Factual corrections cannot undo reputational damage once a meme spreads.

Evidence

Although an online meme dictionary has officially archived the trajectory of this meme as the “Ugly Children Lawsuit Hoax,” detailing the truth behind the image and the unfolding of events, her public image and reputation have not been redeemed – Yeh’s pleas have not received as extensive attention as her meme narrative. Instead, the meme continues to circulate and further solidify the internet infamy from which Yeh is struggling to detach herself. — Crystal Abidin, Internet Celebrity, 183

Categorization

• XREF: Parallels the general finding that debunking rarely reverses reputational harm, familiar from misinformation research. — connects to: Becoming a meme erases the person’s context and identity markers — Crystal Abidin, Internet Celebrity: Understanding Fame…, 164; Some viral faces become unwilling memes who reject their fame. — Crystal Abidin, Internet Celebrity: Understanding Fame…, 175; Viral meme fame can be non-consensual, damaging, and unmanageable by the subject. — Crystal Abidin, Internet Celebrity: Understanding Fame…, 182 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Confirmation bias and inertia make reputations resistant to disconfirming evidence #corroborates (0.82)
• Reputation enforcement can override apology when an offense becomes publicly known. #corroborates (0.80) — Lisa Bernestein, Opting out of the Legal System, 89