Apple Pay launched in 2014 as Apple's contactless payment system for iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac, and its confirmation chime quickly became familiar to anyone paying in stores or online. As short-form video grew, creators began lifting the sound out of its original context and using it as audio shorthand for buying, selling, and flexing a purchase. Its clean, instantly recognisable ding makes it work even without any visual explanation, which is why it still appears in shopping hauls, finance memes, and skits about spending too much.