Soundwave has been one of Transformers' most recognisable Decepticons since the franchise began in the 1980s, known for his emotionless robotic voice and role handling communications and surveillance for the Decepticon cause. His mechanical sounds have long been reused by fans to suggest hidden monitoring, coded messages and approaching danger. Online, short alert-style clips in his style circulate as shorthand for a warning, and editors keep using them because the cold electronic tone instantly frames an ordinary moment as something being watched or intercepted.