As AI has gained popularity and media focus has shifted to fast-paced instant gratification, memes and popular references — especially among younger generations — are quickly losing meaning and relevance. It is unclear whether this shift has stemmed from a desire to gatekeep cultural references, the increased speed of social media trends, AI improvements or a combination of the three. In the past, certain meme symbols and formats stuck around for years, sometimes even decades at a time. Now, certain memes and references are “cringe” or irrelevant after only a few days. If you aren’t chronically online, it can be easy to skip a few days of scrolling and return to what seems like a new language entirely on your “for you” page.
What is 6-7?
It’s everywhere. People are literally shouting it from the rooftops. But what does 6-7 even mean? The saying emerged from the TikTok song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by rapper Skrilla, and it does not have much meaning even within the song. If you’re still confused, fear not: word on the street is that 6-7 is already bordering on cringe after only a few months of popularity. Overuse could have worn the term out, but it is also very apparent that memes are becoming more and more meaningless as the internet begins to cater to short-form video content that fuels instant gratification.
The OG Memes
Meme culture has existed for as long as the internet, but it has always moved slowly. The original meme formats lasted for decades — whether short-form videos, phrases or other format — internet inside jokes remained for years, often compounding in meaning and cultural relevance. Some of them even remain prevalent in the media, used in marketing or for entertainment purposes. Today, however, it can be hard to keep up, and many memes have no meaning and can be difficult to apply in any context other than a specific instance. Now, certain memes only make sense to a very specific audience.
The Shift
The rising popularity of AI-generated imagery, music and video has only perpetuated the brain-rotification of meme culture. Any bizarre prompt can take off on platforms like TikTok for no apparent reason, but very quickly loses momentum due to a lack of meaning or usage. Even for memes that are man-made, the spotlight shifts quickly. The internet is no longer satiated by repeated crumbs of humor, and quantity is much demanded over quality.
What does this mean for the future of internet humor? Will we be divided even further into internet subjects by rapid meme culture, or will the next great meme rise to unite us all?
Let us know your thoughts @VALLEYMag on Instagram.
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