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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.

17 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. They should have surveyed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    over 9,000.

    1. Re:They should have surveyed by MrNaz · · Score: 5, Funny

      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.

      --
      I hate printers.
    2. Re:They should have surveyed by Squeeonline · · Score: 5, Funny

      In Soviet Russia memes spread you!

      Apologies. I'll get my coat.

  2. Easy. by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Funny

    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!

    1. Re:Easy. by zappepcs · · Score: 3, Funny

      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.

  3. Re:So facebook spreads disease. by Paralizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

  4. Re:So facebook spreads disease. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    +1 Precious Bodily Fluids

  5. Re:Real question... by ahem · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    I CALL SHENANIGANS!

    --
    Not A Sig
  6. Re:A preemptive warning: by snspdaarf · · Score: 5, Funny

    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?

    --
    Why, without your clothes, you're naked, Miss Dudley!
  7. Feeding myself a dictionary... by argent · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Quantitative", you idiot.

  8. Re:A preemptive warning: by oodaloop · · Score: 4, Funny

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

    --
    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  9. Re:Real question... by CyberKnet · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    --
    Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor - Ovidius
  10. Now I feel better... by russotto · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

  11. This is all well and good but I want to know... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    How is memme formed?

  12. Re:Actually, the REAL victims IMHO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    tl;dr

  13. Re:Meme Theory 101 by linhares · · Score: 3, Funny

    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.

  14. Re:Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell by mcrbids · · Score: 3, Funny

    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...

    --
    I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.