Hey readers! Here’s what we’ve seen online: a growth in food influencing, criticism of the Washington Post after the editorial board blamed progressive (white) Gen Z women for *checks notes* not marrying Republicans, Spotify calling out queer users’ music taste, and TikTok creators continuing to use the Creativity Program to fundraise for humanitarian aid in Gaza and Congo.
P.S. We’re making some changes to the newsletter to improve your reading experience and give you the info you need to make an impact on TikTok. We’re always open to feedback and content suggestions — just drop a comment or shoot us an email!
🎵 Top Sounds 🎵
Our curated picks of the top sounds on TikTok
What would it take to fix you? Use this sound to show us. In my case, it is the giant Sylvanian Families rabbit in Paris.
A little like the “I Can Fix That” trend, this sound can be used to show your audience what you crave.
Clownery 🤡
Use this when you’re ready to admit your clownery.
Use this trend as an excuse for a childhood flashback.
Use this sound to show us your uneasy alliances.
Siblings 💖
Use this sound with a photo slide of your and your siblings’ belongings.
🔉 Our Sound Highlight 🔉
Mood: 😅
Movie trends are all over TikTok. This sound is part of the Saltburn soundtrack. My favorite way to use this sound is the photo slide trend where you say what you ‘suffer from.’
👹 Effects Highlight 👹
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Creators are using Chat GPT to test the limits of emotion. Or at least the limits of emotion as understood by an AI generation tool. As it turns out, infinite joy looks like Lisa Frank.
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This CapCut template is great for creators who want to celebrate their wins.
Ah yes, the post-holiday panic. Use this CapCut template to express your dread or frustration.
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Photo slide gift guides are everywhere on TikTok. I love it when they get hyper-specific or subvert the trend.
💫 Post Highlight 💫
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Quizlet, girl, I understand. For a brand to be thirsty is a choice. In this case, it’s a funny choice that is so out of what you’d expect from Quizlet that it works. To be fair, Quizlet’s social media manager has been cooking…
☕ The Zeitgeist ☕
Hot topics and discourse from across the internet
Social media users look to Meghann Thee Reporter for coverage of Young Thug’s trial the journalist, Meghann Cuniff, earned the title ‘Meghann Thee Reporter’ after covering the Tory Lanez trial on X.
The Crown released the first batch of episodes from its final season. The series has received criticism for its portrayal of Dodi and Mohamed al-Fayed, particularly amidst a rise in Islamophobic hate crimes.
NowThis reported on repercussions employees have faced for posting pro-Palestinian messages on social media.
A Northern Irish small business’ ad went viral by portraying holiday loneliness.
War criminal, Henry Kissinger, died aged 100. Social media users reveled and brought attention to the legacy Kissinger leaves behind.
🥡 The Takeaway 🥡
What marketers are taking away from trends
GenerativeAI is getting a greater presence on TikTok. What marketers need to pay attention to is the tone of AI trends though. AI trends have, thus far, largely relied on absurd humor. Complex attitudes (or let’s be honest, outright disdain) toward AI seem to be translating into trends that let the viewer not take AI quite so seriously. But don’t worry if absurd AI isn’t for you, as attitudes shift so do trends.