Memes Collapse People Into Types

The article argues that digital memes don’t just mock a person; through constant repetition they redefine the person as an archetype, dissolving the line between image and reality. This typification makes it easier for crowds to celebrate or rationalize harm against the target. — If memes routinely retype individuals, debates about online speech, moderation, and political violence must grapple with dehumanization as a structural output of platform culture, not just bad actors.