Research Article

EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION

Volume: 10 Number: 3 September 30, 2026
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EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION

Abstract

This paper extends the infection model in meme communication by integrating a word-of-mouth inflection model with an advertising memory effect model to depict meme virality and assess the impact of meme-style advertising. In the developed Internet era, meme-based advertising presents an economical and efficient strategy to enhance advertising effectiveness and foster immediate customer engagement due to its user-generated content nature. Two distinct models are proposed, differing in their consideration of the meme spread rate: a one-step model assuming an exponentially distributed spread rate, and a two-step model incorporating a 'change point' for varying spread speeds across dissemination stages. Empirical data from a Taiwanese meme database and survey responses from 1248 subjects. Model validation showed a good fit between predictions and real-world data. This research successfully quantifies the memetic phenomenon, providing a predictive model for meme spread rates and advertising effects, offering marketing managers a valuable tool for strategic decision-making and contributing to future quantification studies of memes.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The author would like to thank the National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan (NSTC 114-2410-H-030-016 -SSS) for supporting this research.

Ethical Statement

It is declared that scientific and ethical principles have been followed while carrying out and writing this study, and that all the sources used have been properly cited. Since this study does not involve human participants, animals, or sensitive personal data, ethics committee approval was not required.

References

  1. Brodie, R. J., Whittome, J. R., & Brush, G. J. (2009). Investigating the service brand: A customer value perspective. Journal of Business Research, 62(3), 345–355.
  2. Brubaker, P. J., Church, S. H., Hansen, J., Pelham, S., & Ostler, A. (2018). One does not simply meme about organisations: Exploring the content creation strategies of user-generated memes on Imgur. Public Relations Review, 44(5), 741–751.
  3. Chua, Y. T., & Soriano, J. C. (2020). Electoral disinformation: Looking through the lens of Tsek.ph fact checks. Plaridel: A Philippine Journal of Communication, Media, and Society, 17(1), 279–289.
  4. Dawkins, R. (1976). The selfish gene. Oxford University Press.
  5. Huang, H. H. (2016). The infection effect of word of mouth in customer purchase behaviour. Wulfenia, 23(1), 500–509.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Communication and Media Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

June 24, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 3

APA
Huang, H.-H. (2026). EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION. Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergisi, 10(3), 546-571. https://izlik.org/JA44MX57ZE
AMA
1.Huang HH. EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION. Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergisi. 2026;10(3):546-571. https://izlik.org/JA44MX57ZE
Chicago
Huang, Hui-Hsin. 2026. “EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION”. Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergisi 10 (3): 546-71. https://izlik.org/JA44MX57ZE.
EndNote
Huang H-H (September 1, 2026) EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION. Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergisi 10 3 546–571.
IEEE
[1]H.-H. Huang, “EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION”, Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergisi, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 546–571, Sept. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA44MX57ZE
ISNAD
Huang, Hui-Hsin. “EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION”. Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergisi 10/3 (September 1, 2026): 546-571. https://izlik.org/JA44MX57ZE.
JAMA
1.Huang H-H. EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION. Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergisi. 2026;10:546–571.
MLA
Huang, Hui-Hsin. “EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION”. Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergisi, vol. 10, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 546-71, https://izlik.org/JA44MX57ZE.
Vancouver
1.Hui-Hsin Huang. EXTENDING THE INFECTION MODEL IN MEME COMMUNICATION. Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergisi [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 1;10(3):546-71. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA44MX57ZE