Welcome to #VIRAL, The Newsletter from Girl and the Gov®, sharing need-to-know content trends and concepts for Dem social media, digital, and comms professionals. Dive into this week’s picks below.
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TikTok Content Trends
Give these a whirl (and post them on Reels & Shorts too)
→ “Girl they do not like us” Trend: This audio is being used by bestie pairs to create TikToks like this, illustrating what it’s like to debrief in the car after an event where you both realize everyone has an issue with y’all in some capacity. The concept could be used to highlight what it’s like door-knocking in a particularly red area or unwelcoming space; what it’s like going to an opposition’s town hall or fundraiser; or anywhere in the political orbit where it was a tough crowd to say the least. The video could be done by staffers, candidates, electeds, and thought leaders.
→ “Don’t judge because one day it could be you” Trend: This trend has creators highlighting that classic interaction, where someone tells you not to judge someone for a behavior or choice because “one day it could be you,” but it’s something that in no situation on earth you would ever do – and it’s so incredibly obviously bad/insane/not in your wheel house. For the trend, which looks like this and this, text is added to the screen like so:
“Don’t judge because it can be you one day”
Why would I + [whatever it is you would never do – ex: “pass a bill that strips people of of their healthcare”]
To set the resulting video on the right course, use this audio.
→ “Bad Bunny Super Bowl half time show” Trend: One the latest Call Her Daddy interviews featured none other than Andy Cohen. During the interview he was asked his thoughts on the Bad Bunny half time show to come, and this audio, which lambasts people not knowing that Bad Bunny is American is gold. And that gold can be used to create reaction-esque TikToks like this or to level it up, a reaction video in front of a white board or poster map that clearly outlines the reality that Puerto Rico is a part of the USA.
→ “DT is a vile creature” Audio: Speaker Pelosi popped off on Trump in this interview, and the audio is gold. It can of course be used in TikToks highlighting Trump and his actions, but the first part of it [before it mentions Trump specifically] can also be used to highlight relatable dislikes like…
You or a friend’s ex
A friend’s significant other
Another opposition member
A former boss
A celebrity in the thick of it
The content can take on this form with contextual text added to the video or be as simple as a carousel of images of the person who the creator is dubbing a vile creature.
→ “DT and his cronies can fuck all the way off” Audio: From Gov. Pritzker’s lips to your feed, is this audio from a speech where he says that “Donald Trump and his cronies can fuck all the way off,” amongst other things. The first part of the audio can be used to generate a short TikTok that declares the POV of “f Trump.” For a longer form and more education policy focused TikTok using the audio, the video can have the principal creator reacting to and/or lipsyncing the audio with examples of what Pritzker is talking about added to the video via image or text.
→ “It’s giving election day” Audio: The first part of this audio from an interview, repurposed and posted by The Democrats account, is one to save for your next election day – it could be a special election coming up, a primary, etc. The interviewee’s commentary on the excitement of election day can be used to motivate people to get to the polls, if put into motion with a video at the start of an election day. Style-wise, the video can be done solo or mimic the interview format of the OG video. Additionally, the TikTok can be done by campaign staffers and/or thought leaders at an organization that’s supporting a candidate or generally people going out to vote.
TikTok Audios
Trending TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids
AUDIO → Nice n’ Easy
AUDIO → original sound bett
AUDIO → original sound mayadelilah
AUDIO → original sound hilaryduff
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Instagram Trends
Creative content concepts to try
→ “News conference” Trend: This office humor trend has creators making POV-style Reels highlighting what it feels like when they witness or know all of the office drama, and are ready to spill. The concept could be replicated almost as-is with a political twist or identifier added into the verbiage on screen. The video’s angle and verbiage could also be changed to “announce” some news/tea/info. For example, “POV: you’re about to tell everyone [XYZ news]. The trend uses this audio.
→ “Us leaving the cafe after…” Trend: This trend is based on the experience of leaving a cafe/restaurant/meeting/bar after two+ people talked their shit very loudly, like so. The trend features two people leaving a location with text added to the Reel along the lines of “us leaving the bar after having talked about our most embarrassing moments.” The trend can be made a bit more political with a change in the verbiage – ex: “Us leaving the Longworth Dunkin after talking about [embarrassing/heinous thing done by an elected].” The trend uses this audio.
→ “I might not be perfect but…” Trend: This trend has creators filming selfie-style videos like this, sharing that while they might not be perfect, they at least don’t… [fill in the blank]. The trend uses this audio and text on screen to make the point. The fill in the blank should be a view/mentality/action that you think is heinous and oppose.
IG Reels Audios
Background audios that make Reels move
AUDIO → All I Can Say
AUDIO → Recuerdame
AUDIO → Ladyfingers (piano version)
AUDIO → Water Melody
Threads to Thread
Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing more thoughts or reactions on the extremism happening in the Republican party.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing your thoughts on Laura Loomer getting press credentials at the Pentagon.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing your thoughts on the mass-labeling at the White House.
The Thread → Reply OR repost your thoughts on Dr. Oz’s comments on “making lots of Trump babies.”
The Thread → Reply OR repost by adding another male in politics failure.
The Thread → Reply OR repost by adding another position women should be in because they’re better at it.
Skies Are Blue
Trending topics ATM on Bluesky
Novo Nordisk
Pauline Collins
Mike Johnson
Nancy Pelosi
Meta Scams
Rockets
BEFORE YOU GO…
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