The sound comes from the wider world of online prank clips, where a harmless title or thumbnail is used to lure viewers into an unexpected scare. The 'don't click the fish' wording fits that bait-and-switch format, inviting curiosity before the audio delivers its shock. Short clips like this spread through soundboards, meme edits and reaction videos because they are easy to drop into a joke without explanation. Its lasting appeal is simple: the setup sounds innocent, the payoff is startling, and the reaction is almost always worth sharing.