Have you ever heard of “Alex from Target”?
What comes to your mind when someone says “Much Doge”?
How about the dress that seems to have no definitive color?
Most people know what all of the above are and if you don’t, there’s no need to worry because all the answers you need are only a few clicks away.
Every group of people has their own culture.
From America to West Africa to Tokyo, all people value customs and traditions.
So, considering how many people spend their time online, it’d be safe to assume an online culture would form.
In the past five years, an online culture has definitely emerged.
Most people participate in social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr purely for convenience.
“[Social media] is a very convenient way to communicate with people and organize events,” said college sophomore Natalie Potthoff.
Others take to the Internet for solace.
So many people have made careers for themselves, found life-long friends and even discovered a culture they fit into all online.
Social media websites have created a protocol and a common culture for those who regularly partake in it.
It’s almost as if all of these people who are geographically separated have an infinite amount of inside jokes.
Things that would normally be noticed by a small group of people now can become a worldwide phenomenon.
Incidents like a fashionable monkey found wandering around in an IKEA store one day wearing a fur coat reached millions of people over Tumblr and Twitter.
Other events have happened on social media that had everyone talking.
A recent debate disputed between millions online was one involving an oddly colored dress. Friendships were tested over whether a dress was white and gold or blue and black. (It’s white and gold.)
The fact that many people saw this dress and argued with their peers about it shows how powerful the culture of social media really is.
Social media users have a network of people who all know how to navigate and create throughout the many avenues of the web.
Pop culture has a new face and it’s one that can only be accessed with Wi-Fi.