Just Dance embraced the situation and shared videos replacing the music in their game with royalty-free music songs. Their TikTok got over one million views.
Takeaway: This could have been a disaster for the platform, its iranian whatsapp users, and brands. But in typical Gen Z fashion, creators turned a challenge into a comedic opportunity, showcasing how adaptable the platform and its users truly are.
3. I just wanna be part of your symphony
This trend involves images of rainbows, waterfalls, and flying dolphins á la Lisa Frank set against the song “Symphony” by Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson. These images are paired with an irreverent, self-deprecating, or unhinged caption, like "I have social anxiety."
Gen Z and Gen Alpha love bright and flashy 90s and Y2K aesthetics, but this trend serves them up with a side of irony and cynicism. It's the juxtaposition that makes it work!
The artists of the song obviously jumped on the trend. Clean Bandit’s TikTok, "I love popcorn and Cher," has over 3.5 million views. Zara Larsson took it a step further by posting "What the f*** is going on." She also added a blow-up dolphin at her concerts as a nod to the trend.
And it wouldn’t be a trend without Duolingo hopping on it. Their interpretation featured green dolphins and the caption "end your streak and I’ll end you."
Takeaway: Dark humor and meme culture do numbers, especially on TikTok.
4. How many aura points did I lose?
Another self-deprecating Gen Z social media trend this year is where the creator posts about an embarrassing moment, asking "how many aura points did I lose?" "Aura points" can be loosely translated to "cool factor." We’re not 100% sure about the origin, but it can most likely be traced back to the basketball and football communities on X where people comment on the "aura" of athletes.
