A brief overview of what is currently trending in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Rihanna: Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have welcomed their third child, a girl named Rocki Irish Mayers.
Wolverine: Insomniac Games shared the first gameplay trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine, set to launch on PlayStation 5 consoles Fall 2026.
Joshua Jahn: The gunman from Wednesday’s shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas has been identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
The Thinnest Video Trend Taking Over Instagram
What It Is: Content creators and brands should already be familiar with the 1080x1920 vertical format that’s considered the standard for Instagram Reels. The latest trend sweeping the platform, however, sees creators deviating from the norm by cropping Reels an ultra-wide 5120x1080 format that gives content a slim, panoramic effect. Luke Berg, a filmmaker from Los Angeles, kickstarted the trend by sharing cinematic shots that highlighted the beauty of nature and intricacies of humanity in these specs, drawing intrigue from many in the comments eager to find out how to recreate the format. Since then, many brands – from sports teams like the San Francisco 49ers to restaurants like Applebee’s – have shared their takes on the format, highlighting key moments and brand staples. Users’ responses to the new format have been mixed, with some expressing excitement for the fresh take on Reels, content creators aghast at the spec choice’s popularity, and others thinking they’re experiencing glitches on the platform at first glance.
The Brand Takeaway: Despite mixed audience reactions to the trend, there’s no denying that this defiance against best practices is breaking up feeds, piquing interest, and driving conversation on the platform. Brands and creators on social have become accustomed to the same specs and social formats, and with vertical content ruling Instagram, this represents a major change from the patterns users typically see in-feed. Brands in industries such as lifestyle, film, or nature that lean on visual-driven storytelling may benefit the most from this trend as it allows users to hone in on the cinematic and aesthetic potential of visuals from these spaces. While the format’s long-term potential is still yet to be determined, the trend’s success indicates that experimentation and a willingness to test and learn from various formats and specs can make a splash, allowing brands to challenge their creative muscles and discover new ways to tell a story.
Four must-click links that crossed our feeds today.
The Parks Dept. has removed the statue of President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein that appeared on the National Mall this week.
Young people across Asia are leading digital-driven protests in response to endemic corruption happening in their respective countries.
5 Seconds of Summer just dropped a new single called “NOT OK,” with their sixth studio album coming November 14.
The final trailer for Wicked: For Good is finally here.
The Amazing Race Season 38 - CBS, 9/25
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 - NBC, 9/25
One Battle After Another - Theaters, 9/26
The Strangers: Chapter 2 - Theaters, 9/26
Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie - Theaters, 9/26
Vie - Doja Cat
Midnight Sun - Zara Larsson
Here for It All - Mariah Carey
Want to subscribe? Reach out to culturetaskforce@substack.com.
