Research from New York University discovered that memes are ten times more effective than regular marketing visuals, achieving a 60% higher rate of organic interaction.
According to Forbes, businesses employing memes in marketing are 60% more likely to attract purchases, with millennials typically viewing 20–30 memes daily.
A YPulse survey revealed 74% of people share memes for humor, 53% use them as responses, 35% as cryptic messages, and 28% when words are insufficient, frequently engaging in meme-based conversations.
Data from Instagram in 2021 shows a doubling in meme sharing, with one million memes shared daily, up from 500,000 in 2018, highlighting the surging popularity of memes.
Forbes highlights that meme campaigns achieve a 14% higher click-through rate compared to email marketing, demonstrating their potent viral appeal and expansive reach.
Pew Research Center found that 75% of individuals aged 13 to 36 post memes, with 55% sharing them weekly and 30% daily, indicating a strong meme presence among young adults.
Introduction
Discover the latest Meme Statistics in this article. Learn unexpected insights and trends that will expand your understanding of meme culture.
Meme Usage Statistics
Data Point
Value
Reach of memes compared to marketing visuals
10 times more
Rate of organic interaction for memes
60% higher
Frequency of Netflix US tweeting memes
Once a week
Buying likelihood from meme-using businesses
Over 60%
Average daily memes for a millennial
20 to 30
People sharing memes to make others laugh
74%
Using memes in response to something
53%
Sending memes as a code
35%
Using memes when words fail
28%
Subscription to meme accounts
38%
New York University researchers found that memes reach 10 times more people than regular marketing visuals. They also found that memes have a 60% higher rate of organic interaction. Once a week, if not more often, Netflix US tweets out a meme based on a scene from one of their episodes. The “invention of brunch” meme they sent out recently had over 10,000 likes and 2,000 retweets. [1][11]
According to Forbes, over 60% of people were more likely to buy from businesses that used memes in their marketing. In the study, Forbes also said that 20 to 30 memes a day are average for a millennial. [2]
According to a recent YPulse survey, 74% of people share memes to make others laugh. Additionally, 53% of respondents said they use memes to respond to something. 35% send them as a code to someone who will “get it,” and 28% use them when words fail to explain their feelings. Most people in the study said they often have conversations online using memes.[5]
As per Forbes, 38% of internet users subscribe to meme accounts. [2]
Top Meme Stats
Description
Data
Year
Value of “Disaster Girl” NFT Sale
$573,000
2021
SHIB vs BTC Meme Popularity Views
SHIB: 43 million more than BTC
2021
Daily Memes Shared on Instagram
1 million (increased from 500,000 in 2018)
2021
Average Lifespan of a Modern Meme
4.017 months
2023
Average Lifespan of a Meme in 2008
23.6 months
2008
The auction collected more than $573,000 for “Disaster Girl” in 2021, making it the most valuable Meme NFT to date. [7]
In 2021, SHIBA INU (SHIB) surpassed BITCOIN (BTC) in meme popularity by 43 million more views. [8]
In 2021, users on the platform shared one million memes daily, according to Instagram. This amount has increased from 500,000 in 2018. [9]
According to a study and our analysis from Google Trends, the average lifespan of a modern meme in 2023 is about four (4.017) months. This indicates a significant decrease from 2008 when the average lifespan of a meme was nearly two years (23.6 months). [10]
Meme Engagement Stats
Aspect
Detail
Percentage
Meme Campaign CTR vs. Email Marketing
Meme Campaigns have a higher CTR
14% higher
Average CTR for Marketers
CTR with typical marketing efforts
6%
CTR for Meme Marketing Campaigns
Meme marketing effectiveness
19%
Memes in Young People’s Lives (YPulse survey)
Amusement by memes
64%
Appreciation of hobby-related memes
61%
Sharing memes on social media and messaging apps
31%
Sharing memes only on social media
29%
Seen a political meme in the last month
37%
According to Forbes, meme campaigns have a 14% higher CTR than email marketing. However, email marketing had a higher conversion rate. The research shows that memes are more likely to go viral and reach more potential buyers. [2]
Marketers typically see a CTR of about 6% with their efforts. However, the research from UNI ScholarWorks says that the CTR for a meme marketing campaign is about 19%. [3]
A recent YPulse survey found that memes had become integral to young people’s daily lives. Participants reported that memes amuse 64% of them, and 61% appreciate seeing memes related to their hobbies. A massive 31% of internet users share memes on social media and messaging apps. Another 29% only share them on social media. 37% of respondents said they had seen a political meme in the last month, and this percentage is expected to rise. [4]
Stats on Case Studies of Successful Brand Integrations with Meme Marketing
Brands such as Nescafe and Shaadi.com have effectively used meme marketing. They have taken advantage of its popularity, especially among younger generations like Gen Z. [12]
Mumbai Police and Tinder India both use meme marketing. The Mumbai Police uses it for awareness campaigns. Tinder India uses it to engage audiences and debunk relationship myths. [12]
The snack company Bingo effectively used memes to engage with their young, internet-savvy audience. Bingo made memes about snacking and their products. This helped them get over 404K in engagement, more than they expected. This plan greatly improved their online presence. They gained more followers on social media, which resulted in increased sales. [13]
Warner Music Group acquired IMGN Media, a Gen Z marketing company known for its viral meme page, Daquan, for under $100 million. IMGN’s Netflix campaign got 16 million views with just five posts. This shows how well meme marketing works for ads and social listening. [14][16]
White Claw and Bud Light Seltzer, both beverage brands, capitalized on meme marketing. White Claw’s use of memes and content creators helped the hard seltzer market grow. It’s expected to be worth $14.5 billion by 2027. Bud Light Seltzer gained 11% of the hard seltzer market share in less than a year. They used meme marketing instead of traditional Super Bowl ads. [14]
Distribution of Meme Users
Age Group
Percentage Engaging with Memes
Specific Activity
13-36
75%
Posting memes
13-35
55%
Sending memes weekly
13-35
30%
Sending memes daily
75% of those between the ages of 13 and 36, according to the most recent YPulse poll on social media use, post memes. Among those aged 13–35, 55% send memes at least once a week, with 30% doing so daily. In the same study, almost half of the people said they saw a funny meme last week. One-quarter of them shared a meme with someone they knew the previous week. [4]
Observation
Percentage Reported
Context
Saw a funny meme
50%
Last week’s activity
Shared a meme
25%
With someone last week
In North America, specifically among American adults aged 18 to 29, 64% admitted to using memes. Instagram and Snapchat are the popular platforms for sharing memes in this demographic. A Pew Research Center study conducted in 2021 sourced this statistic. [15]
In the United States, many young adults use social media platforms for memes. Among young adults aged 18 to 24, 71% used Instagram, and 65% used Snapchat for sharing and accessing memes. This data comes from a Pew Research Center study. [15]
Age Group
Percentage Using Memes
Platforms Used
18-29
64%
Instagram (71%), Snapchat (64%)
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, more males (57%) than females (50%) in the United States use memes. [15]
Gender
Percentage Using Memes
Males
57%
Females
50%
Market Size of The Meme Industry
In 2020, the worldwide meme market was worth $2.3 billion, as estimated by Statista. Experts project that this market will expand to a value of $6.1 billion, experiencing a CAGR of 21.6% between now and 2025. [6]
Final Words
Memes are now a big part of online interaction and marketing. It’s expected for them to keep growing and make a big impact on online culture and how people shop.
