We got another trends blog before GTA 6
Contributed blog by Ariana Donley, Social Media Manager at Government Social Media
Multiple trends have come and gone before the release of the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI – hence, the title of this blog signaling that we got another trends blog before GTA 6 (here’s a quick explainer). Recently, this phrase has once again resurged as a popular comment trend, with many social media users adapting this statement as a way to interject humor as a coping mechanism to newsworthy events – even catastrophic ones.
Staying current on trending comments, video and audio will help give you much needed perspective on how to respond and engage with your online audience. Not only will it help you create relevant content that resonates, but it will also ease your ability to jump into trending conversations in real-time and show your audience that you’re informed and invested in what’s important to them.
Let’s dive into what’s trending – Olympic style!
Note: This blog is part of a series. For previous supplemental guidance on how to discover trending content on various social media platforms, visit our first blog in this series and don’t forget to check out more content by visiting our GSM blog and subscribing to our newsletter. This is just a snapshot of recent trends, and we encourage you to explore our other online communities for more trend inspiration! Join the GSM Community Facebook Group or free GSM network.
TikTok
TikTok’s Creative Center is interactive and allows you to browse trending hashtags, songs, creators and videos and filter results based on country, industry and time period (last 7 days, last 30 days, last 120 days).
Note: Previously, “yesterday” was the most recent available results you could pull; however, that’s been replaced with “last 7 days.”
Below are the top five trending songs from the last seven days (currently listed at the time of publication of this blog):
- Big Dawgs by Hanumankind & Kalmi
- Делает разницу by winline
- not a lot, just forever by Adrianne Lenker
- On Dat Money by Rob49 & Cardi B
- WAR by Chief Keef
As I’ve mentioned in previous installments of this trends blog, current events and pop culture often inspire trends. So it’s no surprise that the 2024 Olympics Paris inspired a trend. While elite athletes compete on the world stage, others are taking to social to show hilarious athletic fails that explain why they didn’t make the Olympic team set to a trending remix of the U.S. National Anthem (Star Spangled Bass Boosted).
@www.ihaveacrushonyou maybe next year ! 😪#olympics #iwillbethenextsteelejohnson or #simonebiles ♬ Star Spangled (Bass Boosted) - SNC
This trend could be adapted for a government agency to showcase some employee-generated content. The key to this trend, though, is not forcing it (you also don’t want anyone to get hurt). You may already have a candid video in your archives of a goofy moment! While being transparent about a mistake has its benefits, creating a clumsy moment just for a trend would likely do more harm than good.
HBO’s hit show House of The Dragon also inspired its fair share of trends (even for its actors’ mewing ability). Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s eloquent pronunciation of high Valyerian to briefly calm the fearsome dragon Vermithor inspired creators to use the audio showing their attempts to tame unruly pets.
@amirthevet Cats are basically dragons…. #cats #veterinarian #vetlife #catowner ♬ Vermithor_Likiri - Carine__Santana
If your agency works with animals or informs the public about animals in any way, this trend could be a fun way to showcase the animal or even a unique opportunity for an on-trend Public Service Announcement (PSA).
Reels
Instagram periodically drops a trends report on its @creators account. Here are the details from the latest report, posted on July 17:
- “Apple” Dance: Creators pair choreography from @kelleyheyer with music from Charlie XCX to celebrate brat summer.
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8: Instagram recommends using this challenge style trend to test your rhythm in your next Reel. Find an example on slide #3 in IG’s trend report.
- Outfit Roll Call: Get some friends together and name a couple defining features of your outfits to the beat. Get silly! Find an example on slide #4 in IG’s trend report.
- Trending Audio:
- I like it by Alesso & Nate Smith
- Summer Days (feat. Macklemore & Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy) by Martin Garrix
- Take Me To The Edge (feat. Snoop Dogg) by Niosmith
While many government agencies have trouble using trending audio due to copyright restrictions for business vs. creator accounts, the good news about the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 challenge and the Outfit Roll Call trend is that they don’t rely on trending audio!
Chesterfield County, Virginia (@chesterfieldvirginia) and Virginia Department of Emergency Management (@VDEM) collaborated for a unique PSA using one of my favorite current audio trends. The “Oh look, a strawberry” audio is commonly used to showcase pets that appear more skrunkly as the audio gets more unintelligible.
View this post on Instagram
The collab Reel from Chesterfield County and Virginia Department of Emergency Management uses this audio to visualize the state’s summer weather as it gets “progressively worse.” The video is paired with a highly informative caption that functions as a PSA to help people prepare for Hurricane Debby and what to pack in their emergency preparedness kit.
The video is a great example of how you can adapt a fun trend to your agency’s mission and communicate it in a way that may reach audience’s who wouldn’t normally engage with government content. It’s also a good reminder to consider how you can collaborate with other agencies in your area to share resources and ideas!
Another great reminder - the power of showcasing employees at your organization. According to a recent Post Performance Report from Sprout Social, consumers want to see frontline employees on social rather than executives or members of the social media teams. Milwaukee Public Library earned a major shoutout in this report with their Reels featuring explainers-style videos from staff and other memorable moments or interactions.
Worried your frontline staff will respond like Mister Chief being asked to face the camera if you ask them to get involved on social? Members of the free GSM Network can look back at a #GSMChat discussion on Top Ways to Inspire Co-Workers to Submit Great Content for Social.
X
For detailed instructions on how to check trending topics regularly and filter by your location, take a look back at this previous trends blog.
At the time of publication, here are the top five trending topics in the United States:
Do you have any K-pop fans on your staff? This is their time to shine! The Korean girl group BLACKPINK claims two of the current top trending topics on X. This could be a fun opportunity to share some employee-generated content and get creative!
Another easy day-of grab to consider as a government agency could be #5 with #WednesdayMotivation. Visit other departments and ask them what their motivation is for serving the community! This could be a great opportunity to showcase your staff while creating content that resonates with your audience.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving landscape of social media trends, staying informed and adaptable is crucial for effective engagement.
But, it’s important to note, that when it comes to creating trending content, it’s always important to ensure it’s coming from a genuine place and never forced. While trends can be unpredictable, it can be helpful to use social listening best practices and keep looking ahead at seasons & observances to help anticipate what might be coming around the social corner. Giving yourself time to meaningfully produce content, especially when it comes to more sensitive subjects, can be a major key when connecting with your community online. Stay ahead of upcoming observances by downloading our free, interactive 2024 Observance Calendar Roundup.
By leveraging trending content and understanding its nuances, you can create relevant and resonant interactions with your audience. So, keep exploring, stay creative, and let these insights guide your next viral moment!
Want to be featured in a future trends blog? Send me an email at [email protected]
Meet the author
Ariana Donley
Social Media Manager–Government Social Media LLC
Ariana graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Human Rights. She spent several years in the TV news industry and also served the Birmingham Police Department initially as a Crime Prevention Officer and later as the first Public Relations Manager. She is passionate about GSM's mission and and enjoys the positive and supportive team work environment.
Government Social Media empowers government professionals to achieve mastery in social media through conferences, online training, and professional association membership.
Best communicate with the public you serve and get connected with fellow socialgovs by joining our free network for bi-weekly Government Social Media Chats or professional association for member-only webinars. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates on training, events and more.
