#VIRAL, The Newsletter: January 7, 2025

New year, new content ideas and trends to try ASAP

Author

Girl and the Gov®
January 07, 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)

“GOT INTO HARVARD” TREND: If you’ve been on the inter-webs awhile, you may recall the trend that popped up a few years ago that had students gathering their families around their computers to open up college admissions decisions. Often the virality of the resulting video was connected to both the school that the student was admitted to and the reactions of the family members. Now, the trend is back, but in a parody variation. Creators are using it to highlight those “little but big victory moments” that gets the whole group going – like when your crush finally looks at your IG Story or checking the Domino’s pizza tracker to see that your pizza is on the way. This trend could easily apply to political scenarios – getting the office you wanted, the leadership role you campaigned for, the cafe in the capitol building having your favorite snack left, seeing a bill passed and got all the needed votes, and so on. Regardless of the path celebrated, make the video using this audio and following this on-screen text format.

“LETTING A MAN MANSPLAIN” TREND: With this trend, women that work in stereo-typically male-dominated fields, are highlighting the experience of a man hitting on them by bragging about a job their “tough job,” but meanwhile they [the women] do the job or work in an even more rigorous/tough/badass job than the man could even imagine. It’s also highlighting the men that say “I totally could’ve done that job if… + stupid reason/excuse” and again, meanwhile, the person they’re trying to impress actually does the job they’re talking about. Politics still being a male-dominated space, makes this trend applicable, especially for elected officials and candidates. To execute on the trend..

  • Use this audio for the video or carousel [thanks, Shania!]

  • For slide one/or portion two of the video, show yourself outside of work with text added to the screen like so: “me letting a man mansplain his political job to me at the bar”

  • For slide two/or portion two of the video, show yourself in your political job – b-roll you have of this is super useful here. For the text added to the screen, it can be something like: “meanwhile, me at my political job” 

“WAIT YOU’RE KNOWING ABOUT MY STUFF?” AUDIO: This audio comes from the ever-funny and viral Jake Shane in a podcast conversation where his “takeaway” is that people know about him/what he does. The audio can be used at least two different ways:

  • The first is to showcase a press moment – think a way to highlight a part of an article/feature. In this design, the creator would use the audio as the background and then add a sticker image of the portion of the article or headline that features them, to the video.

  • The second usage idea is to highlight either an accomplishment or something you’re working on that people should know about. It’s positioning it so that viewers will think they should already know about it. This could be for an issue, action, POV. The creator should use audio mime-style and add what they’re highlighting via text on the video. Ex: “when voters hear that we passed a bill to increase access to national parks.”

“WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE THIS” AUDIO: This creator’s video describing the very weird vibes of the current moment serves as a great template for a video sharing some of the reasons that those weird vibes are at play. For each question that the creator poses in her video/audio, provide an answer via text on your own video. To backtrack too, if you have a channel/newsletter/publication, etc that covers the current state of the world, share that with the audio’s first prompt of “can someone tell me what’s going on.”

“EVERYBODY’S YELLING ON THE INTERNET” AUDIO: This creator’s literal jam needs a DJ to come in and remix it because it’s gold in oh so humble opinion. Nonetheless, the audio can be used to create a video to highlight the current state of the internet – like what will happen with these new Meta policies. It can also be used to highlight an insane comment section that’s popping off on your account, or also insane emails you get. The options feel low key endless with this one.

“YOU DON’T LIKE LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE” AUDIO: Jake Shane is really having his moment in this week’s newsletter. This conversation with him and his bestie, where he gets called out for only liking to talk about himself because he’s a “narcissist” (‘tis a joke BTW) could be used to highlight someone in politics that this applies to – this list may be longer than a CVS receipt, but alas. The video can be created duo-style with this audio, replicating the two podcasting, or solo. 

“THIS IS MY CLUBBING” TREND: This trend uses b-roll of none-clubbing activities that you do that you love/find cathartic/excite you, and overall check the box for you the way clubbing does for others. In a political sense, it could be campaigning, meeting with constituents, and other political activities that fill your cup. Use this audio and this text-style over the b-roll to create your own version of the trend.

TIKTOK AUDIOS

TikTok audios for BTS and b-roll vids

INSTA REELS AUDIOS 

Background audios that make Reels move

AUDIO → My Cherie Amour

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

Creative content concepts to try

“WALK OUT” AUDIO: This audio provides an opportunity to introduce a few members of the team or new additions via a walkout video like this [although it doesn’t need the graphics added in this specific style]. Each member of the team can be aligned with whatever portion of the walkout song works best with their vibe/persona, etc. and the Reel can be filmed in one shot. Add each person’s name and title to the video directly during their portion. The caption should be used to elaborate on why this group is together – ex: “the newest members of the bagel caucus.”

“TELL ME SOMETHING I DON’T KNOW” TREND: This audio literally provides an opportunity for you to create a video pointing out a fact that someone might not know. The trend can come to fruition solo-style, like this or as a group/duo like this. Ideally, the cadence for the video is:

  • The Prompt | Part 1: Tell me something you don’t know

  • The Answer | Part 2: Whatever the thing is that you want to share – fact about a bill, a stat about an agency, a U.S. gov fact, an upcoming program deadline

“DO YOU WANT TO GO ICE SKATING” AUDIO: Not shockingly, this audio has been used to showcase friends learning to ice skate. However, the first portion of the audio can be used to highlight “something someone might not know how to do or know how to access” followed by the sharing of a resource that can teach them. The video should be duo-style, showing a conversation happening amongst two people. The run-of-show in line with the audio looks like this:

  • PERSON 1: “Do you want to go ice skating?” | Example text added to the video: “Do you want to email your reps about climate change?”

  • PERSON 2: “I don’t know how to ice skate?” | Example text added to the video: “I don’t know how to do that”

  • PERSON 1: Silence in the audio | Example text added to the video: “Use the form in our bio”

  • PERSON 2: “Oh I’m a pro!” | Example text added to the video: “Wow that was easy” | Visual shows the creator doing the activity 

“THIS IS YOUR EXIT” AUDIO: Inevitably someone in the upcoming administration will leave, and the same goes for Congress, state House, etc. Use this audio to create a video highlighting their abrupt departure. It should give "unsurprised and decently unbothered vibes” like this Reel.

CAPCUT TEMPlATES

Give ‘em a whirl

  • Use this template to highlight a political situation you were pressed for a moment that ended up okay.

  • Use this template to showcase trying to dodge insane happenings/bills/activities/misinfo etc the next four years.

  • Use this template to highlight politically-related hobbies. Another great b-roll opportunity (and reason to always be snapping little vids and pics).

  • Use this template to showcase a comeback or a plan hatching that’s going to stop an opposing group or person’s bad plan in its place.

THREADS TO THREAD

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost with a reply if you’re an avid reader based in Illinois [hi, Illinois reps this one is for you especially!] and share a book that you’re reading right now.

The Thread → Reply OR repost with a political reason/story that people should know about that’s rightfully making people [you included] JanuWEARY.

The Thread → Reply OR repost with a local or regional newspaper that you support and/or that you think others should subscribe to.

The Thread → Reply OR repost by naming an iconic political duo. 

The Thread → Reply OR repost by sharing your favorite Tiny Desk Concert featuring an artist from your region.

SKIES ARE BLUE

Trending topics ATM on Bluesky

Liz Cheney

Jean-Marie Le Pen

The Traitors

Facebook

Greenland Politics

Aileen Cannon

UPGRADE ME

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