The 'Don't Say You're a Fan If You Don't Know Who This Is' meme is a staple of internet gatekeeping culture, typically used to ironically challenge someone's dedication to a fandom. It features an image of a character or object—often intentionally obscure or completely unrelated—alongside a caption that demands recognition for 'true fan' status. Originally appearing on social media platforms like Twitter and Tumblr in the mid-2010s, the template transitioned from sincere fan-testing to a satirical tool for mocking elitism within communities. Today, it is frequently used to highlight deep-cut references or to create absurdist jokes by pairing the stern caption with nonsensical images of household items or minor historical figures.