A brief overview of what is currently trending on X in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Arlington Cemetery: Members of the Trump campaign staff had an altercation with an official at the Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, where the former President participated in a wreath-laying ceremony.
Vatican: Pope Francis warned that it is “a grave sin” to reject migrants.
#jjk268: Fans are weighing in on spoilers from Japanese manga series Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 268 ahead of its release.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
Dopamine Menus
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What It Is: Dopamine menus are essentially lists of self-care activities broken down into the different categories of a restaurant menu, such as starters, mains, sides, and desserts. You might have seen this trend going around on TikTok in 2023, but it’s recently seen a strong resurgence on the platform thanks to creator Payton Sartain, who shared a video recently about creating one for herself to prevent doomscrolling. Sartain’s video has since inspired many others to create their own dopamine menus or simply share their favorite self-care activities under her original sound.
The concept of dopamine menus (or dopamenus) has actually been around for years, popularized by ADHD educators Jessica McCabe and Eric Tivers to help those with ADHD, who often have lower levels of dopamine, get the stimulation they need throughout the day.
The Brand Takeaway: The rising popularity of dopamine menus may signify rising social media fatigue as more users feel overwhelmed or burned out by a constant stream of content and news. It comes at the same time as a desired shift from doomscrolling to “hopescrolling” — the practice of intentionally seeking out positive, uplifting content. Brands who want to jump in on this should think about how their products and values align with the core themes of self-care, happiness, and motivation. To remain authentic to the trend, highlight the activities and little moments that bring your brand joy, or showcase how your brand can inspire others to welcome more positivity and self-care into their lives. Basketball teams the Warriors and 76ers have both nodded to it with player highlights that boost dopamine, while the Minions leveraged the trend to celebrate the little things, like freshly laundered overalls.
Beyond just social, the increasing consumer desire for screen breaks could also indicate an opportunity for brands to invest more in experiential activities like pop-ups and community events that promote offline engagement and encourage the audience to step outside of the social feed and live in the moment. These offline experiences can foster a stronger sense of community and contribute to overall wellness and happiness, all while increasing brand awareness and loyalty.
Four must-click links that crossed our feeds today.
Taylor Swift fans have launched the grassroots organization ”Swifties For Kamala,” raising over $100,000 for the Kamala Harris Presidential campaign so far.
Pizza Hut is offering a limited edition pizza box that turns into a miniature table, just in time for moving season.
Oasis ticket pricing for Oasis Live ‘25 has been confirmed, sparking conversations about the band’s cultural impact.
SZA shared a DM she received from a fan asking for math homework help.
Slingshot - Theaters, 8/30
Afraid - Theaters, 8/30
Reagan - Theaters, 8/30
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, Prime Video
Haven - Marianas Trench
CRAZY (EP) - Le Sserafim
My Favorite Dream - John Legend
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