The "Yanny or Laurel" phenomenon emerged in 2017 as a viral internet sensation involving a disputed audio clip in which listeners differed on hearing "Yanny" or "Laurel." It sparked a widespread debate across social media, drawing insights from linguists and audio engineers who attributed the differing perceptions to individual variances in auditory frequency interpretation. The event captivated audiences worldwide, echoing the earlier "The Dress" controversy that highlighted color perception differences.