A brief overview of what is currently trending on on X in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Wendy's: The fast food chain announced it will test out surge pricing during peak hours.
Scott Swift: Australian police are investigating an allegation by a paparazzo that he was assaulted by Taylor Swift's father.
#PokemonDay: Today marks 28 years since Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green released in Japan.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
Sad hamster meme
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
What it is: In this trend, TikTok users are pairing an image of a sad-looking hamster with violin music to express a feeling of being overwhelmed or sad. The hamster (i.e., the person in the scenario) is usually shown failing to cope with simple tasks, like understanding dashboard warning lights, or uncomfortable situations, like speaking up at a doctor's appointment. These are scenarios we've all been in at some point in our lives, and they're meant to over-exaggerate the user's inability to react to minor setbacks.
What brands can learn: Beyond being funny and entertaining, this trend has become a relatable space for users to express what makes them sad and what it is that cures that sadness. The latter could be a sweet treat or a simple affirmation that the person knows what they're doing. The scenarios are unlimited, so find a way to remind followers that it's okay to feel anxious sometimes – we're all just sad hamsters.
Examples: 1, 2, 3
Must-click links that crossed our feeds today
Ryan Gosling will perform ‘I’m Just Ken’ at the Oscars 🎤
Part 1 of Ariana Grande's interview on the Zach Sang Show has been released 🎬
AT&T plans to give $5 credits to customers affected by a recent widespread service outage 📶
Sony is laying off 900 employees globally from their PlayStation workforce 🎮
Want to subscribe? Reach out to culturetaskforce@substack.com.