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'{{short description|Website and video series documenting Internet memes and online phenomena}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Infobox website | name = Know Your Meme | logo = [[File:KnowYourMeme.png|180px]] | screenshot = | caption = | url = {{URL|https://knowyourmeme.com}} | commercial = | type = Encyclopedia | language = English | registration = Optional | owner = Literally Media Ltd. | author = [[Rocketboom]] | editor = Don Caldwell | launch_date = {{start date and age|2007|11|25}} | current_status = Online | revenue = }} '''Know Your Meme''' ('''KYM''') is a website and video series which uses [[wiki]] software to document various [[Internet meme]]s and other online phenomena, such as [[viral video]]s, image macros, catchphrases, [[Internet celebrity|Internet celebrities]] and more. It also investigates new and changing memes through research, as it [[Commercialism|commercializes]] on the culture. Originally produced by [[Rocketboom]], the website was acquired in March 2011 by [[Cheezburger Network]], which, in 2016, was acquired by Literally Media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/274015/literally-media-buys-cheezburger-to-reach-millenni.html|title=Literally Media Buys Cheezburger To Reach Millennials|website=www.mediapost.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/cheezburgers-new-owner-is-israeli-digital-media-company/|title=Cheezburger's new owner is Israeli digital-media company|date=2016-04-21|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-13}}</ref> Know Your Meme includes sections for confirmed, submitted, deadpooled (rejected or incompletely documented), researching, and popular memes. ==History== === 2007{{Endash}}2010: Web series origins === Know Your Meme was created in December 2007 as a series of videos which were part of the [[vlog]] ''[[Rocketboom]]''. It was founded by employees Kenyatta Cheese, Elspeth Rountree and [[Jamie Wilkinson]], and Rocketboom CEO [[Andrew Baron]] in their spare time, when host [[Joanne Colan]] could not finish the current season of ''Rocketboom''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Kevin |date=2012-11-30 |title=A day in the office with Know Your Meme—the Web's "Britannica" |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/know-your-meme-history-encyclopedia/ |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=[[The Daily Dot]] |language=en-US}}</ref> They dubbed themselves the Rocketboom Entity for Internet Studies.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Conti |first=Allie |date=26 May 2016 |title=A Co-Creator of Know Your Meme Explains What the Hell a Meme Actually Is |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/7bxaeb/i-asked-the-founder-of-know-your-meme-why-memes-are-funny |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |language=en}}</ref> Noticing that [[internet memes]] were used by advertisers who failed to acknowledge their online origins, they found that they could trace their source by using public search tools. They also found that media coverage of memes seemed disinterested in how they began and spread.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Tiffany |first=Kaitlyn |date=2018-03-06 |title=The story of the internet, as told by Know Your Meme |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/6/17044344/know-your-meme-10-year-anniversary-brad-kim-interview |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=[[The Verge]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Each episode of Know Your Meme covered one meme in detail, exploring its history and context in [[internet culture]]. They were hosted variously by Colan, Cheese, Rountree and Wilkinson, who donned [[White coat|lab coats]] and dubbed themselves "meme experts".<ref name=":1" /> Baron noticed that each episode attracted more views than typical Rocketboom shows.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gannes |first=Liz |date=April 6, 2009 |title=Intel Sponsors Rocketboom |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2009/04/16/16gigaom-intel-sponsors-rocketboom-22731.html |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=[[Gigaom]]}}</ref> According to Cheese, memes were only starting to become popular on sites such as [[4chan]] when the series began, and Rocketboom allocated more resources as their popularity grew.<ref name=":3" /> Wilkinson had also been developing a personal database of [[internet memes]].<ref name=":0" /> It was repurposed as a companion to the videos and launched on the current website in 2008.<ref name=":1" /> Due to the size of the task, Rocketboom decided to [[crowdsource]] and hire interns, including [[Amanda Brennan]] and future editor Brad Kim, to develop content. This was then collated by volunteer moderators and a small editorial team. By 2010, Know Your Meme had attracted a large following and was more popular than the original web series. However, it also attracted hostility from some online communities: the website suffered constant [[DDoS|DDoS attacks]] and the controversial [[Encyclopedia Dramatica]] said it was "mostly [[safe for work]], which is fucking lame".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> === 2011–present: Sale to Cheezburger === In January 2011, Cheese, Rountree and other employees left Know Your Meme, claiming that Baron had created an "atmosphere of paranoia and competing egos" within the company; Baron disputed this and claimed that Cheese organized a "mass exodus [out of] personal vengeance".<ref name=":1" /> In March 2011, Baron sold Know Your Meme to [[Cheezburger]] for an undisclosed seven-figure amount.<ref name=":2" /> In April 2016, Cheezburger was acquired by Literally Media.<ref name=":1" /> In June 2021, the [[Doge (meme)|Doge meme]] was minted as an [[NFT]] by Atsuko Sato, the meme's original creator, and sold on June 12, 2021, for 1696.9 [[Ethereum (cryptocurrency)|ETH]] (approximately 4 million [[USD]]). The NFT sale was certified by Know Your Meme.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosenblatt |first=Kalhan |date=June 11, 2021 |title=Iconic 'Doge' meme NFT breaks record, selling for $4 million |work=[[NBCNews.com]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/iconic-doge-meme-nft-breaks-records-selling-roughly-4-million-n1270161 |access-date=May 12, 2023}}</ref> ==Website== {{Overly detailed|section|nosplit=yes|date=January 2023}} At the end of 2008, after more than a year of growth, Rocketboom released an expanded database with [[Jamie Wilkinson]] as the lead developer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dembot.com/post/37342219866/the-history-of-know-your-meme |title=The History of Know Your Meme |publisher=Dembot |date=2012-12-06 |access-date=2013-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020024631/http://dembot.com/post/37342219866/the-history-of-know-your-meme|archive-date=2013-10-20}}</ref> As of January 2017, the database contained more than 2,700 entries of "confirmed" memes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://knowyourmeme.com/memes |title=Confirmed Entries |publisher=Know Your Meme |access-date=2013-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915154256/http://knowyourmeme.com/memes |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The administrators have a say on what gets confirmed and what gets "Deadpooled" or rejected.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/deadpool |title=Deadpooled Entries |publisher=Know Your Meme |access-date=2013-10-19}}</ref> Some of the meme entries are graphic and [[Not Safe For Work]] (NSFW).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/nsfw |title=NSFW |publisher=Know Your Meme |date=2012-06-17 |access-date=2013-10-19}}</ref> NSFW entries have warnings placed along the top of the entry and ads are usually disabled. These warnings may differ from consequences, such as bans. Know Your Meme also has a [[Internet forum|forum]] section, [[blog]], and shop. Dr. Sean Rintel, who wrote ''The Automated Identity'' blog, described Know Your Meme as "lucrative, self-supporting research that blends the humorous and the serious."<ref>{{cite web |last=Rintel |first=Sean |url=http://seanrintel.com/2011/09/24/know-your-meme/ |title=Know Your Meme "Sean Rintel |publisher=Seanrintel.com |date=2011-09-24 |access-date=2013-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022180212/http://seanrintel.com/2011/09/24/know-your-meme/ |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of March 2019, the site is maintained by seven editorial staff members (Don Caldwell, Adam Downer, Matt Schimkowitz, Briana Milman, Sophie Dickinson and Philipp Kachalin) and one developer (Mike Schwab) in conjunction with a group of dedicated moderators. Former staff researchers include Chris Menning, Amanda Brennan, Molly Horan and Ari Spool.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://knowyourmeme.com/about |title=About |publisher=Know Your Meme |access-date=2015-08-11}}</ref> The Know Your Meme website and web series were acquired in March 2011 by [[Cheezburger Network]] for an undisclosed seven-figure amount.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Hustvedt |first=Marc |date=March 28, 2011 |title='Know Your Meme' Acquired By Cheezburger in Seven-Figure Deal |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2011/03/28/know-your-meme-acquired-by-cheezburger-in-seven-figure-deal/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814130001/http://www.tubefilter.com/2011/03/28/know-your-meme-acquired-by-cheezburger-in-seven-figure-deal/ |archive-date=August 14, 2012 |access-date=28 March 2011 |work=[[Tubefilter]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> == Reception == Know Your Meme has been praised by numerous publications. Its entries are frequently cited in both journalism and scholarly works covering internet memes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pettis |first=Ben T. |date=2022 |title=''Know Your Meme'' and the Homogenization of Web History |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24701475.2021.1968657 |journal=[[Internet Histories]] |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=263–279|doi=10.1080/24701475.2021.1968657 |s2cid=238660211 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sonnad |first=Nikhil |title=Finally, a scientific list of the most popular memes on the internet |language=en-US |work=Quartz |url=https://qz.com/1296094/most-popular-memes-finally-a-scientific-list-of-the-most-popular-memes-on-the-internet/ |access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Dot]]'' and ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' described the site as "the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica|Encyclopedia Britannica]]''" of memes and [[internet culture]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Winkie |first=Luke |date=January 5, 2023 |title=Behind the Scenes at the Encyclopedia Britannica of Memes |url=https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/know-your-meme-11672867333 |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 15, 2023 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' included Know Your Meme on its list of the "50 Best Websites 2009" for the web series.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fisher |first=Adam |date=2009-08-24 |title=Know Your Meme |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |publisher= |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1918031_1918016_1918014,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=2013-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827135159/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1918031_1918016_1918014,00.html |archive-date=August 27, 2009}}</ref> Know Your Meme won a [[Streamy Award]] in 2010 for Best Guest Star in a Web Series. It won the People's Voice [[Webby Award]] in the Blog-Cultural category in 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://mashable.com/2012/05/01/16th-webby-award-winners/ | work=Mashable | first=Sonia | last=Paul | title=16th Annual Webby Award Winners: The Complete List | date=May 1, 2012}}</ref> In June 2014, Know Your Meme was inducted into the Web Archiving Program of [[American Folklife Center]] at the Library of Congress.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2014/06/getting-serious-about-collecting-and-preserving-digital-culture/|title=Getting serious about collecting and preserving digital culture {{!}} Folklife Today|date=2014-06-05|website=blogs.loc.gov|access-date=2016-10-20}}</ref> In May 2016, the website was cited as a source for explaining the concept of "dank memes" in regards to the political campaigning in [[2016 Australian federal election|the Australian federal election]] during a discussion on the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] television programme ''[[Insiders (Australian TV program)|Insiders]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/watch-insiders-had-to-explain-dank-memes-to-boomers-rip-the-internet/|title=WATCH: 'Insiders' Had To Explain 'Dank Memes' To Boomers, RIP The Internet|website=Pedestrian.tv|date=22 May 2016|access-date=13 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author-link=Denis Atkins (journalist)|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/cool-kids-bring-dank-memes-into-the-election-campaign-but-only-for-a-nanosecond/news-story/2944dc0d6b103b7e9bfda2447b848feb|last=Atkins|first=Denis|title=Cool kids bring dank memes into the election campaign but only for a nanosecond|newspaper=[[The Courier Mail]]|date=22 May 2016|access-date=13 February 2018}}</ref> ==See also== {{Portal|Internet}} * [[Internet meme]] * [[List of Internet phenomena]] * [[Lurkmore]] * [[Uncyclopedia]] * [[Urban Dictionary]] * [[Viral video]] ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == * {{official website}} {{Literally Media}} [[Category:American online encyclopedias]] [[Category:Mass media about Internet culture]] [[Category:Internet properties established in 2007]] [[Category:Wiki communities]] [[Category:Works about Internet memes]]'