An Internet meme is a hijacking of the original idea. Instead of mutating by random change and spreading by a form of Darwinian selection, Internet memes are altered deliberately by human creativity. There is no attempt at accuracy of copying, as with genes - and as with memes in their original version.

The quote by Richard Dawkins, "An Internet meme is a hijacking of the original idea...", reflects his critical yet insightful view on how memes have evolved in the digital age. Dawkins, a renowned evolutionary biologist, originally coined the term "meme" in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, where he used it to describe units of cultural transmission—ideas, behaviors, or styles that spread within a culture, similar to how genes propagate through biological evolution. In this quote, he contrasts traditional memes with Internet memes, highlighting a fundamental shift in how ideas evolve online.

According to Dawkins, Internet memes differ from their original definition because they are intentionally and rapidly altered by human creativity, rather than evolving through a slow process of natural selection. Unlike genetic replication, which relies on accurate copying, online memes are often remixed, parodied, or transformed to serve new contexts, jokes, or social commentary. This deliberate modification breaks away from the biological metaphor he originally proposed, turning meme evolution into a dynamic act of participatory culture.

He uses the term “hijacking” to suggest that the Internet has repurposed the concept of a meme, taking it from a scientific framework and placing it in a realm dominated by virality, humor, and mass communication. In doing so, the mechanics of spread become less about survival of the fittest idea and more about entertainment value, relatability, or shock factor. The meme's value, in this sense, lies not in its fidelity to the original but in its flexibility and adaptability.

Ultimately, this quote underscores Dawkins’ observation that digital culture has reshaped the way ideas are transmitted and transformed. While the core concept of a meme—an idea that spreads—remains intact, the Internet has radically changed the rules of its propagation, shifting the focus from accuracy and replication to innovation and reinterpretation.