The Descriptive Noise meme trend stems from the often literal and unintentionally hilarious closed captioning found on streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. These subtitles, intended for accessibility, use brackets to describe sounds that are otherwise non-verbal, such as '[unsettling synth music continues]' or '[emotional silence].' Internet users began repurposing these brackets to add an extra layer of irony or context to images, often using them to describe internal feelings or absurd atmospheric conditions. This format allows creators to convey specific vibes or moods through text-based 'sound,' making it a staple in the reaction meme community for its dry humor and unique storytelling ability.