#VIRAL, The Newsletter: January 14, 2025

TikTok trends you can take to other platforms, IG Reels audios to use now and later, and Threads that you can tap into it

Author

Girl and the Gov®
January 14, 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)

A quick note: It’s unclear whether TikTok will live to see another day in its current form past the 19th or not. If it does end up shutting down, we’ll be continuing with trends that work for all of the other platforms. In the meantime, we recommend continuing to post and cross-posting any content you do create for TikTok. We also recommend downloading any videos you wish to have on hand to use on other platforms now or later.

“HEIDI MONTAG SONG(S)” TREND: The LA fires have been absolutely devastating. And Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag [of The Hills fame] lost everything. They’re in the process of trying to rebuild and are using Heidi’s pop album to raise funds. The top two songs that they’re pushing are this one and this one with the goal streams everywhere – including on TikTok to bring more eyes to the song, and thus increase revenue-making streams for the song on iTunes and Spotify. Millennials, pop stars, and cultural icons are all using the song in content, which you can do too. A few examples to use as inspo can be found here:

Other cultural notes: They’re trying to get Pitbull board to add a verse, as well as to lock in a contract with Hulu for a reality show.

“KATHY HILTON INTERNET SLEUTHING” TREND: If you watch RHOBH, you know that Kathy Hilton is known for her quirky phrases and commentary. This audio of hers from a recent Access Hollywood interview depicts a quasi morning routine where she drinks her coffee and then uses her ipad to search for the tea/backstory on all the people not getting along [in her orbit]. This scenario can easily be applied to people in politics because there’s always a group not getting along or creating drama. Whoever that may be, center them in a video like this or like this, highlighting the dramatic, reality-tv-esque environment that politics often is like. The text added to the video should share who the people at the center of the drama are; it can group or groups versus just individuals.

“BEEEEEP” AUDIO: This audio is annoying but effective. It’s the beeeeep audio, so you get what you get. And what you get is an opportunity to create a video reacting to a political occurrence that’s 1. Heinous 2. Would have you cussing a big ol’ WTF [hence it needing to be “beeped out”]. To create the video:

  • You can use a simple vertical image of you with an expression clearly indicating a WTF reaction + adding either via text or an image sticker, the occurrence you’re reacting to.

  • You can use a video of you with an expression clearly indicating a WTF reaction + adding either via text or an image sticker, the occurrence you’re reacting to.

  • You can create a carousel of images that depict “WTF occurrences” with the audio added.

“WHAT’S WORSE THAN BURGA AND FRIES?” TREND: This audio allows creators to share something “bad” and then something that would be “worse.” It can be executed like this:

Video: 

  • The creator mime-speaks the audio. 

  • For the first part of the audio, “what’s worse than burga and fries you ask?” on the video, there should be text or an image sticker sharing the political thing that’s “bad.” 

  • For the second part of the audio, “evil burga with a side of horror fries,” there should be text or an image sticker sharing the political thing that’s “worse.”

Carousel/Photo: The first slide is something “bad” and the second slide is something “worse.” The audio is added to it.

“MOMMY CAN WE GO ON OUR PLANE AGAIN?” TREND: Another day, another audio worth its weight in gold from the Real Housewives. This audio is being used to highlight something that was awesome/great/fun/cool and so on, that no longer exists. That “thing” could be something in your day-to-day [ex: a chocotaco’s] or in this case, a law/regulation/policy pov that no longer exists [ex: protections of Roe]. To create the TikTok, use a before and after cadence like done in this video and in this video.

“THESE TWO ARE ABOUT TO GET INTO IT” AUDIO: This audio is perfect for this week’s sea of cabinet confirmation hearings with its ability to highlight two people that are about to get into it. Think: two people that are about to have a war of words. Use this with C-Span footage for a video or a carousel slide. Utilize the caption to share more details on the scene you’re illustrating for viewers.

TIKTOK AUDIOS

TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

AUDIO → There She Go

AUDIO → without you

AUDIO → Gold (Remix)

INSTA REELS AUDIOS 

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → DAYLIGHT DOOM

AUDIO → Mother’s Love

AUDIO →  CHIHIRO (MTG)

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

Creative content concepts to try

“YOU FORGOT SOMETHING” AUDIO: This audio is mainly being used by fashion or lifestyle creators to share the progression of an outfit like seen here. It starts with the “base” outfit and then following an audio drop of “miss, you forgot something” shows one by one the details added to create the “complete” outfit. One could argue that there could be a “base bill” that could be added to in order to make it complete or better. To that point, you can take that concept and merge it with this trend to share a bill you’d like to see amendments to and what they are. Visually, we see this as a video that comes together like this:

  • Part 1: Shows the creator holding the bill or reading the bill with the bill name added to the video for this segment.

  • Part 2: Moves to a video of the bill printed out on a desk with the amendments being added via text to the screen in alignment with the audio’s “pop” sounds.

“OMG NOTIFICATION” TREND: If you’ve ever been in a situation like this one, where you’re with a friend or two, or even solo, and receive a text or notification that makes you lose your mind, this trend may resonate. While often the notification is connected to one’s dating life, it can also be connected to a political figure’s day-to-day – for example, the notification that surprises could be a news notification, an update from a staffer, etc. To execute, we envision it like this:

  • Two or more colleagues would be featured in the video, gathered around a phone as if they’re about to film a live, a video, take a video call together etc

  • The colleagues then are filmed reacting however they would react or overreact to a notification.

  • The notification/news would be shared on the screen via text and elaborated on in the caption.

“LA LA LA, AHHHHHH” AUDIO: Just like in this Reel, some days you’re just rumbling around doing your thing, and then BAM something shocking pops across your radar. Kind of a classic day in politics if you think about it, which leads us to our general point here that this audio can be used to highlight a normal/functional piece of a political day-in-the-life paired with when it takes a dive and some heinous news breaks. One possible scenario could have part one showing the creator at their desk doing work and the second part showing the creator reacting to a story on their computer screen or running to another part of the building to solve a problem.

CAPCUT TEMPlATES

Give ‘em a whirl

  • Use this template to share a situation where you’re at your wits end and someone is still poking the bear.

  • Use this template to share an accomplishment that normally should be easy to get done but was facing roadblocks because people were being immature. Think: sarcasm via Dolly Parton.

  • Use this template to highlight a scenario where you could comment but you’re just going to let the scenario speak for itself and choose to stay silent.

  • Use this template to point to a situation unfolding where you’re just letting the tea fall where it may, popcorn and notebook in hand.

THREADS TO THREAD

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing a stereotypical “masculine” behavior you have to contend with working in politics.

The Thread → Reply OR repost and share legislation recent or upcoming surrounding salary transparency.

The Thread → Reply OR repost with a food/meal or restaurant that would “heal you” in your district [think: supporting small businesses]. 

The Thread → Reply OR repost by responding to the prompt about whether unity is possible in the future and if so, how we get there.

The Thread → Reply OR repost with a political initiative you’ve circled back on making happen. An added win would be sharing a way that people can help support it.

SKIES ARE BLUE

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

Meta Policy

Trump Report

Michelle Obama

Tulip Siddiq

Neil Gaiman

Pete Hegseth

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