A brief overview of what is currently trending in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Ukraine: X users are continuing to discuss a recent drone strike launched by Ukraine inside Russian territory.
Pride: Users are celebrating the beginning of Pride Month.
Jonathan Joss: Fans are mourning the loss of voice actor Jonathan Joss who, according to a statement by his husband, was fatally shot by a neighbor as the result of a homophobic hate crime.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
Fan Edits (of yourself)
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What It Is: TikTok users are boosting their self-confidence by posting fan edits—not of their favorite celebrities, but of themselves. For people who are feeling insecure, this trend encourages them to stitch together slowed-down clips of themselves using dramatic transitions, moody filters, and empowering music (Rasheeda’s ‘Got That Good (My Bubble Gum)’ being the favorite option for this trend). This use of fan edits, which have long been a cornerstone of online fandoms, is a fun twist on affirming one’s own beauty and iconicity because it literally places the subject in the digital spotlight typically reserved for the world’s biggest stars. From brands to even pets (and many in between) taking part in this trend, it’s safe to say that we all deserve to get the fan edit treatment and flaunt our confidence from time to time.
Brand Takeaway: Social users are constantly looking for super tailored ways to express exactly how they’re feeling in the moment, regardless of if the visual format currently “exists” to support that expression. Flipping the concept of a fan edit to focus on oneself as the subject signals that formats for trends, as well as more enduring conversations on social, are not as rigid as they once were. There are essentially no rules for how people can creatively mold a digital canvas to their liking, and brands should both be able to both adapt, and contribute, to this fluidity in order to maintain their footing online. It’s all about staying nimble and not being overly concerned with strict brand guidelines to meet an audience where they are that day—which will likely be different from the day before.
Examples: 1, 2, 3
Four must-click links that crossed our feeds today.
Sabrina Carpenter has shared a new teaser for an unknown project 👀
Lee Jae-myung is forecasted to win the South Korean presidential election 🗳️
‘Princess Diaries 3’ is scouting castles throughout Europe as potential filming locations 🎥
Popeyes has introduced chicken wraps to its menu 🆕
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