This sound is best known online as a generic ear ringing or tinnitus-style effect rather than a clip tied to one specific character or scene. Similar high-pitched ringing has long been used in film and TV sound design to represent shock, blast aftermath, and disorientation. Online, creators adopted the same idea for meme edits, gaming montages, and reaction videos because listeners immediately understand the joke or the dramatic cue. It remains popular because a short piercing tone can instantly signal that everything just got way too loud.