Top Twitter Hashtags of 2011 (Try Saying that 3 Times Fast)

http://gawker.com/5865573/2011s-top-hashtags-are-perfect-snapshot-of-internets-power-inanity

2011 is coming to a close, which means websites are now inundated with lists documenting the best and worst of the year.  Twitter has just released its most popular hashtags of 2011, and the results are quite interesting.  It shows the Internet can help spread ideas and improve the world, like when Twitter played a major role in helping to end the conflict in Egypt earlier this year...or it can help spread the ridiculous ramblings of Charlie Sheen.  I feel like this embodies a lot of what we learned in class.  There's a lot of junk on the Internet, but there's also a lot of information that can aid the population and help change the world for the better.  The "Cute Cat Theory" explained in the article is also really interesting.  As long as people keep posting ridiculous, harmless things like Charlie Sheen quotes or pictures of fluffy animals, then the government won't feel the need to censor said website.  Then, when the time comes, that channel can be used to spread more useful information.  I'm looking forward to seeing what strange, ridiculous, life-changing things the web has in store for society in 2012. 

Beware: Old People Now Know Memes.

http://gawker.com/5856513/old-people-on-facebook-discover-memes

I found this article to be really interesting because it made me think about something that had never crossed my mind before.  Internet Memes have been in my life for years, and I just assumed everyone must know most memes on the Internet.  It's common knowledge among people my age.  However, this article from Gawker brings up the great point that older individuals are just now discovering the ridiculous treasures known as image macros hidden on the web thanks to tools like Facebook.  I try to make a point not to friend older people like my parents or my boss, because honestly they really do not need to see anything on my Facebook page, but so I haven't noticed any changes but I'm wondering if this is actually happening.  I wonder if this will help or hurt image macros.  Will more people sharing them and liking them on Facebook mean they will become even more popular, or will the younger generation abandon a meme once they find out people like their parents also think it's funny?  I'll be interested to find out. 

Pedobear a Threat to Society?

http://gawker.com/5863272/new-mexico-attorney-general-warns-against-the-molesty-charms-of-pedobear

Above is a Gawker article describing how Pedobear has become so prominent in culture that the New Mexico Attorney General is now issuing warnings to families in the state that pedophiles are using the meme as a way to identify one another.  Th articles mocks the New Mexico government, and whether the Attorney General is taking this way too seriously or not, this is a great example of how memes can truly transcend just computer screens to become true parts of our culture.  I personally think pedophiles wouldn't elect such an obvious mascot, but at the same time kids would know Pedobear from the web and could be drawn to something bearing its image.  However, just because someone owns something with Pedobear on it, it does not automatically make him/her a pedophile.  Either way, this meme has become so popular it's surpassed Internet notoriety to catch the attention of the government and affect people's lives.  

Gawker Article

Gawker Article