Lonnie Walker: Twitter users are filling the timeline with love for the Los Angeles Lakers player as he is the first player on that team to score 15+ points off the bench in the fourth quarter of a playoff game since Kobe Bryant exactly 26 years ago to the day.
How brands can jump in: Is your brand in the sports fandom? Celebrate the Lakers player's historic win. Make sure to avoid player and team names.
Bedard: The Chicago Blackhawks won Connor Bedard in the NHL Draft lottery which has left a lot of hockey fans angered as there has been a lot of talk about the team getting rewarded with the player after a recent sexual assault case.
What brands should know: Avoid entering the conversation in this space as this is a very sensitive topic.
Mr. Beast: The YouTuber is trending this morning for a giveaway where he is planning to give $50,000 dollars to 5 of his followers if they share to their Instagram story and tag users in the comments. Additionally, he is also trending for a recent video where he gave hearing aids to 1,000 individuals experiencing hearing loss. Twitter users are divided on both gestures.
How brands can jump in: What brands should know: Both of these gestures have raised concerns as the giveaway on social might not follow all FTC guidelines and providinghearing aids raises concerns of accessibility. Monitor the conversation and check in with key stakeholders on content.
Beige Flags
What it is: In this trend, TikTok users are sharing quirks in their personal lives as well as their relationships that would make them take a quick pause to process. This trend originally surfaced in late 2022 but has taken on a new life as people explore what makes them tick and bond over these peculiarities that aren't often talked about. Beige flags are not necessarily good or bad, just idiosyncratic human behavior.
How brands can jump in: What's something unique that your brand or consumers do that could be highlighted as a beige flag? Can you utilize a consumer truth to stir up conversation but not controversy?
Examples: 1, 2, 3
Urgency level: 🔥 - while this trend originated in 2022, it has recently come back to the forefront and will probably fade out for a while after this resurgence. Hop in now or sit this one out!
Who they are: Amassing over 500,000 followers, Alden McWayne (@gucci_pineapple) is a Boston-based musician and TikTok personality who has garnered a reputation for his avant-garde interactions that he initiates in his videos. Alden wanders the streets of Boston and connects with anyone who will speak with him, which leads to some interesting conversations with people from all different ages and backgrounds.
Why we love them: From asking construction workers if they have Club Penguin accounts to making music videos in a Trader Joes full of shoppers, Alden demonstrates the beauty in everyday human interactions as well as situations veering toward the unexpected. By taking the fortuitous route, his content style has shown that emphasizing the little absurdities that happen daily resonate heavily with the social media audience.
Anyone else obsessed with the show Jury Duty? Take this BuzzFeed Quiz to find out what character you are.
Check out who won a Pulitzer Prize this year.
The resurgence of quiet luxury in fashion.
Puppies, kittens, and ducklings to brighten your day!
Thanks for reading! Today’s issue was created by Samantha Lurie and Shelby Jacobs. Want to subscribe? Reach out to Steph Caruso and Shelby Jacobs.