Bell tolls have been used for centuries to mark time, call people to worship, and announce important events, which is why the sound still feels instantly familiar today. As a stock sound effect, the single toll became a staple of film, television, and radio for funerals, midnight scenes, and moments of doom or reflection. Online, creators reuse the same deep strike in memes, horror edits, gaming montages, and reaction videos because it needs no explanation. Its long decay makes it easy to layer under narration or place between clips.