Integrating Memes: Enhancing Education with Pop Culture A Systematic Literature Review

Literature shows that the utilization of internet memes as educational tools is rising, driven by students' preferences for learning methods aligned with their digital-native identities. Employing a systematic review based on the PRISMA methodology, 35 scientific articles were analyzed to identify the academic disciplines where memes are predominantly used, as well as the associated benefits, and challenges. The findings indicate that memes are most applied in linguistics (31.43%), medicine (28.57%), education (14.29%), and engineering (5.71 %). Memes offer several pedagogical advantages, including enhanced engagement, increased motivation, emotional relief, feedback provision, and the promotion of critical thinking. However, these benefits are accompanied by significant challenges, such as the need for teacher training, the potential spread of misinformation, varying student preferences, and the time-intensive nature of meme integration. The study contributes to existing knowledge by mapping the current state of meme usage in education and setting the foundation for future research to address challenges and enhance their effectiveness as instructional tools. © 2024 IEEE.