Hernández, M. A., & Bautista, P. S. (2023). The Renewal of the Webcomic in the Era of Platformization: The Case of 9Gag on Instagram. Social Media+ Society, 9(4), https://doi.org/10.1177/205630512312036.

Hernández and Bautista (2023) discussed the significance of webcomics in engaging and connecting with contemporary digital audiences and the role of social media platforms, like 9Gag on Instagram, as connectors and catalysts for community building. Instagram, widely popular among millennials and Generation Z, emerged as a valuable platform for creators to present their work. Webcomics, particularly those featuring humour and memetic content, illustrate a form of satire that is quickly consumed and easily shared on platforms like 9Gag. The analysis suggested that this type of webcomic remains appealing to the new generation of users.

Indeed, social media transformed the landscape of webcomics in various ways, influencing both the creation and consumption of this form of digital art. I agree that platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter offer interactive features that foster a relationship between creators and their audiences. This interaction allows consumers to actively engage through comments, likes, and shares, creating a community where discussions, suggestions, and emotional connections build. Social media facilitates community building among audiences and creators, sustaining long-term reader interest and loyalty. The increased reader loyalty translates into more site visits and merchandise sales and, more importantly, provides crucial support during challenges such as art theft or copyright violations (Dowthwaite et al., 2018). Moreover, the real-time feedback from consumers becomes a source of inspiration for creators, influencing future content and fostering a collaborative creative process. The interactive nature of social media enables creators to refine their work based on audience preferences, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.

Furthermore, I believe it would be beneficial for library professionals to incorporate webcomics and images with memetic content as a way to attract a younger audience and reshape their perception of libraries. Engaging with the youth has been a persistent challenge for libraries, and leveraging memes, including in the form of webcomics, presents a bright solution. However, it is crucial to ensure that incorporating memes into the library’s social media strategy aligns with broader goals, such as encouraging sharing, creating community engagement, and guiding individuals to the library or its website to fulfil their specific needs; otherwise, it becomes a mere distracting novelty (Woodworth, 2018). Many library memes can be found online, including a dedicated Instagram account, @the_memeing_librarian, boasting 20.3k followers.  A librarian at the University of North Florida successfully utilized popular online memes to engage with students on social media (UNF Newsroom, 2021). While webcomics are still a relatively new method for reaching new users in GLAM sectors, this article sheds light on these issues and illustrates the attractiveness of webcomics for young audiences.

Dowthwaite, L., Houghton, R., & Mortier, R. (2015). Fame or Function? How webcomic artists choose where to share. In S. Sharples, S. Shorrock, & P. Waterson (Eds.), Contemporary Ergonomics and Human Factors 2015 (pp. 355–362), Taylor & Francis.

Woodworth, A. (2018). My body is ready: Best practices for using memes on library social media. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 58(2), 87-90. https://doi.org/10.5860/rusq.58.2.6928 

UNF Newsroom. (2021). UNF librarian utilizes popular online memes to engage with students on social media. University of North Florida. https://www.unf.edu/newsroom/2021/08/Librarian_utilizes_memes.html