TRENDING: 2016 REVIVALS & I THINK I’M GONNA DIE IN THIS HOUSE
It’s officially been 10 years since 2016, and social media users are romanticising the era by celebrating the bright colours, carefree energy, and nostalgic aesthetic of that time. From VSCO-style filters to 2016 music and fashion references, the trend taps into a collective yearning for a simpler, more joyful digital age.
Brand opportunities
This trend is an easy win for brands looking to tap into nostalgia while keeping things light and fun. Using hook text like “embracing my 2016 energy” or “heard it was 2016 again,” brands can apply retro-style filters, reference trends from the time, or show how their product fits into the 2026 version of that carefree energy. It’s a great moment to connect with millennial and Gen Z audiences through a shared cultural memory while showcasing your brand personality.
I THINK I’M GONNA DIE IN THIS HOUSE
Charli XCX’s song from the Wuthering Heights album has re-emerged again as a viral trend where users dramatically lament their everyday inconveniences, from struggling without air conditioning to overreacting to minor frustrations or nostalgic pop culture references. The humour lies in the dramatic tone of the track, talking about a mild inconvenience, making it perfect for storytelling and relatability-driven content.
Brand opportunities
This trend offers a great opportunity for brands to play into hyperbolic humour and dramatise everyday inconveniences related to their product or category. For instance, depicting the despair of running out of your product mid-task, dealing with office chaos, or highlighting the “tragic” consequences of not using your brand. It’s a relatable, low-lift format that humanises your brand while tapping into TikTok’s love for irony and self-aware drama..
‘DAY 1’ PARODY TREND
Creators are poking fun at New Year’s resolutions by “starting” new habits on repeat. These videos typically show someone confidently on Day 1, then Day 2, only to cut back to Day 1 again, perfectly capturing the struggle of staying consistent, whilst also showing off fun outfits in a new ‘fit check’ format.
Why it works
This trend succeeds because it’s funny, self-aware, and deeply relatable during resolution season. It taps into universal experiences of motivation and failure in a lighthearted way, making it ideal for high engagement and shareability. The simplicity of the format also makes it easy for brands to adapt, this can be used for many niches, sticking to a fitness goal, a work routine, or even using a product consistently.
HEATED RIVALRY
Where do we even start? The show that completely took over the internet this holiday season has dominated feeds everywhere, from fan edits and creator reactions to musicians and celebrities subtly referencing it. Even Donatella Versace herself joined in, posting that she’s watching it. The cultural obsession is real, and it’s become one of those rare moments where everyone online is in on the same conversation.
Brand opportunities
Now is the perfect time to lean into the hype. Referencing “that hockey show everyone’s watching” even without naming it directly, is an easy way to tap into current internet culture. Whether it’s through reaction-style content, themed product tie-ins, or tongue-in-cheek references to the fandom, aligning with this moment positions your brand as culturally aware, reactive, and part of the broader social conversation.
WHO’S KILLING IT ON THE FEED?
TOPGOLF: LOGAN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
A flawless example of how to capitalise on a viral moment.
This all began when a video of a Topgolf fence collapsing during an ice storm went viral. One user, Logan, left a simple comment: “It better be fixed before my Christmas party on the 9th.” That single comment blew up, getting more than 300k likes and Topgolf responded perfectly. They transformed their entire TikTok strategy around Logan’s upcoming Christmas party, posting consistent updates, fixing the fence “in time,” and building anticipation. Each video leading up to the big day racked up over half a million views, with their account jumping from an average of 10-20k views per post to well over 100k.
Brand opportunities
This case study is a masterclass in real-time marketing. When a moment takes off, jumping on it with humour, creativity, and speed can build huge cultural capital. Topgolf committed to the bit, rebranding their bio and tone around Logan’s party. The takeaway for brands is clear: agility wins. Seize viral moments, build a narrative around them, and audiences will reward your authenticity and playfulness.
