| Subject: | Media Studies \ Communication Studies |
| Title: | The Trend of Political Memes in India: A Tool for Discourse, Diss and Dissemination |
| Author(s): | Aniket B. Kanolkar |
| Published on: | 30th April 2026 |
| Published by: | Lyceum India |
| Name of the Journal: | Lyceum India Journal of Social Sciences |
| ISSN/E-ISSN: | 3048-6513 |
| Volume & Issue: | Volume: 3, Issue: 6 |
| Pages: | 296-304 |
| Original DOI (if any): | 10.5281/zenodo.19956755 |
| Repository DOI: | |
| Abstract: | Social media has proved to be an effective medium of communication in this digital age. Social media has given a new meaning and dimension to the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, being a medium that is widely accessible and impactful in reaching audiences worldwide. One emerging and popular element of the virtual space has been memes. Memes are basically iconic imagery based upon viral pop culture references that are used to indicate a message in a satirical manner on a given topic in text, image, or video format. Netizens have evolved the usage of memes from cracking lame apolitical jokes to being used for socio-political commentary. Their usage in the online domain is gaining popularity and getting recognition from even formal institutions and organizations. A meme is seen today as a legit opinion being expressed on the internet, and these opinions might even have strong political undertones in certain cases. The current research paper will try to understand the trend of memes as a modern-day digital phenomenon in India and their usage as a tool for expressing political opinions and creating awareness through different social media platforms by individuals and organizations alike. The paper will also examine the changes being observed in the style of political memes from being mediocre to dank in their content, which at times, can be inappropriate. |
| Keywords: | Memes, Politics, Social Media, Opinions, Internet |
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