The Influence of Meme Culture on Youth: Addiction and Linguistic Impact

Abstract

In the digital era, meme culture has become an integral part of youth communication, social interaction, and identity expression. While memes offer entertainment and cultural commentary, their pervasive consumption raises questions about psychological dependency, cognitive changes, and linguistic evolution. This research investigates the impact of meme culture on youth behaviour and language, focusing on meme addiction, reduced attention span, and the emergence of meme-based slang. Through a synthesis of scholarly literature and observational analysis, the report highlights the consequences of excessive meme consumption on academic performance, social communication, and misinformation spread. It further discusses how visual memes, GIFs, and emojis have reshaped youth discourse, creating fragmented yet impactful linguistic trends. The study adopts qualitative analysis and secondary data review, aiming to contribute to media literacy discussions and propose strategies for balancing digital engagement with critical thinking.