An
Internet meme ( ) is an activity, concept, catchphrase or piece of media which spreads, often as mimicry, from person to person via the
Internet. Some notable examples include posting a photo of people lying down in public places (called "
planking") and uploading a short video of people dancing to the
Harlem Shake. A
meme is "an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture". An Internet meme may take the form of an
image,
hyperlink,
video,
website, or
hashtag. It may be just a word or phrase, including an intentional
misspelling. These small movements tend to spread from person to person via
social networks,
blogs, direct
email, or news sources. They may relate to various existing
Internet cultures or
subcultures, often created or spread on various websites, or by
Usenet boards and other such early-internet communications facilities. Fads and sensations tend to grow rapidly on the Internet, because the instant communication facilitates
word-of-mouth transmission.