Panik comes from the Kalm Panik meme format featuring Meme Man, where three panels move from calm to panic and back to calm depending on the situation. The template spread widely on Reddit, Instagram and TikTok as a simple way to show overreacting to minor problems. As the format moved into video edits, creators began pairing the middle panic panel with a loud scream, and that pairing stuck. The short scream version remains popular because it instantly signals stress without needing the full image or any dialogue to explain it at all.