#VIRAL, The Newsletter: August 14, 2

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 picks below.

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TikTok Content Trends

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

“Things I do to fill my own cup” Trend: This carousel trend has creators sharing the things that the not only love, but that fill their cup. It’s a super accessible trend, that from an elected or candidate POV, would provide a little bit of insight into some of the things that they hold dear in a relatable way. To make the trend happen:

• Compile b-roll that represents and/or visually shows the things that ‘fill the cup’ of the account principal 

• On the first slide, utilize small font to add “thing i do to fill my own cup”

• On the slides that follow, use a sentence or less to describe the activity or thing that’s shown

• Utilize this audio – editors note: if you drop this trend on IG as well, don’t add the audio

“Omg I have to tell you something…” Trend: This video trend has creators bringing to life a situation that often happens between friends – specifically when one has some serious tea on hand, and drops the phrase “omg I have to tell you something, but let’s wait until we sit down,” instead of just saying the tea right then. The reaction, as seen with this video, is a friend dropping immediately to the ground to take a seat, in an attempt to speed up the delivery of the scalding hot gossip. This trend could be replicated as-is…

• Part 1– Friend one walks and lip-syncs saying “omg i have to tell you something but let’s wait until we sit down”

• Part 2 – Friend two visually reacts and sits down awaiting the tea exactly where they are

… or could be embellished by adding the drop of some political tea with a part 3 to the video, where it turns back to friend one and shows them “sharing the tea,” with a one to two-line piece of political need-to-know added to the video. Regardless, the audio to use for the background is this one.

“Things I don’t regret…” Trend: This carousel trend is really the “things I don’t regret buying” trend, but we’re putting a political twist on it, mmkay? Mmkay! Instead of “things I don’t regret buying,” it should be “things I don’t regret voting for.” Each slide should feature an aesthetic b-roll image that fits with your overall brand/image/vibe with one of the following additions:

• Via text, the name of the bill and one line about what the bill does (if passed into law) or would do (if passed into law) – make sure to note if it passed or not

• Add an image of the bill and its status ATM from congress.gov or another tracking source that shows the bill number/name

“Choose my next…” Trend: It’s clearly a big week for carousel trends, because here’s another one. As seen with this creator’s post, she’s created a slide show of books she’s considering reading and asking her audience to give their thoughts on which she should pick next. It’s part peak behind the curtain and part a book for audience engagement. The trend could be picked up as-is by an elected or candidate, featuring books that fit into the image they’re trying to cultivate. In addition, the trend could be revised to be about other subjects, for example:

• “Choose the logo for our website”

• “Choose the next campaign stop”

• “Choose the yard sign design”

• “Choose the policy you want me to focus on the most”

‘What’s Happenin’ Audio: This audio features Latto dropping that she did NOT vote for Trump in a lyrically fun and gorgeous way. To use that tidbit of the audio for a quick TikTok, you will need to cut the idea to have it start at the right place. This audio definitely lends itself more to a creator than someone in a more formal role, but you do you boo. For inspo, give this video and this video a watch.

TikTok Audios

TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

AUDIO → 12 to 12 *you could also use this in a trend capacity, especially if you have a boss that has an excellent bromance going on

AUDIO → original sound d5

AUDIO → original sound mc mc

AUDIO → luna amore e no

IG Reels Audios

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → The Violin

AUDIO → her garden

AUDIO → gen_laforce original audio

AUDIO → Another Day in Paradise

AUDIO → What was I made for?

Instagram Trends

Creative content concepts to try

‘Love letter to DC’ Trend: This trend is being used to show support for DC, mainly from those living there, but also from those that spend loads of time there. Typically this audio is paired with a Reel montage of beautiful moments and spaces that capture the amazing essence of D.C. Added to the video is text that reads “a love letter to DC” with letter often being replaced with the emoji for a letter.

‘Five star review” Trend: This skit-style trend has a few variations, but generally speaking aims to mimic what it’s like [in a sarcastic way] to come into work after getting mentioned in an online review of the business one works at [think: yelp review]. There are versions like this that show what’s it when it’s a five-star review moment, and then there’s others that show when it’s a one-star review, but casting the shade for it at the customer because the one-star was unwarranted/Karen-like. This concept, which can be executed with the full office involved, can utilize what it’s like to be name dropped by a MAGA troll, mentioned on Fox News/Newsmax, etc/ given a bad podcast review, etc.

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 Threads to Thread

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost and share why NJ and VA voters showing up in November matters more than ever.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and elaborate on the GOP plan to privatize social security and what it would mean for every day Americans.

The Thread → Reply OR repost with the specific dangers of there no longer being anyone on the National EMS Advisory Council as a result of the Trump Admin.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing other items that have risen in price as a result of Trump’s tariffs. 

The Thread → Reply OR repost by listing some other MAGA criminals in DC.

The Thread → Reply OR repost with an important stat the people should know.

Skies Are Blue

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

Costco

The Amazing Race

WPlace

Spurs

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