# Scp 096 > SCP-096, created by Dr Dan in 2010 for the SCP Foundation wiki, is a tall pale humanoid that flies into murderous rage whenever anyone views its face, even through photographs or video. SCP-096, commonly called "The Shy Guy," is a fictional monster from the SCP Foundation collaborative writing project. Created in 2010 by author Dr Dan, SCP-096 is a tall, pale humanoid that flies into a murderous rage whenever anyone sees its face, even through a photograph or video recording. The concept became one of the SCP universe's most iconic entries and a major source of memes, especially after its inclusion in the *SCP – Containment Breach* video game in 2012. ## Origin On March 17, 2010, SCP Foundation Wiki user Dr Dan published the entry for SCP-096[4]. The article described a humanoid anomaly originally classified as Euclid/Keter before settling on Euclid class[4]. Dr Dan also wrote the companion piece "Incident 096-1-A," which introduced the concept of "four pixels," a scenario where someone views SCP-096's face in a mountain photograph where its face occupies just four pixels in the background, and is still hunted down and killed[7]. This detail became one of the most discussed aspects of the entry, hammering home the idea that no amount of distance or obscurity protects you once you've seen the face. The SCP Foundation itself launched in 2008 as a wiki-based collaborative writing project[5]. Within this framework, the Foundation is a secret organization that captures and contains paranormal anomalies while hiding their existence from the public[5]. SCP-096 arrived relatively early in the project's history and quickly ranked among the community's favorite entries alongside SCP-173 (the concrete statue that moves when you blink) and SCP-106 (the corrosive old man)[4]. - **Platform:** SCP Wiki (scp-wiki.wikidot.com) - **Creator:** Dr Dan (SCP Wiki author) - **Date:** 2010 ## Overview SCP-096 is a Euclid-class anomalous entity in the SCP Foundation's shared fiction universe. Standing 2.38 meters tall with an emaciated frame, unnaturally long arms, pale skin devoid of pigmentation, and the ability to open its jaw four times wider than a normal human, SCP-096 cuts a disturbing figure[4]. The creature's defining trait is its extreme reaction to being observed. When any living person views SCP-096's face, whether directly, through a photograph, or via video footage, it enters a state of intense distress, screaming and crying for roughly one to two minutes before sprinting toward the viewer at speeds exceeding 35 km/h[6]. Upon reaching the target, SCP-096 kills them without exception[4]. Artistic depictions of its face, however, do not trigger this response[6]. The entry is written in the SCP Foundation's signature style: a mock-clinical containment document describing procedures for keeping the entity secured. Wikipedia describes SCP-096 as suffering from "intense scopophobia," a fear of being looked at, which makes the creature both pitiable and terrifying[5]. ## How It Spread SCP-096's popularity grew steadily through the early 2010s as the SCP Foundation community expanded, but its biggest visibility boost came from video games. On November 29, 2012, SCP-096 was added to *SCP – Containment Breach* in the game's version 0.6 update[4]. The game, developed by Regalis, is a first-person horror experience set during a containment failure at an SCP facility[3]. In the game, SCP-096 wanders the Heavy Containment Zone and will chase and kill the player if they view its face, making for some genuinely terrifying gameplay moments[2]. The game also gave SCP-096 its recognizable scream sound effect, which triggers the moment the player sees its face[4]. *SCP – Containment Breach* became a popular title among horror gaming YouTubers and streamers, exposing SCP-096 to audiences far beyond the original wiki community. The game went through dozens of updates over the years, each adding new SCPs and mechanics[3]. As SCP culture grew on Reddit, SCP-096 became a staple of meme communities. The subreddit r/DankMemesFromSite19 turned into a hub for SCP memes, and SCP-096 ranked among the most frequently referenced entries alongside SCP-173 and SCP-106[4]. Common joke formats involved the absurdity of the "four pixels" rule, the futility of running from SCP-096, and parodies of the containment procedures. Urban Dictionary entries for SCP-096 reflect how deeply the character penetrated internet culture, with users writing both straightforward definitions and tongue-in-cheek ones like calling SCP-096 "a very pretty entity that you should look at"[6]. ## How to Use SCP-096 memes generally work in a few established formats: - **"Don't look at it" jokes:** Situations where someone accidentally sees SCP-096's face and the punchline is their inevitable doom. Often played as relatable content ("when you accidentally make eye contact with someone you know at the store, except it's SCP-096"). - **Four pixels format:** Referencing the lore detail that even four pixels of SCP-096's face in a photograph is enough to trigger it. Used to joke about absurdly small or barely visible things. - **Object labeling:** SCP-096 labeled as something that punishes you for looking at it (a bad grade, an embarrassing photo, your bank account). - **Containment Breach gameplay clips:** Sharing moments from the game where SCP-096 suddenly appears or catches the player, often with exaggerated reactions. The meme works best when the joke plays on the core mechanic: seeing the face equals death, with no escape possible. The humor typically comes from applying this to mundane situations. ## Cultural Impact The SCP Foundation's collaborative fiction model, where thousands of anonymous writers contribute to a shared universe, helped pioneer a form of internet storytelling that influenced projects like the Backrooms and various creepypasta communities[5]. SCP-096 specifically became one of the "gateway SCPs" that introduced new readers to the broader Foundation universe. The SCP universe has inspired "numerous fan-made adaptations in varying forms of media, including literature, music, short films, and video games"[5]. *SCP – Containment Breach* was one of the most successful of these adaptations, and SCP-096's inclusion was a major draw[2]. Horror gaming content creators on YouTube helped push SCP content to mainstream audiences throughout the 2010s, with SCP-096 encounters being some of the most-clipped moments. The SCP Foundation operates under Creative Commons licensing (CC BY-SA), which enabled the explosive growth of fan works and games[1]. This open licensing model meant anyone could create SCP-096 content, contributing to the meme's spread across platforms. ## Fun Facts - SCP-096's original classification was Euclid/Keter before being settled as Euclid, suggesting early debate about how dangerous it actually was[4]. - In *SCP – Containment Breach*, the player can sometimes find SCP-096 sitting calmly in a lockroom surrounded by blood splatters. Walking around its back to avoid seeing its face is one of the game's tenser moments[2]. - Viewing an artistic depiction of SCP-096's face (a drawing, painting, etc.) does NOT trigger its rage response, only real images and direct observation[6]. - The SCP Foundation's containment procedures are fictional, but the writing format closely mimics real classified scientific documents, which is part of what makes entries like SCP-096 so effective[5]. - SCP-096 is one of several SCPs that punish the player for looking, creating a pattern alongside SCP-173 (which attacks when NOT looked at), forming a natural mechanical contrast in both lore and gameplay[5]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is SCP-096? SCP-096 is a fictional humanoid creature from the SCP Foundation collaborative writing project. It's a tall, pale, emaciated figure that reacts with lethal aggression when anyone views its face[4]. ### Where did SCP-096 come from? SCP Foundation Wiki user Dr Dan created the entry on March 17, 2010[4]. It was published on the SCP Wiki (scp-wiki.wikidot.com) as part of the site's open collaborative fiction universe[1]. ### What does SCP-096 mean? In the SCP Foundation's fiction, SCP-096 is a contained anomaly that kills anyone who sees its face. In meme culture, it's used to joke about things you shouldn't look at, unavoidable consequences, and the horror of being noticed[4][6]. ### How do you use SCP-096 in memes? Most SCP-096 memes revolve around the "don't look at its face" mechanic. Common formats include object-labeling memes, "four pixels" jokes about barely visible triggers, and sharing clips from *SCP – Containment Breach* gameplay[4]. ### Is SCP-096 still popular? Yes. SCP-096 is one of the most recognizable entries in the SCP Foundation universe, which itself has a large and active community across Reddit, YouTube, and gaming platforms[4][5]. ### What happens when you look at SCP-096's face? According to the fiction, SCP-096 enters a distressed state of screaming and crying for one to two minutes, then chases the viewer at speeds over 35 km/h. It will not stop until it kills the person, regardless of distance or obstacles[6]. ### What is the "four pixels" incident? Dr Dan's companion story "Incident 096-1-A" describes a scenario where SCP-096's face appears as just four pixels in the background of a mountain photograph. Even this tiny, barely visible image is enough to trigger SCP-096's lethal response[7]. ### Why is SCP-096 called "The Shy Guy"? The nickname comes from its behavior: SCP-096 is normally docile and covers its face, seemingly distressed by the possibility of being seen. This combination of shyness and extreme violence makes the character memorable[2]. ### Can SCP-096 be stopped? In the SCP Foundation lore, no known method can stop SCP-096 once triggered. It will pursue and kill the viewer regardless of doors, walls, or distance. In *SCP – Containment Breach*, death is unavoidable once triggered[2]. ### What game features SCP-096? *SCP – Containment Breach*, a free horror game first developed by Regalis, added SCP-096 in its version 0.6 update on November 29, 2012[4][3]. ### Do drawings of SCP-096 trigger it? No. According to the lore, only real images (photographs, video recordings) and direct viewing trigger SCP-096's rage. Artistic depictions like drawings or paintings do not cause a reaction[6]. ## References 1. [SCP-096 - SCP Foundation]() 2. [SCP-096 - Official SCP - Containment Breach Wiki]() 3. [Versions - Official SCP - Containment Breach Wiki]() 4. [SCP-096 - Know Your Meme]() 5. [SCP Foundation]() 6. [SCP-096 - Urban Dictionary]() 7. [Incident 096-1-A - SCP Foundation]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/scp-096 Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library