Live audience laughter and applause has been a staple of television and stage recordings for decades, because a real crowd reaction signals to viewers at home that something was funny or impressive in the room. Telethon-style broadcasts and other live shows helped make this kind of warm, collective response familiar to audiences everywhere, and editors lifted the same sound for online videos. Today it is used in memes, reaction videos and comedy edits, alongside other crowd sounds such as kids cheering, because it instantly adds atmosphere, approval and a sense of shared enjoyment without needing any dialogue or explanation.