As a new meme enters the social network, it absorbs bandwidth from existing memes.
If it spawns new memes, the network allocates more bandwidth to them and there is a measurable diffraction.
Diffraction is directly proportional to cultural acceptance.
Alternatively, if the meme encounters social rejection, it sinks like a stone into an icy, black pool of water, barely raising a ripple.
We can measure diffraction by comparing two time-series:The first series shows the magnitude of the new meme, i.e. "Pope + Death"
The second series shows the existing meme "Pope", minus the elements of the first series
The second series shows us diffraction ( new "non-Death" Pope-related memes ) such as:
The new pope should be Cardinal Jones
Do you remember the pope's last speech?
This pope was an effective leader
Diffraction can be a measure of potential disruption.
We can measure diffraction by comparing two time-series:
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Pope's death caused diffraction... 
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but SARS virus sinks without causing a ripple. 
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