Who cares? means “it doesn't matter” or “so what?”. Nobody expects an answer: people say it to show that something isn't important. About a small failure or other people's opinions, it sounds supportive: Who cares what they think? But if you brush aside something the other person is worried about, it sounds rude, as if their concerns are worthless.
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Who cares?; Who cares about + noun?; Who cares what/if + clause?
- You lost one point in the quiz, but who cares? You still got the highest score.
- Who cares what the neighbours think? It's our garden, so we'll paint the fence green.
- The match finished nil-nil, and honestly, who cares? It was only a friendly.
What changed
First versionWe've already missed the first ten minutes of the film. What difference?
RevisionWe've already missed the first ten minutes of the film. Who cares?
What difference? may seem like a short way of saying it doesn't matter, but in English it's just a fragment of a question. To say “it doesn't matter”, use who cares? or what difference does it make?
I don't care means “it doesn't matter to me”; it's about your own attitude. Who cares? is broader, “this isn't important to anyone”, so it sounds sharper: Who cares about the dress code? Both phrases are informal. In polite conversation or writing, It doesn't really matter is softer.
Your turn
My sister was upset about her haircut, so I said, "___? It'll grow back in a month."
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Who cares — The sister is upset about something minor, and the speaker comforts her: it doesn't matter, it'll grow back. Who knows means “nobody knows”, but it's followed by a confident promise, so there's no room for doubt here.
A friend is upset about a small failure. Write how you cheer them up: say what happened and explain why it doesn't matter.
So you burnt the cake, but who cares? Everyone came to see you, not to eat dessert.
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