Sus became internet shorthand for suspicious behaviour through online gaming and short-form video culture, where a single word could flag a player, friend or character as untrustworthy. Creators began pairing that idea with short, punchy audio clips that could be dropped into edits without explanation, and the format spread quickly across TikTok, YouTube Shorts and gaming streams. It remains popular because it is instantly readable, works in almost any funny or awkward context, and sits naturally alongside other reaction clips such as the bruh meme and fail sound meme.