Presentation Internet Memes and Gender: A Pragmatic Analysis of Meme Use Among Saudi Male and Female EFL Undergraduate Students more

This study examined gender-based differences in the use of internet memes among 150 EFL undergraduate students (75 male and 75 female). It investigated how memes were used in everyday communication, with particular attention to their pragmatic functions and cultural relevance. Data were collected via a questionnaire. The findings suggest that both male and female participants frequently used memes in private conversations with family and friends, mainly for humorous purposes. However, gender differences emerged: male students tended to use memes more for entertainment and satire, while female students more often used them to express emotions such as sadness, anger, love, and hate. In contrast, male participants used memes to express joy and happiness more frequently than their female counterparts. Most students felt comfortable using memes from various cultures, although a few expressed concern about potential misinterpretation. These findings indicate that internet memes function as meaningful tools for pragmatic and intercultural expression among EFL learners. The study suggests that incorporating memes into language learning can enhance students’ digital literacy, intercultural competence, and pragmatic awareness. It concludes with pedagogical recommendations for integrating meme-based tasks into CALL classrooms and encourages further research on digital discourse practices across different age groups and educational contexts.