The "Iceberg levels of knowledge" meme takes inspiration from the classic iceberg metaphor, which suggests that the majority of information or complexity lies beneath the surface, hidden from plain sight. This visual is divided into layers, starting with the tip of the iceberg above water, which is simple and clear, and descending into deeper, darker, and more complex layers. The stick figures featured in the meme transform from happy and simple at the top to increasingly disturbed and monstrous as they descend, reflecting the psychological impact of delving deeper into a topic. The meme gained traction for its humorous yet profound visualization of how deeper exploration often reveals unsettling truths, much like peeling back layers of an iceberg.