A brief overview of what is currently trending in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Bernthal's Punisher Revived in MCU Special: Jon Bernthal has reprised his role as Frank Castle, known as The Punisher, in a new Marvel Cinematic Universe project.
Brock: WWE revealed that Brock Lesnar's return last night at SummerSlam garnered 75,000,000+ views in the first 12 hours across all of WWE's social platforms.
Trump Administration Reverses Israel Boycott Aid Policy: The Trump administration will halt disaster relief funds to U.S. states and cities that boycott Israeli companies.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
The Need to Nerd Out
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What It Is: A recent TikTok trend is gaining traction, using a sound clip that says “you need to nerd out,” encouraging people to proudly geek out over their passions and niche interests. It’s a moment for creators to share their unique fandoms, hobbies, and obsessions—embracing authenticity and rejecting the pressure to conform. From favorite characters and plot twists to niche theories, people are expressing unapologetic excitement for what they love.
Brand Takeaway: People are no longer trying to blend in—they’re leaning into what makes them stand out, and they’re finding like-minded communities along the way. For brands, this is a prime opportunity to tap into niche fandoms and partner with micro-influencers who genuinely love your product or category. Celebrate their “nerd out” moments with behind-the-scenes content, UGC spotlights, or fan-driven storytelling. Consider cultivating spaces like Discord servers, subreddit communities, or other digital forums where shared passions and authentic dialogue can thrive.
Examples: 1, 2, 3
Four must-click links that crossed our feeds today.
New York Post shared a new study that found 77% of Americans now make mealtime decisions based on what’s trending online.
Who What Wear shared that dressing up for work is back and why corporate girls are 2025's most influential outfit inspo.
Baggu dropped a collection of fun, colorful wallpapers that can be used as video call backgrounds on Teams.
Glamour shares why it’s the summer of a crash out.
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