Meme vs. Troll — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 3, 2023
A meme is a cultural item that spreads via replication or imitation, while a troll is someone who deliberately provokes or harasses online.
Difference Between Meme and Troll
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Memes are pieces of media that spread virally through imitation and variation, often humorously conveying a cultural idea or joke. Trolls, however, are individuals who engage in internet discussions with the intent to provoke, upset, or deceive others, often for their amusement. While memes are shared content, trolls are people behaving in a certain way.
A meme can be an image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied and spread rapidly by Internet users, often with slight variations. On the other side, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community with the intention of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion. Memes are meant to entertain or resonate with a group of people; trolls aim to disturb or manipulate the conversation.
The purpose of a meme is usually entertainment, cultural commentary, or social interaction. In contrast, the purpose of a troll is to provoke anger, start arguments, or cause disruption. While a meme can be created and shared with positive or humorous intent, trolling is generally negative. The shared nature of memes builds communities; trolling often attacks or undermines them.
While memes have become a part of internet culture, often reflecting societal attitudes or current events, trolls are seen as a problematic aspect of online communities. Memes can bring people together in shared humor or ideas, whereas trolls often seek to create division and strife. Both memes and trolling reflect the interactive nature of online culture but in markedly different ways.
The life cycle of a meme often involves it becoming widely recognized and referenced across various platforms and media. Trolls, however, usually operate on individual platforms, targeting specific communities or discussions. The spread of a meme is measured by its popularity and adaptability; the impact of a troll is measured by the disruption caused.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A unit of cultural information spread by imitation.
A person who posts to provoke or disrupt.
Intent
To entertain, parody, or comment on culture.
To provoke, offend, or disrupt.
Mode of Spread
Through sharing and replication across the internet.
Through comments, posts, or messages in online forums.
Impact
Cultural resonance, humor, viral entertainment.
Annoyance, arguments, disruption in communities.
Common Forms
Images, videos, hashtags, phrases.
Inflammatory comments, deceptive messages, off-topic posts.
Compare with Definitions
Meme
Internet content that gets spread rapidly by users.
I spent hours scrolling through memes about the latest TV series.
Troll
A person who provokes others on the internet for fun.
He's just a troll looking for attention; ignore him.
Meme
An image, video, or text that is humorously copied.
The This is fine meme perfectly captures my reaction to stress.
Troll
A disruptor of online discussions or communities.
The moderator banned a troll for repeatedly violating community guidelines.
Meme
A viral piece of culture replicated online.
The dancing baby meme from the 90s is often cited as one of the first viral memes.
Troll
A troll is a being in Scandinavian folklore, including Norse mythology. In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolated rocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and are rarely helpful to human beings.
Meme
A representation of a cultural theme or concept.
The meme featuring the historical figure became an unexpected hit online.
Troll
(in folklore) an ugly creature depicted as either a giant or a dwarf.
Meme
A meme ( MEEM) is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular phenomenon or theme. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices, that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme.
Troll
A person who makes a deliberately offensive or provocative online post
One solution is to make a troll's postings invisible to the rest of community once they've been recognized
Meme
An element of a culture or system of behaviour passed from one individual to another by imitation or other non-genetic means.
Troll
A line or bait used in trolling for fish.
Meme
An image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by Internet users, often with slight variations.
Troll
Make a deliberately offensive or provocative online post with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them
If people are obviously trolling then I'll delete your posts and do my best to ban you
You folks taking this opportunity to troll me, you really need to reassess your values in your life
Meme
A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.
Troll
Carefully and systematically search an area for something
A group of companies trolling for partnership opportunities
I spent tonight trolling the Internet for expensive lighting gear
Meme
An image or short video clip, often accompanied by a humorous saying or popular catchphrase, that is transmitted virally, especially on social media.
Troll
Walk in a leisurely way; stroll
We all trolled into town
Meme
A humorous saying or popular catchphrase that is transmitted virally, especially as a caption for such an image or video clip.
Troll
Sing (something) in a happy and carefree way
He trolled a note or two
Meme
(originally) Any unit of (originally cultural) information, such as a practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another in a comparable way to the transmission of genes.
Troll
To fish for by trailing a baited line from behind a slowly moving boat.
Meme
(Internet) Media, usually humorous, which is copied and circulated online with slight adaptations, such as basic pictures, video templates, etc.
Troll
To fish in by trailing a baited line
Troll the lake for bass.
Meme
(Internet) A specific instance of a meme, such as an image macro or a video, often with humorous superimposed text.
This meme generator lets you make your own memes by adding a caption to existing images, or by uploading your own image.
I'm always posting memes on the groupchat.
Troll
To trail (a baited line) in fishing.
Meme
Something not to be taken seriously; a joke.
It's a meme degree, you know. Good luck getting a job from that.
Jogging is a meme.
Troll
To move around in (an area) or go to (different places) searching for something
"The players cautiously refrain from saying anything candid to the press trolling the clubhouse" (David Grann).
Meme
Granny; nana
Troll
To examine or search through
Trolling the classifieds for a cheap car.
Meme
To create and use humorous memes.
Troll
To sing in succession the parts of (a round, for example).
Meme
To turn into a meme; to use a meme, especially to achieve a goal in real life.
To meme into existence
Troll
To sing heartily
Troll a carol.
Meme
To joke around.
Troll
To post inflammatory or irrelevant material on (an electronic forum) to provoke responses.
Meme
A cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one generation to another by nongenetic means (as by imitation);
Memes are the cultrual counterpart of genes
Troll
To fish by trailing a line, as from a moving boat.
Meme
An idea that spreads from person to person within a culture.
The concept of paying it forward started as a meme before it was popularized in the film.
Troll
To stroll along or wander
"As he was extremely early, he trolled past the community center" (David Bezmozgis).
Troll
To move around in an area or go to different places searching for something.
Troll
To examine or search through something
Trolling through old family photos looking for a picture of my aunt.
Troll
(Music) To sing heartily or gaily.
Troll
The act of trolling for fish.
Troll
A lure, such as a spoon or spinner, that is used for trolling.
Troll
(Music) A vocal composition in successive parts; a round.
Troll
A person who posts inflammatory or otherwise unwanted material on an electronic forum, especially anonymously.
Troll
The material so posted.
Troll
A supernatural creature of Scandinavian folklore, variously portrayed as a friendly or mischievous dwarf or as a giant, that lives in caves, in the hills, or under bridges.
Troll
(Derogatory) A person, especially an older gay man, considered to be unpleasant or ugly.
Troll
(fantasy) A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges.
Troll
(slang) An ugly person of either sex, especially one seeking sexual experiences.
Troll
Optical ejections from the top of the electrically active core regions of thunderstorms that are red in color that seem to occur after tendrils of vigorous sprites extend downward toward the cloud tops.
Troll
An instance of trolling, especially, in fishing, the trailing of a baited line.
Troll
A person who posts or says inflammatory, insincere, digressive, extraneous, or off-topic messages to provoke others on the Internet for their own personal amusement or to manipulate others' perception.
Keyboard warrior
Troll
The act of moving round; routine; repetition.
Troll
A song whose parts are sung in succession; a catch; a round.
Troll
(obsolete) A trolley.
Troll
(intransitive) To saunter.
Troll
(intransitive) To trundle, to roll from side to side.
Troll
To draw someone or something out, to entice, to lure as if with trailing bait.
Troll
To fish using a line and bait or lures trailed behind a boat similarly to trawling; to lure fish with bait.
Troll
(transitive) To angle for with a trolling line, or with a hook drawn along the surface of the water; hence, to allure.
Troll
(transitive) To fish in; to try to catch fish from.
Troll
To stroll about in order to find a sexual partner.
He spends most of his waking hours trolling on WIRE.
Troll
To post or make inflammatory or insincere statements so as to attempt to lure others into combative argument for purposes of personal entertainment or to manipulate others' perception, especially in an online community or discussion.
Troll
To move circularly; to roll; to turn.
Troll
To send about; to circulate, as a vessel in drinking.
Troll
To sing the parts of in succession, as of a round, a catch, and the like; also, to sing loudly, freely or in a carefree way.
Troll
A supernatural being, often represented as of diminutive size, but sometimes as a giant, and fabled to inhabit caves, hills, and like places; a witch.
Troll
The act of moving round; routine; repetition.
Troll
A song the parts of which are sung in succession; a catch; a round.
Thence the catch and troll, while "Laughter, holding both his sides," sheds tears to song and ballad pathetic on the woes of married life.
Troll
A trolley.
Troll
To move circularly or volubly; to roll; to turn.
To dress and troll the tongue, and roll the eye.
Troll
To send about; to circulate, as a vessel in drinking.
Then doth she troll to the bowl.
Troll the brown bowl.
Troll
To sing the parts of in succession, as of a round, a catch, and the like; also, to sing loudly or freely.
Will you troll the catch ?
His sonnets charmed the attentive crowd,By wide-mouthed mortaltrolled aloud.
Troll
To angle for with a trolling line, or with a book drawn along the surface of the water; hence, to allure.
Troll
To fish in; to seek to catch fish from.
With patient angle trolls the finny deep.
Troll
To roll; to run about; to move around; as, to troll in a coach and six.
Troll
To move rapidly; to wag.
Troll
To take part in trolling a song.
Troll
To fish with a rod whose line runs on a reel; also, to fish by drawing the hook through the water.
Their young men . . . trolled along the brooks that abounded in fish.
Troll
(Scandanavian folklore) a supernatural creature (either a dwarf or a giant) that is supposed to live in caves or in the mountains
Troll
A partsong in which voices follow each other; one voice starts and others join in one after another until all are singing different parts of the song at the same time;
They enjoyed singing rounds
Troll
A fisherman's lure that is used in trolling;
He used a spinner as his troll
Troll
Angling by drawing a baited line through the water
Troll
Circulate, move around
Troll
Cause to move round and round;
The child trolled her hoop
Troll
Sing the parts of (a round) in succession
Troll
Angle with a hook and line drawn through the water
Troll
Sing loudly and without inhibition
Troll
Praise or celebrate in song;
All tongues shall troll you
Troll
Speak or recite rapidly or in a rolling voice
Troll
Someone who posts inflammatory content online.
A troll disrupted the forum with a series of provocative statements.
Troll
Internet users intentionally stirring up conflict.
The chatroom has rules in place to discourage trolls.
Troll
Individuals who aim to upset or deceive for a reaction.
That user who always posts controversial opinions is a known troll.
Common Curiosities
What is a meme?
A meme is a cultural concept or catchphrase that spreads online, often through humorous imitations.
How do memes spread?
Memes spread through sharing on social media, websites, and between individuals.
Is trolling illegal?
Trolling can be illegal if it involves harassment, threats, or other criminal actions.
Are memes only funny?
Memes can be funny, but they can also be satirical, political, or convey other messages.
Are all trolls malicious?
While many trolls are malicious, some may believe they are simply engaging in dark humor or satire.
What is a 'troll account'?
A 'troll account' is an online account used primarily for the purpose of trolling or harassing others.
What does trolling mean?
Trolling is when someone posts disruptive or provocative messages online, often to provoke or upset others.
Do memes have copyright?
Some memes can be subject to copyright if they use protected works, but many fall under fair use due to transformation or parody.
What is the goal of a troll?
The goal of a troll is usually to provoke a reaction or cause disruption in online communities.
How can you deal with a troll?
The best way to deal with a troll is often to ignore them, as they thrive on attention and reaction.
Can a meme become outdated?
Yes, as cultural contexts change, some memes can become outdated or lose their relevance.
What makes a meme successful?
A meme is successful if it's widely recognized, relatable, and adaptable.
How have memes impacted culture?
Memes have become a significant part of online communication, influencing language, humor, and social interaction.
Why do people troll?
People might troll for amusement, to display power, or to disrupt conversations for various reasons.
Can anyone create a meme?
Yes, anyone with an idea that resonates can create a meme that might spread.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
