System sounds from Microsoft Windows have been part of everyday computer life for decades, and clips of them became a staple of meme soundboards once people started recording their desktops. Because the chime is so familiar, it works as an instant attention grabber, which is why pranksters love hiding it in videos, livestreams and real-life stunts where nobody expects an official alert. It sits comfortably alongside other short meme effects like the buzzer sound, and its popularity endures simply because everyone recognises it within half a second.