A brief overview of what is currently trending in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
New York: Social users continues to discuss Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral primary win.
NBA Draft: Last night saw Cooper Flagg from Duke as the #1 draft pick.
Pete Hegseth: The Defense Secretary held a Pentagon press briefing on the U.S. strikes in Iran.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
The Rise of Micro-Nostalgia
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What It Is: Have you noticed that the rate of nostalgia is speeding up? Where it once followed a 20-year cycle, consumers are now romanticizing cultural moments from just 1-7 years ago. Whether it’s longing for the 2014 Tumblr era, reflecting on 2020 “Quarantine Core,” or locking back as recently as 2024’s Brat Summer, social users are actively sharing their affection for more recent eras online. As a result, some brands are rethinking how to tap into this accelerated nostalgia and its emotional pull in real time. Take Coca Cola reintroducing their “Share a Coke” campaign in Spring 2025, for instance.
The Brand Takeaway: Nostalgia doesn’t have to be distant to be powerful or relevant — especially post-Covid, which drastically affected our collective sense of time. Events and moments from just a couple of years ago can feel like a lifetime ago. In a world that feels fast and often uncertain, consumers are reaching back to eras, or versions of themselves, that felt more grounded and stable. Social media platforms even fuel this instinct with features like “1 year ago” flashbacks, resurfacing old posts like clockwork.
When people are craving a sense of comfort and familiarity, the right content can help bridge that gap. This doesn’t mean relying solely on decades-old campaigns — some of the most resonant brand moves can come from recent memory. A two-year anniversary post, a revived campaign visual, a nostalgic format, or a callback to a memorable sound can all trigger meaningful emotional pull. By referencing the past with sincerity, not irony, brands can build trust and emotional resonance that aligns with how audiences want to feel today.
Four must-click links that crossed our feeds today.
Taylor Swift surprised fans in Nashville with an acoustic performance of “Shake It Off” at Travis Kelce’s Tight Ends & Friends event.
A cheeky tourism ad created for the New Zealand Herpes Foundation won the Grand Prix for Good at the 2025 Cannes Lions Festival.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders just secured a 400% raise, thanks in part to public response to their America’s Sweethearts Netflix series.
Bob Dylan will release Point Blank this November, an art book with 100 drawings and prose vignettes from the legendary songwriter.
F1: The Movie – theaters, 6.27
M3GAN 2.0 – theaters, 6.27
Sorry, Baby – theaters, 6.27
Clueless 30th Anniversary – theaters, 6.29
Virgin: Lorde
Tracks II: The Lost Albums: Bruce Springsteen
Blush: Kevin Abstract
The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two: Barbra Streisand
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