#VIRAL, The Newsletter: January 21, 2025

TikTok's back at it just in time for this newsletter (how thoughtful!)

Author

Girl and the Gov®
January 21, 2025

Happy Tuesday and welcome to #VIRAL, The Newsletter, which shares need-to-know content trends and concepts for political social media, digital, and comms professionals. Dive into this week’s trends and content ideas below [and share with a social media manager in your network].

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TIKTOK CONTENT TRENDS

Give these a whirl (and post them on other platforms too)

Another quick note: Currently, TikTok is back, so we are proceeding with including trends and audios for the platform. Do note, that these can be downloaded and utilized across platforms, as they should [in most cases]. 

“LIBERALS IN MAGA FIELDS” TREND: This is an old trend making a comeback post inauguration. Creators are sharing a behavior that’s aligned with MAGA values and how they would apply it to a MAGA, like this. To participate in the trend, use this audio and add a hashtag laced in sarcasm, #liberalsinmagafields.

“MEN TAKING IT LIKE MEN” AUDIO: This audio highlights how we as a society tell men to “take it like  man” when in the history of the world, men have historically “not taken it well.” use the audio to highlight a situation currently where men are not taking it well. The easiest route to go here is to mime the audio and then add a sticker image of a headline sharing a situation men are not handling well.

“VERY CUTESY, VERY DEMURE, VERY PATRIOTIC” AUDIO: This creator’s audio sheds light on how she reacts to a political outcome she doesn’t like – hint: it’s the opposite of storming the capitol. Use the audio to create a TikTok highlighting your healthy, patriotic, and normal reaction to not winning an election. The goal is to continue drawing comparisons between right/wrong, normal/weird, etc.

“YOU’RE SO FUNNY” TREND: This trend has creators sharing a trauma or specific experience that has made them “funny.” Like with this post, it’s the real real when someone hands you the “you’re so funny compliment.” Make this trend happen with this audio, a still image post, and your experience added to the screen via text. Naturally, to make it political, make the experience shared a political one.

TIKTOK AUDIOS

TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

AUDIO → FDT

INSTA REELS AUDIOS 

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → Time Moves Slow

AUDIO → Universal Joint

AUDIO → The Payback

AUDIO → Chameleon

AUDIO → Let ‘Em In

AUDIO → Mother’s Love

~ we don’t name these audios, don’t come for us ~

Creative content concepts to try

“WALK TUAH” TREND: 2024 had the “hawk tuah girl” and 2025 has the “walk tuah” trend. The trend, enabled this audio, has creators able to showcase their use of public transit. Whether you’re an organization that’s supportive of robust public transit or are an elected official that’s behind public transit projects, this trend can be used to highlight the benefits of a functioning and funded public transit system. Format-wise, this Reel and this Reel are great places to pull inspo from. The caption of the resulting Reel should share more about public transit in your neck of the woods and its benefits.

“ONE IN EVERY COLOR” AUDIO: Campaign teams that are launching merch – this audio is for you. Use the audio to create a Reel showcasing the array of merch options and encouraging supporters to make a purchase. The original set up for the audio per this Reel is a great general format to follow – think at least two participants – one that is the “encourager” and the other that is the “shopper” that’s showing off all of the options to buy. In another vein, this example, which simply showcases a box of products being packed also works well.

“TOOK A WALK TO CLEAR MY HEAD” AUDIO: No, we did not plan for this edition of the newsletter to have so many walking-themed audios, but here we are. This audio enables creators to share a place they end up when they go on a little walk to “clear their head” like with this Reel. In a political application, the “place” can be…

  • …a dinner/get together with other reps at a local small biz

  • …a place of collaboration and brainstorming in the office or otherwise

  • …the campaign HQ

  • ….a monument or building symbolic of an idea or concept you’re trying to push

“THIS KIND OF WEATHER” AUDIO: This audio shares the experience of not being born for cold weather. Two reps – one from warm weather and one from cold weather could utilize the audio to create a Reel making fun of the warm weather rep trying to deal with DC temperatures. Think Michigan rep meets Florida rep energy. The goal is showing relatability and connectivity between reps on the experiences that connect us all.

“ARE YOU GOING TO BEHAVE?” AUDIO: Former President Obama was asked at the inauguration if he was going to behave, to which he said no. The audio can be used to create a Reel sharing a situation where you will not be “behaving” or on your “best” behavior per classical societal standards. This can be best applied to a set of time or when advocating for an issue area. Style-wise…

  • …a solo Reel could work with the creator mimicking Obama’s verbal response and text added to the video sharing what the creator is saying no to. 

  • …a duo Reel where one creator plays the reporter and the other “responds”.

For both options, the caption should further illustrate why the creator is not “coloring within the lines” on the issue area or per the situation.

“HE LOVES ME” AUDIO: This audio shares a conversation where there’s one delusional friend saying that a guy loves her and the other friend is highlighting the reality that he does not love her. This scenario can be applied to Trump supporters thinking that Trump loves them, when in fact that is not the case. To best use the audio in this sense, add text on the video that shares two things that Trump actually loves/cares about in reality. This concept can also be used with other electeds, candidates, etc.

THREADS TO THREAD

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost and share what WHO is and why it’s dangerous for the US to be withdrawing from it.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and share a recent example of men being too emotional to govern.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and share what else will be going up price wise as a result of Trump’s actions.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and share something that “they” should remember about “you” that means a lot

The Thread → Reply OR repost and share how you’re doing and how people can support one another [if you have a direct resource for people, share it].

The Thread → Reply OR repost a political podcast or podcast discussing a political issue you find important.

SKIES ARE BLUE

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

Louisiana Weather

Snowfall

Australian Open

Keir Starmer

Marco Rubio

Elon Musk

Rams

Rockets

#BlackSky

College Football

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