As a relatively new kind of media format, "listicles", or articles like this one that are numbered lists with images, have been getting a lot of criticism. Some might even say that they will lead to the destruction of civilization. And while listicles might not be as beneficial to the world as penicillin, they do have their upsides. Here are 5 reasons why listicles aren't the end of the world.

1. They're fun

Listicles are usually meant to be lighthearted and non-serious. In a world where we're constantly inundated with stories of all the terrible things going on in the world, sometimes it's nice to unwind with something less cataclysmic. So please excuse me if I'd rather read "A Definitive Ranking Of The Cutest Puppies" over another article about the end of days.

2. They're unpretentious

The great thing about listicles is that anyone can make them about any subject. You don't need to spend ages figuring out how to sound super academic and relevant. No listicle is going to save humanity, so you don't have to worry about seeming too silly. And hey, they might even sharpen your GIF making skills.

3. They help us focus on important points

From the time that we start writing essays and papers in school, we're taught to write down our important points during our pre-writing. And then, we figure out ways to make it all sound really good and add in the appropriate amount of necessary filler here and there so it hits our word count. Examples, counter-claims, references, and additional interpretation are great in a lot of situations, but when you just want the basics, listicles literally have the main points bolded and numbered for you. And when you need concise information, it doesn't get any easier than that.

4. They are creative

Listicles provide people with a creative outlet that they might not otherwise have. They're easy to make and combination of concise text and images creates an experience unlike that of other platforms. The same way that poetry can be used to express emotions or blogs and articles can disseminate new ideas, who's to say that listicles can't be used to help someone release their own thoughts?

5. Oftentimes they serve a higher purpose

Listicles might not be the most sophisticated medium of writing. However they do form an essential part of the traffic to sites like Buzzfeed and Cracked, allowing them to participate in "higher" forms of journalism; just this past week Buzzfeed sat down and interviewed President Barack Obama, something that would have seemed very unlikely given their history as a popular quiz and listicle sight. Ultimately listicles are a convenient way to capitalize on ad revenue from website traffic that helps subsidize what listicle-haters might call "real" content.