A Quantitative Study of How Memes Spread

rememberclifford writes "A survey of about 3,000 people who were tagged in a '25 Random Things About Me' note on Facebook found that memes spread through social networks in a remarkably similar way as diseases do. A biologist who looked at the data says that '"25 Things" authors can be seen as "contagious" under what's known as a "susceptible-infected-recovered" model for the spread of disease,' with a propagation factor of 0.27 in this case. But like an infection, the whole thing died out as quickly as it exploded once the number of 'victims' — people who were willing to write 25 things about themselves — was depleted." The '25 Things' meme was at least as annoying as a light flu.

Comments

They should have surveyed

[Anonymous Coward]

over 9,000.

Re:They should have surveyed

[MrNaz]

If the "25 Things" meme was akin to a light flu, then the damn Soviet Russia meme must be like the virus from 28 Days Later.

I only hope that it too causes the host to eventually die of starvation.

Re:They should have surveyed

[blueZ3]

I was thinking more like malaria. Every time you think you're "better" it's just gone into a quiescent phase--it always comes back.

Re:They should have surveyed

[Squeeonline]

In Soviet Russia memes spread you!

Apologies. I'll get my coat.

So facebook spreads disease.

[Anonymous Coward]

I always suspected there was something infectious about facebook..

It seems to follow the herpes model too. Once you got it. It's forever!

Re:So facebook spreads disease.

[Paralizer]

I first became aware of this during the act of using Facebook. A profound sense of fatigue... a feeling of emptiness followed. Luckily I was able to interpret these feelings correctly -- loss of essence. I can assure you it has not reoccurred. Facebook would sense my power and they would seek the life essence. I have since closed my account and I now deny them my essence.

Re:So facebook spreads disease.

[Anonymous Coward]

+1 Precious Bodily Fluids

Re:So facebook spreads disease.

[Squeeonline]

All you needed to do was to mediate to regain your mana.

Or mutter some badly pronounced Latin then eat some chocolate. Seems to work in Harry Potter books. And books are never wrong.

Easy.

[morgan_greywolf]

1. Someone posts something that's funny because it involves shared cultural reference and experience for that community.
2. It gets modded up +5 funny.
3. ???
4. Profit!

Re:Easy.

[zappepcs]

Nothing is funnier about '25 things' than what Linus himself wrote in his blog, reproduced here for your convenience, in its entirety:

1. I get bored really easily.

Re:Easy.

[Chyeld]

You're the man now, Dog!

Please forward this to 25 people...

[Anonymous Coward]

Since when is Meme the new word for Chain Letter?

There's a cure here

[johannesg]

Memes can turn into a serious problem for society. Fortunately our future Martian overlords know just how to deal with it, as witnessed here. This is why it is imperative that we visit Mars and set up colonies there...

A preemptive warning:

[snarfies]

Rules 1 and 2, brothers.

Re:A preemptive warning:

[snspdaarf]

1. Never get involved in a land war in Asia

>p>2. Never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line.

What does that have to do with Facebook? Other than the "death" part?

Re:A preemptive warning:

[oodaloop]

That tag, I don't think it means what you think it means.

Re:A preemptive warning:

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh please. You think anyone on the internet doesn't know now? The game was up when the protestfags started doing their thing.

By the way, you just lost.

Re:Real question...

[ahem]

Wait a minute. I think you're trying to start a meme about how to pronounce meme.

I CALL SHENANIGANS!

Feeding myself a dictionary...

[argent]

"Quantitative", you idiot.

Re:Real question...

[CyberKnet]

Mr. Shenanigans is calling from Soviet Russia on line 1.

Now I feel better...

[russotto]

I thought that by ignoring all that crap I was being my usual antisocial self. But it turns out, I'm actually like a naturally immune member of the population.

This is all well and good but I want to know...

[Anonymous Coward]

How is memme formed?

Re:Actually, the REAL victims IMHO

[Anonymous Coward]

tl;dr

Re:How does this compare to email memes?

[MillionthMonkey]

Incidentally, the Texans I know no longer believe Barrack Obama is a Muslim, solely on the basis that he used his left hand to sign his inauguration papers.

But doesn't that make him Satanic? I don't get it.

Re:Technically it's an STI

[StikyPad]

Oh, and it sounds like less of a taboo too! Almost cool. "Dude, I just got the latest STI." "Your computer must be so fast now!" "Yeah..." *scratch scratch*

Re:Meme Theory 101

[linhares]

In my meme theory, a key indicator that meme growth is entering death phase is when politicians pick it up. Cf. the macarena with the Clintons and now CA Attorney Gen (and candidate for governor) Jerry Brown w/ 25 things (his fb page)

Wow... very very interesting; perhaps because if a politician says it, it magically become instantly boring.

NOW, for the sake of god and country, I must state that I will not vote for any politician who goes Goatse'ing around.

Re:Real answer...

[StikyPad]

Touch

Re:Technically it's an STI

[Dunbal]

Your a doctor and THAT is your sig?

      Yes. Physicians are humans too. I'm sorry if you don't like my sense of humor - my sig exists to show the world I am anything but politically correct. However no REAL puppies are ever harmed. I like puppies... (They are especially good with mustard?)

Re:Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

[mcrbids]

Hrm... interesting point. I found an insightful lecture on this very topic not so long ago that allegorized the concept of the "well connected individual".

Turns out that about 3% of the world's population create effects that the other 97% just talk about...