Apple Pay was introduced by Apple in 2014 as a way to pay with an iPhone or Apple Watch, and its short confirmation chime soon became one of the most recognisable payment sounds in everyday life. As short-form video and meme editing grew, creators began lifting that familiar ding out of the checkout and into their own clips, using it as shorthand for spending, treating yourself, or closing a deal. Its appeal has lasted because almost everyone recognises it instantly, even without seeing a phone on screen.