A brief overview of what is currently trending in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Medicaid: Users continue to weigh in on the impact of Medicaid cuts as the Republican Party works to pass President Donald Trump’s megabill by July 4.
Elon Musk: Elon Musk continues to voice his opposition to President Trump’s megabill, threatening to form the America Party should the bill pass.
Huda and Chris: Love Island fans are sharing their thoughts on last night’s episode and a moment between Islanders Huda Mustafa and Chris Seeley.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
Making Strangers My Wallpaper and Asking Them to Take A Picture
What It Is: Unsuspecting strangers are becoming the subjects of TikTok’s latest trend, where users take photos of random people in public settings and turn them into their lockscreens, then ask them to take their pictures. Strangers have had varied reactions, with many initially reacting with shock or confusion that eventually turns into amusement as they play along with the joke. The trend’s rising popularity showcases how seemingly ordinary public interactions can achieve virality on social media and become a shareable piece of content when users get creative with digital spaces to elicit authentic reactions from others.
Brand Takeaway: While the trend itself may not be replicable for most brands, brands can take inspiration from the trend’s unconventional approach to lockscreens and consider testing new ways to reach their audience through other digital spaces. Many mobile users consider their lockscreens to be deeply personal to them and often customize them based on personal preferences and needs, yet this trend shows us that lockscreens can also be tailored in unique ways to engage the community and create entertaining content. As social media users continue to be exposed to the same formats and various platforms continue to adopt similar platform features, it’s becoming increasingly important for brands to showcase their creativity and capture the audience’s attention in innovative ways to stand out. Brands should consider how unexpected digital touchpoints like lockscreens, app widgets, and even notifications can be customized to grab the audience’s attention and make a statement. Brands should also continue exploring how platform features like stories or broadcast channels can be used in ways that reimagine community interaction to continue sharing content that feels fresh and engaging.
Examples: 1, 2
Four must-click links that crossed our feeds today.
Spotify editors have shared their picks for the best songs of 2025 so far.
EA Sports announced the return of their NCAA Basketball game, coming in 2028.
Following the news that hashtags will be banned from promoted posts in the future, Elon Musk announced that X will soon charge for ads based on visual size.
BTS will soon release their first live album “Permission to Dance on Stage - Live” on July 18th.
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