The phrase 'R.I.P. Headphone Users' originated as a warning comment on platforms like YouTube and Vine, typically found on videos featuring sudden, extremely loud, or distorted 'earrape' audio. It transitioned into a visual meme format used to mock videos with poor audio balancing or to intentionally surprise viewers with high-intensity sound. Often paired with images of characters like Arthur, Squidward, or Tyler1 screaming, the meme serves as both a literal caution and a meta-joke regarding the collective experience of having one's ears blasted by unexpected digital noise.