The bong is closely tied to Taco Bell advertising, where a resonant bell has long served as a sonic signature at the end of commercials and around the brand's logo. As clips of those adverts circulated online, the sound was lifted from its commercial context and shared on soundboards and in short-form videos, where its dramatic pause made it useful for jokes rather than selling food. That second life as the Taco Bell Bong explains its staying power: it is short, instantly familiar, and flexible enough to work as a transition, a reveal, or a simple craving gag.