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. For 1v1 tailored help building out your social media, book an Office Hours Session or an Audit here.

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Give these a whirl (and post them on Reels & Shorts too)

→ “Emoji” Trend: This trend has creators like Ariana Radjenovic sharing their political views within a niche like wellness with posts like this, which contrast the emojis that align with their version of wellness versus the opposition’s view of wellness. The trend is simple, but provides another way to share with the class where you stand without a ten-minute speech. The trend can be used by candidates, electeds, thought leaders, and so on, and can also branch out into other topics like science, the environment, sports, etc. To note, this trend can be done with a video format or a carousel.

→ “The traffic was crazy” Trend: This trend has had creators typically using this audio to highlight what it actually means when they’re late and they say “traffic was crazy.” Usually the reason shown is taking too long to get ready, and things of that nature. However, the trend can also literally tap into nature, as seen here, and show an animal-caused traffic delay. For a candidate or elected in a rural area, a cow or sheep herd crossing traffic delay could play in a fun, relatable way; the same goes for a falling iguanas delay in Florida or a turtle trying to cross the road, and so on.

→ “What’s on your mind” Trend: This content concept as done by creator The Geriatric Millenial shows what it’s like thinking these days/just simply trying to move through the world, aka a compilation of all of the vast and challenging thoughts crossing one’s mental desk. The content concept does a great job at showing both the creator’s viewpoints and their humanity – it’s sharing in a way that brings people in, and connects. The concept uses b-roll and this audio, although it does not need to be limited to this audio.

→ “You know whose opinion we don’t need” Trend: Kylie Kelce dropped a winning audio that creators like Haley Lickstein are using to call out whose opinions “we” don’t actually need. Beyond that format, the audio also works well for POV-style videos that center a creator’s experience with an unwanted or unsolicited opinion. This approach can easily translate to candidates pushing back against a problematic or unnecessary opinion shared by an opponent.

Trending TikTok audios for creative uses and b-roll

AUDIO → IDFW ICE ICE BABY Kai Phoenix Mashup *use this audio to share your views on ICE

AUDIO → Smooth operator *use this if you’ve been tasked with making edits of someone that you’re trying to amp up

AUDIO → sonido original audio *use this with Bad Bunny x Super Bowl content

Creative content concepts to try

→ “Faithful, not sure, traitor” Trend: This audio is being used by creators generally to share who they trust, who they’re not sure about, and who would or has absolutely betrayed their trust – think applications like this, where it’s about who someone can tell office gossip to v. not. However, this audio can also be used to share who you think is faithful to the Constitution, who you’re not sure about [one person/group per video], and who is a traitor to the Constitution [one person/group per video]. The style of the Reel can take a few forms – like this, but instead of crafting materials, its pictures of the people you’re spotlighting; like this with the names of each person spotlighted added to the video text per “title;” or you could use the audio over a carousel, with a slide for each “title.”

→ “POV: the topic is men” Trend: This trend is known for showcasing the vibes and the reactions of the girl group when they’re talking about men – hint for the men reading this: it’s not great for y’all. Alas, this trend could be adapted to “POV: the topic is the Trump Administration” or a specific person in the admin, a specific action they’ve taken, and so on. For the Reel, which can be shared on TikTok and Shorts, use this audio, and a compilation of video clips featuring the group chat lookin’ disgusted and dismayed [OG audio should be off, btw].

→ “What I use in my recipe” Trend: Various versions of this trend have existed over the years, with cooking and lifestyle creators using this format to show not just the food ingredients they’re using, but the morals/values/behaviors that are the ingredients that shape their POVs. This concept can be replicated in a similar form from the creator POV, but also for a candidate, it can be adapted to share the “ingredients” [policies] that make up their platform. Similarly, an org could have a thought leader use the general ingredients format to share what the org fights for. Audio-wise, PYO – pick your own.

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Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → karissa wampler original audio *use this audio with a transition video that shows a before and after 

AUDIO → Yes I’m Changing *use with b-roll to show an evolution of something or someone over time

AUDIO → In The Mix *use this audio to share a part of adulthood you ‘survived’ this week – it’s meant to be sarcastic and playful

AUDIO → The World We Knew *use this audio to highlight a dramatic shift away from the past with a caption that shares where you hope the world goes

AUDIO → overthink the positives original audio *use this video with a hope-core video that highlights what you hope for when looking toward the future

AUDIO → Robbers *use this audio to share build up for something positive [you might need to save it for the down the line]

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing another legend that’s NOT in the Epstein Files.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing Epstein Files that people should see.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing where Bezo’s money is going and who it’s supporting.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by dropping need-to-know details on Peter Thiel and who he’s connected to.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing what the Trump Admin should actually be spending taxpayer money on.

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

Bezos and WAPO

Immigration Enforcement

ICE Protest

Nintendo Direct

Mandelson Scandal

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