memetabolisme

Memetabolisme refers to the study of how memes—units of cultural information such as ideas, behaviors, or practices—are taken up, transformed, and propagated within a population. The term blends meme theory with metabolism to emphasize continuous processing, turnover, and exchange of cultural content in cognitive, social, and technological contexts.

Core concepts and processes include uptake, processing, replication, mutation, and selection. Uptake involves exposure through media and networks. Processing covers interpretation, humor, relevance, or reframing by individuals. Replication is the act of sharing or imitating, while mutation introduces variations through remixing or modification. Selection reflects audience preference, cultural fits, and platform norms, influencing which memes persist and spread. Distribution encompasses how networks, algorithms, and communities carry memes across space and time.

Models and metrics used in memetabolisme draw on diffusion theory, network analysis, and agent-based simulations. Key indicators include reproduction rate, diffusion half-life, virality indices, and the diversity of meme variants over time. Researchers may also track visibility, engagement, and reach across platforms to assess meme life cycles.

Context and applications vary from online environments to offline culture. Memetabolisme informs understanding of political communication, marketing, public health messaging, and the study of cultural evolution. Critics note limitations in measuring complex social processes, potential overreliance on quantitative diffusion metrics, and ethical concerns about manipulation of information dynamics. The concept remains interdisciplinary, drawing from memetics, information theory, sociology, and network science.

See also: memetics; diffusion of innovations; information theory; social networks.