If you’ve spent any time online, you’ve likely encountered this creepy question alongside a sketch of a bald, bushy-eyebrowed man with a neutral, almost unsettling expression. The urban legend claims thousands worldwide have dreamed of the same mysterious figure—sometimes helpful, sometimes ominous.
But is “This Man” real? Or the ultimate internet hoax? In 2025, this 2008 phenomenon still circulates on TikTok, Reddit, and X as a meme template and sleep paralysis fuel. This complete guide uncovers the truth, origins, cultural impact, and why it endures.
The Legend: Who Is “This Man”?
The story begins in January 2006: A New York psychiatrist’s patient sketches a man who repeatedly appears in her dreams, giving life advice despite never meeting him. The doctor shows the portrait to other patients—four more recognize him as a recurring dream figure.
By 2008, the website thisman.org launched, claiming over 2,000 people from cities like Los Angeles, Berlin, São Paulo, and Tehran had seen “This Man.” Theories range from archetypal subconscious figure to divine messenger or dream parasite.
The portrait: A middle-aged man with thick eyebrows, thin lips, receding hairline, and blank stare. Flyers urged sharing if spotted in dreams.
The Truth: A Masterful Hoax Revealed
In 2010, the mystery cracked: Andrea Natella, Italian marketer and founder of Guerriglia Marketing, admitted creating the entire phenomenon as a viral/social experiment.
- How it worked: Natella designed the site, portrait (based on a stock-like face for generic recognition), and fake testimonials.
- Purpose: Test suggestion power—planting the image makes people “dream” it (or believe they have).
- Success: Went mega-viral pre-social media boom, inspiring theories from Jungian archetypes to alien visitation.
Vice called it “Inception with memes.” Even post-reveal, people report “seeing” him—proving the suggestion’s strength.
Why It Went Viral & Endures in 2025
- Psychological Hook: Dreams feel personal/mysterious; shared “entity” taps collective unconscious fears.
- Pre-Social Media Era: Spread via forums, emails, early YouTube—perfect creepypasta.
- Meme Evolution: Became template for jokes (“Have you seen this man? It’s me after no sleep”).
- 2025 Revival: TikTok “dream challenges” and Reddit threads keep it alive; new gens discover as “real” mystery.
Influenced manga (This Man, 2018) and proposed (canceled) horror film by Ghost House Pictures.
The Face: Why So Recognizable?
The portrait’s generic features (thick brows, neutral expression) trigger familiarity—pareidolia or “every-man” effect. Cover half the face; it changes dramatically, explaining varying descriptions.
Cultural Impact & Spin-Offs
- Memes: Endless edits with celebrities or characters.
- Creepypasta Influence: Prototype for Slenderman-style shared horrors.
- Psychology Lessons: Demonstrates suggestion/implantation in memory/dreams.
Even knowing it’s fake, the unease lingers—power of a good hoax!
Conclusion
“Have you seen this man in your dreams?” is a brilliant 2008 marketing hoax by Andrea Natella that exploited dream mystery and viral spread. In 2025, it endures as meme gold and cautionary tale about belief/online suggestion.
FAQs
Is “This Man” real?
No—confirmed hoax by Andrea Natella in 2010.
Why do people still “see” him?
Power of suggestion: Seeing the image primes the brain to incorporate it into dreams or memories.
Where did the face come from?
Created digitally/stock-inspired for generic recognizability.
Has anyone really dreamed of him before the website?
No credible evidence—hoax started the reports.
Is the website still up?
Yes, thisman.org remains as archived curiosity.
Any movies or books?
Manga series (2018-2019); proposed horror film canceled.
Why is it creepy?
Uncanny valley + dream invasion fear.
Stephanie is the creative mind behind MagazinesNews.com, bringing readers insightful articles on Meaning, AI, Business, Health, Lifestyle, and Technology in a clear, engaging way.
