What is the ‘Does He Know’ meme? Decode its meaning

The Does He Know meme has gone viral on social media (Image via r/TheBatmanFilm/Reddit)
The Does He Know meme has gone viral on social media (Image via r/TheBatmanFilm/Reddit)

The internet has a habit of creating memes out of ordinary statements that tend to go viral—the 'Does He Know' meme is one of the best examples of this phenomenon. The 'Does He Know' meme originally came from a YouTube video by the channel New Rockstars, which was exploring a conspiracy theory within the 2022 Batman movie.

However, the meme soon became immensely popular and is now used as common internet lingo where people use images to communicate with each other.

The meme originated from a screen grab of Paul Dano, who played The Riddler in the 2022 Batman remake. The context of the image was set in a YouTube video by the channel New Rockstars, which was exploring the conspiracy theory of whether The Riddler already knew that Bruce Wayne and Batman were the same person.

However, soon after, the channel released yet another such video with a scene from Marvel's Endgame, where Thanos is seen cooking something in a pot. The main theme explored in the video was questioning what Thanos could have been cooking in the frame.

Compiling several such frames, Tumblr user campyvillain made a collage that included The Riddler screen grab as well.

While the post became viral in itself, one specific image became viral on its own account—the image of Paul Dano captioned "Does He Know."

The image has since been used in many different contexts, primarily in a situation where somebody seems oblivious to something that is usually considered common knowledge.


The 'Does He Know' meme has become very popular in recent times

The meme garnered massive popularity after the compilation posted by Tumblr user campyvillain went viral and became a common image used in memes and responses by social media users, especially those on Twitter.

In fact, the meme became so popular over time that there was even the creation of a follow-up meme—He Knows.

Comment byu/Avoid_Fonzilla from discussion inBatmanArkham

The 'Does He Know' meme template is simply one of those that became popular on social media to be used for different kinds of banter. The meme's widespread use shows how internet culture can quickly create and spread new trends, adding humor and relatability to online interactions. Its versatility allows for endless variations and interpretations, making it a favorite among meme enthusiasts.

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Edited by Sangeeta Mathew