A brief overview of what is currently trending in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Diddy: Social users are weighing in after Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty of transportation for prostitution but acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
Diogo Jota: Fans are sharing tributes after Liverpool FC forward Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car accident in Spain early Thursday.
Norway: Norway beat Switzerland 2-1 on the opening day of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 Championship.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
Combatting ‘Love Island’ Bullying
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What It Is: With Season 7 of Love Island USA fully underway, the reality dating competition that people love to watch — and love to hate-watch — has social buzzing again. But this season, many fans are calling out the alarming increase in negativity and hatred toward the islanders online. While social has united this show’s fandom and created a shared viewing experience in real-time, many have become comfortable sharing hurtful and cruel comments about the real people on the show. One contestant, Vanna Einerson, received such harsh backlash to her appearance that she broke down after leaving the Villa, sparking this conversation. Another cast member, Huda Mustafa, was doxed and even had her ex-boyfriend and daughter contacted. Fans who love the show but not the hate are picking up on this, and noting that not every opinion needs to be voiced publicly. As TikTok user @carolinebaniewicz says, “That’s what group chats are for.”
The Brand Takeaway: While cyberbullying is not new, this pushback specific to Love Island contestants speaks to a larger point about social conversations having real-world impact. While the sense of anonymity on social can be liberating for many, others may feel less accountable for their actions, leading to displays of hatred. Echo chambers reinforced by social platform algorithms are also making it difficult for others to form their own opinions, fostering groupthink and intensifying negativity in certain spaces. Following this excessive hostility, Love Island USA shared reminders against cyberbullying on their social profiles and on the show, which is a good step in ensuring their profiles are safe space for their community.
Now more than ever, it’s essential for brands to proactively moderate their social channels and mitigate harmful sentiments or risk damaging brand perception and trust. Some brands could even consider setting clear expectations or guidelines for community interaction on their channels to prevent negative situations from escalating, similar to communities on Reddit. With social animosity on the rise, brands have an opportunity to set the tone for their communities and lead with responsibility.
Four must-click links that crossed our feeds today.
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Neil Druckmann, co-creator of The Last of Us, announced that he is stepping away from the TV series ahead of Season 3.
The final season of Squid Game is breaking records, garnering 368.4 million hours viewed from 60.1 million viewers within the first three days of its release on Netflix.
Summerween is officially in full swing!
Jurassic World: Rebirth - Theaters, 7/2
The Old Guard 2 - Netflix, 7/2
The Sandman Season 2 Volume 1 - Netflix, 7/3
Bachelor in Paradise - ABC, 7/7
(Period) - Kesha
Autonomy - ELIO
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