The phrase new phone who dis grew out of everyday texting culture in the 2010s, when changing phones and losing contacts was a common excuse for not recognizing a number. As screenshots and chat memes spread on social media, it turned into a stock joking reply that implied the sender was not worth saving. It survived because it works without context, instantly signaling playful rejection. The short audio version is now reused on soundboards and in edits wherever a character wants to dodge a call, a text, or an unwanted conversation.