Image transcription: A GIF image of sad spunch bob with random PowerPoint-esque transitions. The caption reads: "LGBTQ+ tankies when the dictator they installed throws them in a gulag for 'sexual deviancy' rather than rewarding them for their efforts in the revolution". End transcription.
Why do people put image descriptions?
For blind users who also enjoy memes
They are also useful for people who still have sight when Lemmy is buggy and refuses to load images
Because blind people use software that reads the text of a webpage out to them audibly (or less commonly, through an RBD) but it can't read the text in an image, because it's not really "text" at all-- It's just pixels. So it'll just be like "uhh and there's a picture here, that's all I know."
So blind people would not be able to enjoy the meme, which tbh is mostly text-based anyway.