The Meme Is the Message: Generative Memesis and AI Visuals in the 2024 USA Presidential Elections
A new study published on arXiv explores the use of AI-generated visuals in the 2024 US presidential election, analyzing over 239,000 Instagram images. The research found that while meme format is a strong predictor of engagement, AI-generated memes, when curated by humans, show a synergistic increase in interaction. Partisan users leverage AI differently, with Democrat-leaning users favoring in-group support and Republican-leaning users focusing on out-group attacks. The study introduces the concept of 'generative memesis' to describe AI-mediated communication through customized visuals. AI
IMPACT AI-generated content, when combined with memes and human curation, can significantly increase user engagement in political discourse.