Stranger Things may be over, but the fans are keeping it alive with a whole lot of memes, including a drawing of Steve Harrington that's going viral across social media currently.

The caricature-like illustration has been taking over every corner of social media, from TikTok to X / Twitter and beyond, but many people are confused regarding what the meme is all about and why it's seemingly everywhere.

So, where does the Steve Harrington drawing come from, and how is it being used in memes? Here's what you need to know.

@inktheory08 It’s like watching the Mona Lisa being painted #steveharrington #foryoupage #trending #strangerthings5 #strangerthings ♬ original sound – Kai🌴 | 🌴ᴉɐꓘ

What Is The 'Steven Harrington Drawing' Meme?

The viral Steve Harrington drawing, which depicts actor Joe Keery in his most well-known role, originally comes from artist Ayisha Zeba, who posted it on her Instagram page back in early December 2025.

The drawing, featuring her distinct cartoon style, is based on a scene from the second episode of Stranger Things season five. It shows Steve, annoyed, driving the van while Dustin, with a bloody nose, sits in the passenger seat, and Jonathan sits in the back, tracking Hopper as he navigates the Upside Down.

The artwork gained hundreds of thousands of likes in under a month online and started spreading days after it was posted, mostly as a cropped reaction image that isolates Steve.

How Is The 'Steven Harrington Drawing' Used In Memes?

In late December 2025, the Steve Harrington drawing started inspiring memes on sites like TikTok. Mostly, it's used as a reaction image to convey annoyance, and can be found in the comment sections of videos on both TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Sometimes people use the original drawing of Steve, while others have created edits of the drawing that alter Steve to look like other popular characters and to reference brainrot memes, like the "I'm Crine" format.

On the more elaborate side of things, people are making edits that transition between the drawing and the original scene, making sure everyone knows that the emotion conveyed by Steve is very real and very relatable.

@nonyman_ Ts ain’t blowin up is it #fyp #steveharrington #meme ♬ original sound – Phantom

What Are Some More 'Steven Harrington Drawing' Memes?

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For the full history of the Steven Harrington Drawing meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.