Everything You Need to Know About That Viral Caveman Spongebob Meme

It feels like every week, a new addictive trend is sweeping the internet. From Damn Daniel being "back at it again with the white Vans" to the Running Man Challenge, viral movements completely take over your social media feeds when they gain popularity. These days, the latest meme that's flooding Twitter, Imgur, Tumblr, and Facebook feeds is "Primitive Sponge" — a prehistoric ancestor of Spongebob Squarepants.

According to the Spongebob Squarepants fan-wiki (because of course that exists), Primitive Sponge only appears in one episode of the Nickelodeon cartoon, wherein he and prehistoric Patrick get lessons in jellyfishing from Squidward. However, it's one specific moment of the episode that has suddenly become meme-worthy:

Somehow, it seems that everyone on the internet relates to the surprised and frightened stance taken by Primitive Sponge in this split-second clip. Thus, Primitive Sponge has become the latest and greatest meme of 2016, usurping the likes of "Dat Boi" and Spongebob's very own boss, "Confused Mr. Krabs."

However, no meme exists without drama, and the mislabeling of Primitive Sponge gets some people heated. You see, there is another prehistoric sea sponge who appears on Spongebob named SpongeGar, and less educated memers have had the gall to toss the SpongeGar name around willy-nilly when discussing Primitive Sponge. The audacity. The gall! The OUTRAGE!!!

Luckily for us, there are knowledgeable Spongebob fans out there who set the record straight:

As you can see, the meme is fun, but proceed with caution — you don't want to accidentally offend the internet with your title. In case your Twitter isn't inundated with sponge memes, here are some of the most hilarious uses of Primitive Sponge for your enjoyment.

The meme can get really meta when used in other Spongebob contexts.

See?

Poor Primitive Sponge is so confused.

He applies to video games . . .

This election went from zero to 100 real quick.

The terror is real.

Let's hope it wasn't a sea bear.

(Unless you're wearing a sombrero in a jaunty fashion, of course.)

Sirens on the radio should be illegal.

Oh sh*t! Waddup, Dat Boi!

Primitive Sponge applies to Avatar: The Last Airbender . . .

. . . Or calculus class.

It's hard to keep up with the hip new memes.

And so do students working on group projects.

Slow test-takers relate to Primitive Sponge on a whole different level.

And so do siblings.

And, naturally, Instagram lurkers.

"Pass the salt, Daddy."

Even Spongebob's official account got in on the Primitive Sponge action!