The Goblin Cave meme originates from a popular and explicit Yaoi (Boys' Love) webseries and manga that became a viral sensation due to its shocking and intense content. It gained mainstream meme status as a 'trauma-core' reference, where users post reaction videos or images of themselves before and after discovering the series' graphic nature. Often used in 'if you know, you know' contexts, the meme highlights the specific aesthetic of the goblins and the protagonist, serving as a rite of passage for deep-web anime fans. Today, it is frequently used on TikTok and Twitter to joke about unexpected plot twists or the dark side of internet subcultures.