A brief overview of what is currently trending on X in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Brady: After Mahomes’ big Super Bowl win last night, his 3rd in 5 years, fans are quick to compare the QB's stats to that of Brady.
Rafah: Last night a refugee camp in Rafah, known as a safe zone, was bombed where 1.5 million displaced Palestinians were finding shelter.
Abraham Lincoln: Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday! He was born in 1809 which would've made him 215 years old today.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
Beyonce Breaks the Internet
What it is: Last night during the Super Bowl, Beyonce was featured in a Verizon commercial where she was trying to break more than just the internet — but Verizon's 5G internet. She tries to break the service by hosting a lemonade stand, performing a concert in space, and releasing a Beyonce Barbie.
What stuck out most to viewers was her last line saying to “drop the new music.” Fans were ecstatic to then see her album announcement for "Act II” on Instagram. On top of that, she also released two songs, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages."
What brands can learn: The collaboration of Verizon and Beyonce was iconic. But Beyonce's use of Verizon’s platform to make a huge announcement is legendary. With 110 million people tuning into this game, it is the biggest day for advertisements out of the year and every brand tries to find a way to break through the clutter. Brands using big celebrities in their Super Bowl commercials has always been a way to make them more memorable. But using the platform to allow the 32-time Grammy Award-winning artist, with one of the largest, die-hard fan bases, to announce her new album is internet-shattering information (she ended up breaking the internet after all).
Examples: 1, 2, 3
A recap of what you might have missed while not online
Friday: James Charles released his new single "Call Me Back" and is receiving mixed reviews.
Saturday: Lunar New Year celebrations have begun! It is the year of the dragon
Sunday: The Chiefs defeat the 49ers in Super Bowl 58 in OT 25-22.
Must-click links that crossed our feeds today
People are LOVING the Micahel Cera x Cerave collaboration for the Super Bowl.
Usher gave his all in his half-time performance, drawing in 30.1 million households.
Super Bowl LVIII advertisements leaned heavily on celebrity partnerships this year.
Disney: announced that Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5 will be released in 2026.
Want to subscribe? Reach out to culturetaskforce@substack.com.