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#WOTY2012

Posted by: | November 20, 2012 | No Comment |

Oxford Dictionaries USA Word of the Year 2012 is ‘to GIF’ | OxfordWords blog.

 

Gif is the word of the year, according to Oxford Dictionaries USA.

And yes, it is a real word.

Used as a verb to create a gif file, this word subsequently created an internet craze involving memes. Everything from ‘gangnam style’ to the presidential debates had a meme online this past year, which used the gif file type.

Although gifs have been around for over 20 years now, its popularity skyrocketed via social media.

Gifs are not a new technology, but a new internet craze.

Gifs have become such a staple of communication that major media outlets are recognizing this cult phenomenon. Newsweek complied a list of the ten best memes from the vice presidential debate.

Gifs have brought new meaning to ‘going viral’.

 

 

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