The “They Don’t Know” meme taps into the universal experience of feeling out of place and misunderstood in social situations, and is a common way to express feelings of isolation and inadequacy. It’s also a humorous way to introduce your unknown accomplishments. Let’s take a closer look at the origins and spread of this relatable meme.
Origin of the “They Don’t Know” meme
The first form of this meme dates back to December 2009 and featured the character That Feel Guy, also known as Wojak.First uploaded to website sad and useless, the original image depicted Wojak feeling out of place at a party, with a caption expressing his desire to play video games at home. The image captured the discomfort and alienation many people experience in social situations, and resonated with introverts online who feel overwhelmed by social gatherings.
“They don’t know I’m napping.”
Reminded me of this meme lol pic.twitter.com/XOcgapiP8W— Wickedaesthetics (@mbadtk86) November 18, 2023
revival and evolution
The meme resurfaced in November 2020 and took on new life thanks to X (ex-Twitter) user @urmomlolroasted. An updated version featured Wojak still standing awkwardly at the party, but this time the caption read, “They don’t know I’m moderately popular on left-wing Twitter.”
The new captions poked fun at people who value their accomplishments online, even if those accomplishments have little or no relevance to real-life social scenarios. The meme quickly spread across social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit.
Variations on the “They Don’t Know” Meme
The meme’s simple format has allowed for wide adaptation. Users quickly interacted with it to reflect a variety of personal experiences, from having a semi-popular Instagram account to becoming adept at video game speedrunning.
These differences highlighted the ironic gap between online and offline recognition and performance. Some versions of the meme also showed versions of Wojak trying to explain his obscure music and movie tastes and other trivial cultural obsessions to others.
— Simplyn (@simplyn64) November 30, 2020
The loneliness of being extremely online
The “They Don’t Know” meme captures the feelings of loneliness and isolation that can arise among people whose entire world revolves around their online interactions. This points to the fact that while some people achieve significant achievements and popularity in the digital realm, these often do not translate into social currency in the real world. This meme humorously highlights this disconnect, offering a kind of solace and common understanding to those who feel unrecognized behind the screen.
reflect universal experience
The “they don’t know” meme is appealing because it reflects a universal human experience, and many people share these sentiments even if they are not openly discussed in social settings. It reminds me of what I’m doing. Whether you’re feeling out of place at a party, not getting recognition for your unique skills, or simply preferring the comforts of your hobbies to being with others, this meme is a great way to express superiority or being alone. It takes advantage of the common sentiment of liking.
The “They Don’t Know” meme proves how a simple image and caption can convey deeply relatable human experiences. It bridges the gap between the digital and physical worlds and highlights the humorous and ironic differences between what people consider important online and offline. This ever-evolving and widespread meme serves as a mirror to our increasingly online lives and a reminder of the challenges of trying to express our digital personas in the real world.
*First published: November 29, 2023 at 1:09pm CST
carlon spearman
Kahron Spearman is the community manager for the Daily Dot and Nautilus magazines. He is a journalist, copywriter, and host of KAZI 88.7’s “Discovery with Kahron Spearman.”
