Making fun of politiciansSomeone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country. has a long history. But whereas in the past, you had to draw, print and sell jokes in newspapers.

Today anyone can make a memeA funny image, video, text or idea etc that is shared quickly online. online in seconds. Some politicians want to try to use memes to help their general electionIn the UK, when an election is held for all 650 members of the House of Commons. One must take place every five years. campaigns.

Al the parties are spending serious money online. In the first week of the campaign the ConservativesA traditionally right-wing or centre right political party in the UK. Members are sometimes called Tories. spent more than £350,000 on social mediaSocial media is defined by websites, apps and social games that connect people to each other through the sharing of pictures, thoughts, ideas, articles, and other content. advertising, while LabourBritain's main left-of-centre political party. spent £1.2 million.

The real fight, however, is playing out on TikTokA Chinese social media company featuring short videos with one billion monthly users. . More than a quarter of teenagers get most of their news from TikTok.

Is the meme-ification of politics a good thing? Memes help make news more fun, meaning people might be more likely to pay attention - especially those who do not normally read the news.

But others say complexDifficult or complicated. issues should not be cut down to short videos. They say TikTok only makes people more divided.

Are we all mimics at heart?

Yes! Humans naturally love to mimicCopy. each other. We have been doing it for hundreds of years. TikTok is only the latest way to be a mimic.

No! People do not make memes because they like to mimic politicians, but because they want to show their anger or frustrationBeing upset or annoyed because a task is difficult to achieve. with modern politics.

Politicians - Someone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country.

Meme - A funny image, video, text or idea etc that is shared quickly online.

General election - In the UK, when an election is held for all 650 members of the House of Commons. One must take place every five years.

Conservatives - A traditionally right-wing or centre right political party in the UK. Members are sometimes called Tories.

Social media - Social media is defined by websites, apps and social games that connect people to each other through the sharing of pictures, thoughts, ideas, articles, and other content.

Labour - Britain's main left-of-centre political party.

TikTok - A Chinese social media company featuring short videos with one billion monthly users.

Complex - Difficult or complicated.

Mimic - Copy.

Frustration - Being upset or annoyed because a task is difficult to achieve.