It seems after countless court efforts and alternative petition measures, the only way to make the government understand what its online piracy act implies is by compiling it all into a meme, as the Matthew Inman SOPA/PIPA GIF does.
Matthew Inman is the founder of TheOatmeal.com, which has closed to support the current blackout attempt (websites shutting down for 24 hours) to make Internet users understand what many websites may look like if the legislation is codified. The site is entirely black with an info section at the bottom explaining what blackout is for and the center of the page displays the founder’s humorous GIF.
The Matthew Inman SOPA/PIPA GIF uses photos of Oprah and Jesus flying on a jet ski through outer space, alongside other visuals to explain to viewers much of the content on the Internet -- which is wholly harmless and highly entertaining -- will be affected by SOPA and PIPA.
Hipster Piracy Memes
Founder of TheOatmeal.com Matthew Inman Creates the SOPA/PIPA GIF
Trend Themes
1. Meme Activism - There is an opportunity to use memes as a form of activism to raise awareness and support for various causes and issues.
2. Satirical Messaging - Satirical messaging can be a powerful tool in conveying complex issues to the public in a way that is both humorous and informative.
3. Humorous Protesting - Humorous and quirky forms of protesting, such as website blackouts and humorous GIFs, can be effective in grabbing people's attention and raising awareness for serious topics.
Industry Implications
1. Online Activism - Online activism and protest movements have the potential to leverage the reach and virality of the internet to raise awareness and support for various causes.
2. Social Media Marketing - The use of satirical messaging and humorous content in social media marketing can be an effective strategy for engaging audiences and building brand awareness.
3. Creative Advertising - Incorporating humor, satire, and other forms of creative advertising into campaigns can help companies and organizations stand out from the crowd and capture audiences' attention.