---
title: "What is Meme? — Social Media Glossary | Postpone"
canonical_url: "https://www.postpone.app/social-media-glossary/meme"
last_updated: "2026-10-08T07:17:56.959Z"
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  description: "A meme is a piece of media, usually an image, video or text format, that spreads rapidly online through imitation, remixing and sharing."
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  "og:title": "What is Meme? — Social Media Glossary"
  "twitter:description": "A meme is a piece of media, usually an image, video or text format, that spreads rapidly online through imitation, remixing and sharing."
  "twitter:title": "What is Meme? — Social Media Glossary"
---

**Culture & Formats**

# Meme

A meme is a piece of media, usually an image, video or text format, that spreads rapidly online through imitation, remixing and sharing.

[**Reddit **post scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/reddit-post-scheduler) [** X **post scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/twitter-post-scheduler) [** Instagram **scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/instagram-post-scheduler) [** Facebook **scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/facebook-post-scheduler) [** LinkedIn **scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/linkedin-scheduler) [** TikTok **post scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/tiktok-post-scheduler) [** Threads **scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/threads-scheduler) [** Pinterest **scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/pinterest-scheduler) [** YouTube **Shorts scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/youtube-shorts-scheduler) [** Bluesky **post scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/bluesky-post-scheduler) [** Tumblr **scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/tumblr-post-scheduler) [** Mastodon **post scheduler](https://www.postpone.app/platforms/mastodon-post-scheduler)

A meme is any cultural unit that spreads through copying and adaptation. On social media, that usually means an image macro, video clip, or text format that people remix and share with their own twist. Memes are the internet's inside jokes — and they're one of the most powerful content formats for engagement.

## Why Memes Work

Memes work because they're built on shared context. When someone recognizes the format, they instantly understand the joke or point you're making. That recognition creates a feeling of belonging. It's why meme posts consistently outperform polished branded content in terms of shares and comments.

The best memes are:

- **Relatable** — they capture a feeling or experience your audience shares
- **Timely** — they reference something current or tap into an ongoing cultural moment
- **Simple** — the joke lands in under two seconds
- **Remixable** — others can put their own spin on it

## Memes for Brands

Brand meme accounts have exploded in recent years. Wendy's, Duolingo, and Ryanair built massive followings by posting memes instead of traditional marketing content. But there's a catch: forced memes are worse than no memes at all.

If you're going to use memes in your social strategy:

- **Know your audience's humor.** What's funny on Reddit is different from what works on LinkedIn.
- **Move fast.** Meme formats have a shelf life of days, sometimes hours. By the time a meme hits mainstream news, it's already dead on the platforms where it started.
- **Don't over-brand it.** The best brand memes feel like they came from a person, not a marketing team.
- **Stay in your lane.** Not every trending meme is appropriate for your brand. Read the room.

## Meme Formats

Common formats include image macros (text over an image template), reaction images, video edits, screenshot tweets, and text-based formats like "Nobody: / Me:" or copypasta. Each platform favors different formats — TikTok leans video, Twitter/X favors screenshot and text memes, Instagram likes carousels and Reels.

**Example**

A SaaS company posts a Drake meme format where Drake rejects "manually posting to 12 platforms" and approves "scheduling everything in advance." It gets 3x more engagement than their product announcement post because it's instantly relatable to their audience.

## **Why It Matters**

Memes are the native language of social media. They generate outsized engagement because they're shareable, relatable, and entertaining. For brands, a well-executed meme strategy humanizes your presence and dramatically increases organic reach — without spending a dollar on ads.

## **Related Terms**

[Copypasta](https://www.postpone.app/social-media-glossary/copypasta) [Going Viral](https://www.postpone.app/social-media-glossary/going-viral) [Trending](https://www.postpone.app/social-media-glossary/trending) [User-Generated Content (UGC)](https://www.postpone.app/social-media-glossary/user-generated-content)

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