generations.
| Feature | Gene (Biological) | Meme (Cultural/Informational) |
| Unit | Segment of DNA | An idea, phrase, or belief |
| Replication | Cells dividing, inheritance | Imitation, communication, sharing |
| Goal | Biological survival | Cultural survival and influence |
The genius of memetics is its central claim: ideas function the same way genes do, dispersing themselves through information suppliers and contact between people. They are powerful expressions of symbolism that are self-preserving, seeking to multiply through their “vehicles”—us.
The Mutation Crisis of the Digital Age
The dawn of the information age fundamentally changed the rules of cultural evolution. The internet and digital media didn’t just give us more funny cat videos; they gave us the largest meme pool in human history—the vastest collection of ideas and information ever accessible to the average person.
In a traditional gene pool, variation is necessary for adaptation, and mutations drive that change. The same is true for memes. An idea can be refined, adapted, and spread, often for the better. However, just as negative genetic mutations caused by external factors (like ionizing radiation) can lead to illness and death, memetic mutation can cause great harm:
- Genetic Mutation: A change in DNA is replicated, damaging the cell and its host.
- Memetic Mutation: An idea is created, changed for the worse, and then replicated across millions of people.
We see this phenomenon daily: when political persuasions are misinterpreted or corrupted by malicious personalities, when conspiracy theories become weaponized, or when misinformation is deliberately engineered for power grabs. Memes are, in a very real sense, the main weapon in the war for our minds.
The Danger of Horizontal Transfer
There is one critical difference between genes and memes that makes the digital age so volatile: the method of transfer.
- Vertical Transfer (Genes): Genes are only passed down from one generation to the next—from parent to child. This is a slow process, limited by biological time.
- Horizontal and Vertical Transfer (Memes): Memes can replicate vertically, like passing down a family tradition. Crucially, they also spread horizontally: anyone can pass a meme to anyone else, without the need for a biological relationship.
Twenty years ago, if you had a question, you had to seek the answer from a friend, a teacher, or a library, which could take weeks. Today, you can Google it in seconds. We transfer ideas at the speed of light, bypassing traditional gates and filters.
The problem? This hyper-speed horizontal plane of information transfer has become dangerously contaminated. People no longer wait to have their opinions vetted; they have platforms to proliferate their views immediately. The modern digital meme is born in this environment, bringing us everything from the funny and shocking to the outright false.
The powerful pieces of information that spread like wildfire—going truly viral—are often instances of forced mutation, from deliberate propaganda to the mass spreading of half-truths.
Guarding Your ‘Memestream’
We live in a world of competition where individuals and groups naturally compete for dominance. Historically, this struggle has manifested between large, powerful “meme-complexes” like the Religious/Spiritual force and the Regionalist/Nationalist force, with smaller, more anarchic forces perpetually challenging them.
The key takeaway is that you are caught in this struggle.
For the time being, we are no longer shackled by the localized, controlled media of the past. This is both a gift and a curse. We now have the option to choose a more healthy information lifestyle, but that choice requires constant vigilance.
The most important step you can take today is to understand your own memestream: your personal intake and absorption of information from all sources.
Do you control the flow of ideas, or is the flow of ideas controlling you?
