The phrase “I’ll be watching you” is often used as a threat or warning, and the accompanying GIF image typically shows someone with a sinister expression or making a threatening gesture. The GIF may be used to express feelings of anger, disapproval, or suspicion, or to convey a sense of threat or intimidation.
The phrase and GIF have been used in a variety of contexts, including in popular culture, politics, and social media. For example, the phrase was used in the title of a 1982 song by The Police, and the GIF has been used in a variety of online memes and reaction images.