Cyber Sensitive Humour The Hypersensitive Experience of Internet Humour during Crisis
How is internet humour used to cope with crises?
Global uncertainty and the omnipresence of the internet have created a VERY laid-back generation. They only care about three things: every person on earth, the earth itself and the crushing psychological weight of being alive. :)
In this dislocated environment caused by the online overload, young and digital-savvy generations (‘cyber youth’) are confronted with global issues, trust problems and constant reflexivity followed by anxiety. An effective communication tool for addressing this crisis overload is humour. Humour is a cultural institution within society that promotes social awareness and tackles taboos. Currently, cyber youth are using humour to reframe
social issues online, such as political correctness, stigmas about mental health, or dealing with a pandemic and climate change. In their engagement with world events, they tend toward dark and absurd humour utilising their own symbols and signs, which are transmitted through the thriving meme culture by participation.
Cyber Sensitive Humour is a trend report that illustrates youthful humour in digital culture as a consciousness-raising aid during crisis. Adopting a sociological approach towards humour-centred design, it provides insights into humorous coping strategies, humour shifts currently taking place in society, and the digital aesthetic spheres influenced by meme culture.
