Memes Can Have the Destructive Potential of Nuclear Bombs in the Information Age

The internet is a vast space, and with it comes a vast spread of information, knowledge, and images to compensate. It is a great source to find solutions to problems and share creativity with others across the globe. With the internet came the meme, a highly unstable force to be reckoned with. A meme constantly twists and changes, usually being a source of comedy and laughter, but just as easily changing into a dark monster that wreaks havoc across anything in its path. They can influence political opinions, impact mental health issues, spawn from stupid or dangerous trends, or be offensive and hurtful overall. On top of this, the internet and memes have dulled society's empathy, making it more difficult for people to feel anything about problems not directly related to them. It does not help that we are bombarded by them every time we try to take a quick peek at social media. Simply put, memes have a negative impact on society, their influence spreading like the radiation of a nuclear bomb, exploding fast and lasting for a long time after. If society wanders down the same path for the next few generations, we could be wiped out by the invisible but ever-present presence that is the internet and memes.