How anti-vax memes replicate through satire and irony

By Jan Buts, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Translation Studies, Trinity College Dublin

For most of us, memes are the harmless fodder of an “extremely online” internet culture, floating benignly between different social media platforms — and, on the whole, making us laugh. But in the shadier corners of the internet, like on the forum 4chan, memes can quickly mutate from jokes into more ambiguous, shocking and potentially harmful viral content.

That’s especially true of memes that call into question the efficacy and safety of vaccines — often termed “anti-vax” content.…

Read complete article

~	States should curb urban slaughter of civilians from explosive weapons

~	Pining for St Kilda instead of Moscow: The Cherry Orchard grapples with our cultural inheritance

~	Lots of law, not enough order — the government must be clearer about dealing with COVID rule-breakers

~	Biden is already carving out a different Middle East policy from Trump — and even Obama

~	Is Indonesia's alcohol bill an appropriate public health measure?

~	The UK Supreme Court Has Failed Shamima Begum

~	Rights of Sri Lankan Muslims Need International Protection

~	Nigerian Victim Calls for Justice at Gambia Truth Commission

~	Elizabeth Warren's wealth tax would reduce inequality – the problem is it's probably unconstitutional

~	University survey shows how COVID-19 pandemic is hampering career progress for women and racialized faculty