Digital Anthropologist: Memes Serve as Social Media's Moral Police

Digital anthropologist Karlina Octaviany testified that memes can act as a moral police force within the digital realm.

Octaviany presented her findings during a hearing for Khariq Anhar, who faces charges under Indonesia's Information and Electronic Transactions Law (ITE). Testifying as an expert witness, she explained that her research, including a book published in the United States, shows a strong link between youth movements and the internet, particularly since the pandemic. She noted that younger generations, like Gen Z, utilize digital media, popular culture, and anonymous identities to create new forms of political expression, often managing multiple accounts to convey different narratives and fostering unique fandom cultures.

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Memes are not analyzed by us as just funny jokes, but as folklore and moral police in online life.

Her research highlights how digital activism, including memes, short videos with remix music, and hashtag campaigns, is employed by young people. Octaviany, who studied at University College London's (UCL) Department of Anthropology, known for its meme research, views memes not just as jokes but as "folklore and moral police in online life."

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So, actually, this meme is a gentle reminder. It says 'maybe it should be like this,' but it doesn't intend to fight.

She referenced UCL's global research project, "Why We Post," which examines how memes reflect local realities and intergenerational complexities. The findings suggest that despite the often conservative nature of social media, memes can subtly reinforce community values or critique individuals without escalating into direct conflict. "So, actually, this meme is a gentle reminder. It says 'maybe it should be like this,' but it doesn't intend to fight," Octaviany stated.

Octaviany emphasized the importance of local context in meme analysis, noting that researchers at UCL analyzed tens of thousands of images to understand memes according to local culture, language, and daily life. Addressing the line between social critique and propaganda via memes, she stressed the principle of "fair use" or reasonable usage. The transformative nature of memes, where they create new meaning through parody or humor, is crucial. For example, a meme using a horse image must incorporate a pun or humor to generate new meaning, and its use should be for such purposes.

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Well, that's indeed interesting. The determining factor for a meme is that it must be fair use or used reasonably.