#VIRAL, The Newsletter: February 4, 2025

10+ fresh content trends to use on TikTok, Reels, and Shorts

Author

Girl and the Gov®
February 04, 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].

Looking for more insights on how to grow your socials, podcast, or other digital products? Tap into our bespoke consulting offerings here or drop us a note at [email protected].

 

TIKTOK CONTENT TRENDS

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

“DO NOT COME” TREND: This trend is being used to highlight an action from one party and a reaction from another, like this. The audio – the basis of this trend – goes, “I do not like this song, ‘Santa Claus is coming to town.’ Do not come to my town,” which gets broken into two pieces:

  • Part 1: “I do not like this song, Santa Claus is coming to town.” | the action to react to

  • Part 2: “Do not come to my town.” | the reaction to the action

Both the action and reaction can be illustrated either with on-screen text or with the addition of an image-sticker representative of either/both portions. This particular trend is most useful for organizations that are trying to showcase a political action they don’t support and the reaction either from themselves, their target audience, or an elected official that embodies their mission.

“SEX & THE CITY, F U” AUDIO: This audio is epitome of the girlies at brunch uniting together over someone or something that’s worth saying “fuck them” or “fuck that” to. So, in the lens of politics, ask yourself, “who did something recently that would make you say ‘fuck them’?” Your answer is the thesis to your TikTok using this audio. Format-wise, at least three options come to mind:

“CRAZY, DANGEROUS MAN” AUDIO: This creator’s accurate reaction to the current news cycle – one where a “crazy, dangerous man does crazy, dangerous things” is a usable audio for videos that…

  • Highlight a crazy, dangerous action done by the crazy, dangerous man

  • Share the connection between Project 2025/campaign promises and the actions being done now

This trend can be done with a green screen-style video pointing to actions as described above, a carousel of images depicting the actions, a video with a creator using text or image-stickers to highlight the actions.

“STATE OF AMERICAN POLITICS” AUDIO: This video of a Dad interviewing his toddler about the state of American politics now that DT is president, has given us this audio. The audio can be used to showcase you and a colleague’s reaction to DT being president and what he’s doing. The video doesn’t have to be complicated – it just needs two people, one with a mic playing the interviewer role and the other playing the interviewee role. 

“BECAUSE YOU KNOW IN A MOMENT IT COULD ALL JUST POOF” TREND: This audio is being used to make videos where creators share something that can be “gone” in a flash. The format for the videos looks like this and can be easily applied to the erosion of rights, legal protections, immigration status, and so on. In other words, the trend can be used to advocate for codifying rights, protections, etc, especially by using the caption to provide more details.

“MY SHAYLA 2.0” AUDIO: For those that aren’t chronically online, the phrase “my shayla” has become a way to indicate that someone is “precious” or “near and dear.” This 2.0 version of “my shayla” enables creators to share a moment when they hear from whoever they’ve dubbed “their shayla” like this (it doesn’t have to be this casual of a format). A few political application examples to:

  • When you hear from a fellow rep you want to work with on an issue

  • When you hear from a fellow rep that they’re going to support your bill

  • When you hear that the governor has included a key priority area for you in their budget

  • When you get a news notification showing an elected in another state making big moves

“WE’LL HAVE A LOOK” AUDIO: This audio can be used to highlight something or someone that the audience should “have a look at.” The something could be anything from a place [think footage of the inside the state capitol building] to a meeting where an important legislative amendment is being considered, and beyond. It’s a super versatile audio and can really be used to create directly political content or lifestyle-adjacent content that straddles the line.

TIKTOK AUDIOS

TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

AUDIO → jacqefxs sound

INSTA REELS AUDIOS 

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → Benediction

AUDIO → Love

AUDIO → Hazelnut

Creative content concepts to try

“I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING COULD BE GOING ON” AUDIO: This audio can be used to create a Reel that points out something that’s suss or sketchy that’s going on – lot’s to pick from right now. The format can vary – with this style as an option, as well as this style – just with this particular audio used instead.

“YOU DO” TREND: This audio is being used for Reels where the creator aims to convince the audience that they do in fact need to do something/buy something/say something – the emphasis is on the audience that “they do need to.” The trend looks like this and this in practice. It can be used with a political CTA – call your reps, add public comments, attend a hearing, register to vote, and so much more. This is a particularly action driven trend and should be used as such.

“SATURDAYS ARE FOR” TREND: This trend in its original form, as seen here, uses b-roll and a short line of text to showcase a romanticized version of a Saturday. While doing copy and paste isn’t going to make you many friends currently, the concept can be revised to show b-roll of reps, candidates, thought leaders working hard and through the weekend. Think b-roll of meetings, walking between meetings, the core buildings, typing emails, doing the press circuit etc. Use this audio and the same text format on the video as with the OG example.

“IF SOMEBODY SAYS NO, YOU’RE TALKING TO THE WRONG PERSON” AUDIO: This audio can be used by an elected or an org that’s trying to illustrate that  they are pushing back on the idea that “nothing can be done about the current status quo.” The style of this Reel would work for an org when paired with an action they’re taking in the caption and one viewers can take. For an elected official taking this trend one, they should be seated at their desk, and what they’re pushing back on should be written on the feed of the video.

PODCAST PLAYBOOKS

Secure placements for your principal (or yourself)

ICYMI - Girl and the Gov® creates bespoke podcast playbooks that deliver strategic placements to best connect elected officials, candidates, and thought leaders with their target audiences. Crafted with team needs in mind, through the lens of experienced podcasters, the playbooks put your principal’s goals in play (and in earbuds). To learn more, drop the team note at [email protected] or simply reply to this email.

THREADS TO THREAD

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost with a political example of an important room filled with mediocre people, and how that mediocre room can be phased out.

The Thread → Reply OR repost with a link to your newsletter or email list that provides core information for your target audience.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and discuss ways that governments, federal, state, local etc can reduce their debt load.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and discuss other products that will go up in price based on the current political environment and moves being made.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and share an actually smart plan instead of Trump’s tariff threat-to-faux-fix pipeline.

SKIES ARE BLUE

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

RFK Jr.

Fantastic Four

El Salvador

USAID

WWE Raw

Cooper Kupp

IRS

Rep. Raskin

CAPCUT TEMPLATES

Meme it

  • Use this template to highlight using methods of distraction to prevent the opposition from being successful.

  • Use this template to direct audiences to an action item or items that they should be doing right now to make an impact.

  • Use this template to highlight a situation that was entirely preventable that we’re now dealing with that the collective “we” does not want.

AND BEFORE YOU GO

…find more Girl and the Gov® here: