DOES HE KNOW MEME EXPLAINED
You are scrolling through social media and see someone post something really obvious. Then someone replies with a picture of The Riddler from The Batman movie looking confused, with big yellow text that says “DOES HE KNOW?”
You feel confused. Everyone else seems to get the joke, but you don’t. This image shows up everywhere – Twitter, TikTok, Reddit – and people act like everyone should understand what it means.
Well You’re not alone. Millions of people see this meme daily without knowing its story or how to use it properly.
The “Does He Know?” meme is actually simple. People use this reaction image to point out when someone states something extremely obvious or misses common knowledge. Think of it as a polite way to say “Wait, you really didn’t know that already?”
Lessons in Meme Culture explain exactly how this meme started, why it became so popular, and how people use it today.
A Batman YouTube Thumbnail Accidentally Became Internet’s Favorite Reaction
The meme began with a YouTube video about Batman. The creators never planned to make a meme – it happened by accident.
On March 7, 2022, the YouTube channel New Rockstars uploaded a video called “The Batman: Does Riddler Actually KNOW Batman = Bruce?” Erik Voss and Jessica Clemons run this channel. They make videos about movie theories and superhero content.
Their team needed an eye-catching thumbnail for their Batman theory video. They grabbed a screenshot of The Riddler (actor Paul Dano) looking worried and confused from The Batman movie. Then they added big yellow letters saying “DOES HE KNOW?” over the image.
This wasn’t meant to be funny or viral. They just wanted people to click on their Batman video and watch their theory.
The video worked well. It reached 854,000 views by late 2022. But something unexpected happened. People started noticing that the thumbnail image itself was hilarious, even without watching the actual video.
The accidental meme was born.
The New Rockstars team had no idea their simple thumbnail would become one of the most recognizable reaction images on the internet.
People Started Stealing This Thumbnail Because It Was Hilarious (Early Spread Across Social Media Platforms)
Fans quickly realized the thumbnail had serious meme potential. By May 2022, people started saving and sharing just that image, completely ignoring the original Batman video.
The first major breakthrough happened on May 1, 2022. A Tumblr user named campyvillain posted a collection of New Rockstars thumbnails, including the Riddler screenshot. That Tumblr post gained over 15,000 likes within six months. This proved that people connected with the image on its own.
Users began posting the Riddler picture with “DOES HE KNOW?” as a standalone reaction image. They used it to respond to tweets, comments, and posts where someone stated obvious information or missed something everyone else knew.
Early usage was small but steady. On May 21, 2022, a Twitter user quietly used the image in a reply and got about 20 likes by the end of the year. But everything changed on June 26, 2022.
That day marked the real turning point.
One Artist’s Tweet Made This Meme Explode Across Twitter
June 26, 2022 changed everything for this meme.
@SohSketch, a popular Twitter artist known for anime drawings, replied to a tweet using the Riddler “DOES HE KNOW?” image. This artist had a large, engaged following, so their tweet reached thousands of people instantly.
The results were immediate and massive. Within just one week, that single tweet received approximately 490 retweets and 27,500 likes.
After @SohSketch’s viral tweet, the meme appeared everywhere. Twitter feeds filled with people using it as a quick reply. Tumblr dashboards showed it constantly. Reddit users joined the trend. The bright yellow text on the dark movie scene made it perfect for catching attention and spreading quickly.
The meme had officially gone viral.
People started using it in three main ways:
- Replying to obvious statements (“I just learned that water is wet!”)
- Pointing out missed common knowledge (“Did you know the sun is hot?”)
- Gently teasing naive comments (“Breaking news: dogs are animals!”)
We All Know That Feeling When Someone States the Obvious
The “Does He Know?” meme taps into a universal human experience: frustration with someone who doesn’t understand obvious things.
Everyone has been in situations where someone points out information that seems basic or common knowledge. This meme captures that exact moment of surprise or gentle teasing. When someone online says something naive or obvious, others reply with Riddler’s confused face and “DOES HE KNOW?” to express “Wait, you really didn’t know that?”
The meme works because of three perfect elements:
- Riddler’s ideal expression – Paul Dano’s puzzled, slightly confused look matches the sarcastic tone perfectly
- Simple, bold text – The bright yellow letters grab attention immediately and are easy to read
- Universal relatability – Everyone understands the feeling of being surprised by someone’s lack of knowledge
The format became a playful way to call out obvious statements without being directly rude. Instead of typing “That’s common knowledge,” people could just post the meme.
Real examples of how people use it:
- Someone tweets “I just learned that honey never expires!” → Does he know? reply
- A person posts “Did you know the Great Wall of China is really long?” → Does he know? reply
- Someone says “Water makes things wet” like it’s breaking news → Does he know? reply
Internet culture experts note that this format essentially asks whether someone knows a fact that everyone else already knows. It’s highly shareable because obvious moments happen constantly on social media.
Obviously People Had to Make Their Own Versions
Creative fans immediately started making variations of the original meme. The most popular remix flipped the message completely.
Instead of asking “DOES HE KNOW?”, people captioned the same Riddler image with “HE KNOWS.” This version signals “Actually, he does understand” or “He figured it out.”
Popular variation formats include:
- Two-panel memes: First panel “DOES HE KNOW?”, second panel “HE KNOWS”
- Pronoun changes: “Does she know?” for different contexts
- Character swaps: Using different movie characters with the same text style
- Scenario-specific versions: Adapting the text for specific fandoms or situations
One clever example referenced the Greek tragedy Oedipus: “When Oedipus marries his mother – DOES HE KNOW?” followed by “When he blinds himself – HE KNOWS.” This showed how people could use the format to tell complete stories.
The meme’s simplicity made it an “exploitable template” – a basic pattern that anyone could modify. Online meme generators like Imgflip and smartphone apps made creating variations easy. People built on each other’s ideas, keeping the format fresh and engaging.
The constant remixing helped the meme stay relevant longer than typical viral content.
The Internet Loved That Brands Didn’t Ruin This One
The “Does He Know?” meme remained primarily within internet culture. Unlike some memes that brands adopt for marketing campaigns, major companies didn’t use this one in advertisements.
The meme stayed controversy-free and caused no significant problems. It existed as a fan-driven phenomenon without corporate interference or mainstream media drama.
The meme remained a niche phenomenon – well-known among meme enthusiasts and Batman fans but not mainstream enough for television or major news coverage.
This actually helped its authenticity. People could use it without feeling like they were participating in corporate marketing.
You’ll Still See It on TikTok But It’s Not Trending (Current Status and Popularity Today)
By mid-2024, the “Does He Know?” meme is no longer exploding in popularity, but it hasn’t disappeared completely.
Current usage patterns show:
- Occasional appearances in Twitter replies
- Regular use in TikTok videos (millions of clips use the hashtag #DoesHeKnow)
- References in meme compilation videos
- Active usage in Batman fan communities
The meme peaked in late 2022. Google Trends and meme-tracking sites show that searches and posts about it have decreased significantly since then, though usage never dropped to zero.
Geographic spread remains limited mainly to English-speaking countries, particularly the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK. This makes sense because it originated from an English YouTube video about an American movie. Little evidence exists of it spreading to non-English speaking communities or being translated into other languages.
The meme now exists as a quiet part of internet culture – available in meme generators like Imgflip and occasionally discovered by new users browsing Batman content or meme archives.
Meet the Creators Who Never Meant to Make Meme (People Behind the Viral Success)
Original Creators:
- Erik Voss and Jessica Clemons – New Rockstars YouTube channel owners who created the original thumbnail
- New Rockstars production team – Chose the Riddler image and added the distinctive text
Viral Spreaders:
- @SohSketch – Twitter artist whose June 2022 tweet caused the viral explosion
- campyvillain – Tumblr user who helped popularize it with an early compilation post
Community Documentarians:
- Know Your Meme editors – Tracked and recorded the meme’s development in real-time
- The Daily Dot journalists – Covered its rise in mainstream internet culture coverage
The New Rockstars team created the meme accidentally while promoting their Batman theory video. They deserve credit for the original concept, even though they never intended it to become a viral internet joke.
After the initial creation, the meme became a true community effort. Thousands of users across Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, TikTok, and other platforms used and remixed it. No single person controlled its spread – it succeeded because many people found it useful and funny.
You can still watch the original New Rockstars video that started everything, though most people now know the thumbnail better than the actual Batman theory content.
This Meme Will Probably Just Slowly Fade Away
Predicting any meme’s future is difficult, but “Does He Know?” appears to be in gradual decline.
The meme had its peak moment in summer 2022, then settled into quieter, occasional usage. It lacks the universal appeal needed to become a permanent internet classic like some longer-lasting memes.
Possible future scenarios include:
- Slow fade: Gradual decrease in usage until it becomes purely nostalgic
- Occasional revivals: Brief comebacks during Batman movie releases or meme nostalgia periods
- Template inspiration: The “Does X know? / He knows” format might inspire new memes with different images
- Archive status: Permanent residence in meme databases and generators for occasional use
The simple phrase structure “Does X know? / He knows” is memorable enough that the concept might outlive the specific Riddler image. Future meme creators might use the format with different pictures or contexts.
However, the original Riddler version will likely remain a specific artifact of 2022 internet culture rather than achieving timeless status like some classic memes.
Here’s Exactly How a Random Thumbnail Took Over Twitter (Complete Timeline of Key Events)
Creation and Early Discovery:
- March 7, 2022: New Rockstars uploads Batman video with Riddler thumbnail
- May 1, 2022: campyvillain’s Tumblr post gains 15,000+ likes in six months
- May 21, 2022: Early Twitter usage begins with small engagement numbers
The Viral Explosion Period:
- June 26, 2022: @SohSketch’s tweet gets 490 retweets and 27,500 likes in one week
- Summer 2022: Peak usage across all major social media platforms
- Late 2022: Original New Rockstars video reaches 854,000 views
Platform Spread Details:
- Primary platforms: Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, TikTok, Instagram
- Geographic reach: Mainly English-speaking countries (US, Canada, UK, Australia)
- User demographics: Primarily Gen Z and young millennials (ages 16-30)
- Current status: Millions of TikTok videos still use #DoesHeKnow hashtag
Popular Variations and Remixes:
- “HE KNOWS” – Most popular variation flipping the original message
- “Does she know?” – Gender-swapped versions for different contexts
- Two-panel formats – Question and answer combinations telling stories
- Character swaps – Different movie/TV images with same text format
Media Coverage Timeline:
- Know Your Meme comprehensive documentation
- The Daily Dot trend analysis and cultural impact pieces
- Various meme-tracking website entries and user submissions
- No major brand adoption or mainstream media usage attempts
Key Performance Statistics:
- Original video: 854,000+ views by late 2022
- Viral tweet: 490 retweets, 27,500 likes in one week
- Tumblr post: 15,000+ likes in six months
- TikTok: Millions of videos with related hashtags
- Peak period: Summer 2022 (June-August)
- Current status: Declining but persistent usage across platforms
Key lessons from its viral success:
- Accidental virality works – The creators never intended to make a meme
- Visual appeal drives sharing – Bright, contrasting text on a memorable image
- Universal emotions connect globally – Taps into common feelings of surprise or gentle frustration
- Simple formats spread faster – Easy to understand and reproduce across languages
- Community adoption creates longevity – Users made it their own through variations and remixes
The meme shows how a single YouTube thumbnail can become a widespread cultural reference. It demonstrates the incredible speed at which internet content can spread and evolve when it truly resonates with users.
For internet culture researchers, this meme provides a clear example of how visual templates spread across platforms and communities. It shows the critical importance of both original creators and community adopters in viral success.
For everyday internet users, understanding this meme helps decode a common reaction image that appears across social media. Knowing its origin and meaning prevents confusion when encountering it in comments and replies.
For content creators, the meme’s success story reveals how unintentional content can sometimes perform better than carefully planned viral attempts. The New Rockstars team created something authentic that people genuinely found useful.
The “Does He Know?” meme will be remembered as a perfect example of 2022 internet humor – a time when Batman movie content, sarcastic reactions, and visual meme templates dominated social media culture.
The meme captures a specific moment in internet history when users craved quick, visual ways to express common frustrations and observations. Its success reflects the broader trend of movie screenshots becoming essential communication tools in digital conversations.
Whether it achieves lasting fame or gradually fades into internet history, the “Does He Know?” meme successfully served its purpose: giving millions of people a fun, recognizable way to point out obvious moments in online discussions.
Most importantly, it proves that the best memes often come from the most unexpected places – like a simple YouTube thumbnail about Batman theories that accidentally became a global communication tool.
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