The Complete Explainer to the 'What Is That' Meme: Context, Audio Usage, and Variations
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Algorithmic video feeds reward auditory familiarity. When a viewer scrolls through a feed, their eyes take several hundred milliseconds to decode a visual scene. An iconic audio track, however, registers almost instantly.
A distinctive voice line acts as an auditory signpost. It tells the viewer: a punchline is coming in two seconds, stay on this screen. That micro-delay boosts average watch time, signaling to distribution algorithms that the post deserves wider delivery.
Visual memes tire quickly because the brain consumes image macros in a single glance. Audio memes morph continually because creators place the same acoustic cue over thousands of unrelated visual contexts. The friction between the familiar sound and the novel image is where the humor lives.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
