Around the time I joined reddit, I came across some post discussing these types of memes. The poster seemed pretty knowledgable about the topic and it was actually neat but scary.
From what I remember, these types of memes come from a cycle like this:
it starts with a teenager who equates "self-worth" with popular (not uncommon) so, they'll add literally anyone they can on FB. Friend of a friend liked your friends comment? ...Add!
It's super easy for young boys, especially girls, to rack up 1,000+ friends on FB easily. So if popularity is actually a percentage, and 5% of your friends like a post...at 1,000 friends that's an easy 50 people.
Then come the bandwagon likes. 50 people might have actually liked it, but now the post has 50+ likes...so it must be popular. So I should like it too. Now we're getting close to 100 likes...or more.
Every now and then a few teens will have 3,000+ friends. Now 5% is 150 likes, and the bandwagon likes brings it closer to 200 or more.
That profile is likely to catch the eye of someone who's ready to make some easy money.
Teens are good at having lots of FB friends but bad at making passwords. The 'hacker' either guesses or easily social engineers their way into their account. From there, it's a deliberate building of the network to get 3,000+ friends to 10,000 or more. The posts will stay somewhat in line, not to go of the deep end yet..but once they build up a reasonable network, it's time to really start pushing these memes. Any meme. Don't like Jesus? ignore this post but remember if you deny me... wanna save this cat? like this post. Like, Share, comment. Just flat out telling you to share the meme that has been shared for the sake of sharing it.
But each time you do, your name is attached. To every like, to every comment, to every share. You can look at individual likes and check their profiles. From their profile, you can access photos they're sharing, find out who they're friends with, what photos they have, where they are...lots of information. And information is valuable.
These accounts are rapidly build then sold. If I recall, an account with 15,000 connections/friends is worth a few grand. Some of the larger ones go for $10,000+. Give it a go, explore the "likes." see what info is available about a complete stranger, it's almost freaky what people are willing to display about themselves.
TL:DR/Lesson learned. If you really want to share a meme, save the picture then post it from your pics. It keeps the pic to your network of friends and off other peoples radars. Lock down your profile.