Short-form content apps have no doubt captured our Tologs, even though going down this rabbit hole often results in hours of wasted time. This online trap is not just effortless scrolling from video to video, but the content itself. Jokes that make you laugh, videos that make you cry, and moments of life inspiration keeps us scrolling for more. There is an endless and unnavigable web of jokes, edits, and aesthetics waiting to enthrall millions of users. Through a conducted survey, Tologs share what screen-binding trends have fascinated our Tologs?
1. 6-7
When a group of kids hears, sees or says the words “six-seven,” they cannot help but laugh, and nobody really knows why. In conversation, it can be used as a replacement for “so-so” or “maybe”. While not solidified, there are orgin theories for this viral meme: Did it all start with the song Doot Doot (67) by Skrilla, or basketball players LaMelo Ball and Taylen Kinney?
2. Ragebait
As Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2025, it is no surprise that our Tologs ranked it highly. But what is it really? Ragebaiting encourages people to aggravate their friends or family members with false or satirical information. It is the newest form of clickbait, content that is made to attract attention and engagement online to promote the creators platform, ensuring posts receive hundreds of likes, views, and comments, often from people arguing the content itself.
3. AI-Generated Memes
Artificial intelligence, AI, holds a ubiquitous presence, but its most entertaining role seems to be its contribution to meme culture. Videos of cats saving babies, fake animated movie trailers and music curated by AI have taken over feeds.
4. Shopping Hauls
Shopping hauls are people on the internet sharing what they have just spent their latest hundreds of dollars on. If you have run out of things to buy, these influences will give you at least one more thing to spend that birthday money from your grandparents.
5. Performative Males
Men reading books? Men drinking matcha? Men listening to Clairo? Men wearing quarter zips? Men caring about women? It would be optimistic if a heteronormative man showing interest in these trends possesses emotional depth. According to social media, men who have hobbies are not genuine with their interests, it is all fake for the gain of female affection.
6. Italian Brainrot
“Tra-la-lero tra-la-la, tung tung sahur”, ah, the good old days. These memes ran rampant across the internet halls of early 2025. It’s the marker of the rise of AI-generated memes. “Tra-la-le-ro tra-la-la” captures viewers attention as a beached shark with legs, wearing blue sneakers and assisted with AI animation runs across your screen.
7. Labubus
The first time you see one, you’ll jump back in your chair, terrified by those beady eyes covered in fur with a sharp, fangy smile staring up at you. But no matter how cute, scary, or odd you may find them, they are the newest collector’s item for blind-box lovers. Artist Kaisa Lung first introduced Labubu illustrations in 2015, and then in 2019 they were made into Pop Mart figures. Now, Labubus have taken over the world, including here on the Hill where you can spot many students with Labubu stickers or keychains.
8. Tanning
UV index 11? GO OUTSIDE! Who cares about melanoma, wrinkles, or destroyed nerves? Our youth has become obsessed with peak UV, tan lines, and sitting in the hot summer sun for hours on end to achieve their desired look. If they don’t go outside, they go into tanning begs or apply fake-tan lotion and foams. No doubt if you need a new tanning hack, there’s a girl in Florida on TikTok who is willing to tell you all her secrets for her perfect tan.
9. Dances
Dances have always been a critical part of TikTok’s content since its rise in 2018. 2020 dances such as the Renegade, Milkshake, and “Say So” paved the way for new dances such as “Lush Life”, “Real Sisters”, and “Foreign” for TikTok users to recreate. Choreographed dances from competitions have also shaped the dance community on TikTok. Milly Long’s “Pop Muzik” dance was seen and recreated by millions on the platform, even non-dancers.
10. Niche & Chique Girl
Always put together, focused, and effortlessly successful is the “niche and chique” girl. In the past, we have seen similar personas under different names, such as “clean girl or “it girl”. Subtly changing each year, but mostly keeping up with the same criteria. They are basic, but are best dressed in every room; they always have flawless makeup and hair, but don’t put a lot of effort into it. They always have their nails done, and they are secretly the most interesting people you have ever met.
11. Gymtok
This trend provides the world’s gymbros and gymgirls to share the latest tips and tricks for getting your dream body, or the most amount of protein possible in any kind of recipe (they promise it doesn’t taste like starch). Different fad-excersises have been circulating the internet forever, but it seems on TikTok it’s multiplied.
Obviously, we have not been spared from the black hole of the internet, but we can’t stay stuck there. Lots of our Tologs said their lives and humor have been influenced by these trends. Being influenced, laughing, and viewing content is easy, but not productive. When engaging in lifestyle-related internet trends, remember the person they actually are affecting is yourself. It is important to know your limits, listen to your mind and body, and stay true to yourself before going along.
