TRENDING: AI JAKE PAUL & PRANKS CONTINUE
We're chronically online so you don't have to be. So here’s your weekly snapshot of the trending moments across social that we think you should be across - all curated by our resident trend master Lena Tuck.
AI JAKE PAUL
Everyone’s talking about Sora 2, OpenAI’s latest AI video model, and YouTuber Jake Paul has unexpectedly (well, expectedly, since news came out he is now an investor) become the face of it. Users are taking advantage of Sora’s new remixing and deepfake capabilities, putting Paul in a highly imaginative range of scenarios leveraging his likeness.
Brand opportunities While AI-generated content continues to raise important ethical considerations, it’s also opening new creative avenues. Brands can explore responsible ways to use these tools for storytelling, even in a silly, goofy way that plays into the Jake Paul AI trend. For example, we’ve already seen creative executions like this viral AI rug ad, showcasing how experimentation with emerging tech can pay off when done thoughtfully.
AI PRANK TREND CONTINUES
This AI “prank” trend has evolved even further, where creators are now getting wilder with their choices, using fishor plumbers, for example, inserted into real-world footage to prank friends, family, or co-workers and capture their reactions.
Brand opportunities
This trend offers a playful way for brands to inject humour and personality into their content. You can adapt the format to your niche, staging a lighthearted “intruder” moment within your brand world (e.g. a possum sneaking in and eating all your products, or a mysterious character taking over the office). It’s a fun opportunity to spotlight your team, showcase your workplace culture, and experiment with character-led storytelling in a way that feels organic to social video platforms, primarily TikTok.
BEING A BOOK GIRLIE
This rage-bait trend shows people reading books while completely destroying them, all in the name of choosing between two passions (e.g. reading vs pottery). It’s absurd, funny, and completely attention-grabbing, which captures exactly why it’s performing so well across TikTok.
Brand opportunities
This format is perfect for any brand or creator looking to play with chaos and contrast, particularly food brands or hobby-based niches that might get a little messy (like pottery or painting). The key is to exaggerate the conflict between two passions that relate to your audience, such as “baking vs reading,” “coffee vs skincare.”
BETRAYAL LIST
TREND
This trend spun out of the news that Kanye allegedly keeps a list of everyone (and everything) that’s wronged him. TikTokers, especially women, have turned it into a comedic format by creating their own “lists” filled with obscure, petty, or hilarious grievances.
Brand opportunities
This format works well for lighthearted content, a brand’s list could look like: rogue programs that annoy you day-to-day, a competitor product, or playful nods to customer pain points. It’s a simple, text-based trend that invites creativity while keeping it relatable.
“AI WILL TAKE YOUR JOB”
This trend taps into the ongoing conversation about AI taking over human jobs, but with a humorous twist. It highlights that, while AI might be efficient, it can’t replicate the energy, chaos, and personality that real people bring to the workplace (unfinished tasks, coffee breaks, etc).
Brand opportunities
A great opportunity to showcase the human side of your brand, whether it’s the co-worker who keeps morale high, the office dog who boosts productivity, or the little quirks that make your workplace unique. It’s a fun reminder that personality and culture are irreplaceable, even in an AI-driven world.
