ABSTRACT
In this article, we examine the myriad ways comics harness emergent social media tools and these online platforms impact the production, exchange, and consumption of humor. Review of popular media, interviews, and scholarship yielded three important themes. (1) The comedy industry is in flux, but this is in no way a new phenomenon. (2) There are multiple uses of social media and how comics use these media tools often hinges on their intent and status. To illustrate this, we describe the six most prominent uses of social media. (3) The substance of humor remains fairly consistent in content and style of delivery but social media is giving rise to tribalism among likeminded comedy fans, which has an impact on audience composition and the content of comedy. We conclude by warning against any preemptive celebrations of the Internet and social media as democratizing forces that challenge existing social hierarchies.
