Using Meme Creation to Explore Ageism Among Adolescents

Ageism, characterized by stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination based on age, remains a pervasive societal issue with significant social and psychological implications. This study explores the use of memes-a popular and relatable digital medium-as a creative and reflective tool for understanding how adolescents conceptualize aging and ageism following an educational workshop. The intervention involved 727 middle school students (ages 11-15) who were introduced to the concept of ageism and then created memes to express their understanding. Visual and thematic analyses of 274 student-generated memes revealed diverse perceptions of older persons: 168 memes (74%) challenged ageist stereotypes by incorporating more positive views of aging, while 59 memes (26%) reinforced existing ageist perceptions. The study offers methodological contributions, demonstrating the potential of meme creation as a way to capture nuances in students' perceptions of older age and ageism.