CULT DUMP
Dazed Asks: Was 2025 the year we embraced ‘whimsy’?
Defined as the pursuit of small, fanciful, and playful interruptions to the monotony of adult life, often by reconnecting with one's inner child—became a widespread cultural movement on social media.
December 12, 2025
Wendy's Ties Beverage Promotion to Quarter-Zip Style
"That’s right: we’re sophisticated, we’re grown-up, we’re cleaning up our resume. It’s all about the Quarter Sips now."
December 12, 2025
P&G Pioneers New Entertainment Format with Micro-Episode Soap Opera
In January, P&G will launch “The Golden Pear Affair,” a 50-episode “microsoap” that will be made available initially via social media and, later, a bespoke mobile app
December 12, 2025
JetBlue's 'BlueHouse' Lounge Brings Chic Comfort to JFK
JetBlue is launching its first-ever, New York City apartment-inspired airport lounge, named "BlueHouse," at JFK's Terminal 5, offering a boutique, exclusive experience for select premium customers and loyalty members.
December 12, 2025
Banana Republic has a speakeasy in the back of its SoHo store - The Banana
Food and fashion converged as culinary expert Antoni Porowski hosted an Ireland-themed holiday dinner for Banana Republic at their SoHo flagship store, celebrating the brand's current campaign inspired by the Emerald Isle
December 12, 2025
2026 Cultural Predictions from Ssense
"Performative offline is the new performative online."
December 12, 2025
The Internet Can't Stop Talking About 'Heated Rivalry'
The undeniable steaminess of the sex scenes is fueling the massive social media buzz and widespread appeal of the popular new gay hockey love story.
December 11, 2025
TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year: The Architects of AI
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and the other "Architects of AI" were named TIME's 2025 Person of the Year for accelerating the AI revolution, which has transformed industries, created geopolitical competition, and presented both enormous opportunities and significant risks to human life
December 11, 2025
Reddit is testing verification badges
“This feature is designed to help redditors understand who they’re engaging with in moments when verification matters, whether it’s an expert or celebrity hosting an AMA, a journalist reporting news, or a brand sharing information,” Reddit wrote in a blog post
December 11, 2025
Stella Artois turns Google Maps reviewers into brand ambassadors
To reach consumers where paid ads weren't an option, Stella Artois invited top local Google Maps reviewers to dining experiences across Argentina, organically placing the beer brand in the reviews and photos used by diners searching for restaurants
December 11, 2025
In-N-Out Removes "67" from Orders to Curb Viral TikTok Prank
In addition, the number “69” was removed from the ordering system
December 11, 2025
😴 Glassdoor's Word of the Year: Fatigue
2023's year was "anxiety"
December 11, 2025
TikTok is locked in on the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Vegas
DIY rodeo couture
December 11, 2025
Beyoncé Returns To The 2026 Met Gala As Co-Chair
She will co-chair with Anna Wintouralongside Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams while Saint Laurent’s Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz are set as co-chairs of the 2026 Met Gala host committe
December 11, 2025
Ikea reveals its 2026 Color of the Year
Rebel Pink is 'powerful, playful, and brings a bold splash of colour into the home'
December 11, 2025
Denny’s unveils sneakers made with syrup
Denny’s is celebrating National Maple Syrup Day Dec. 17 by introducing Sticky Kicks amidst shutdowns across the country
December 10, 2025
Engagement Gone Viral
A24's Brilliant Marketing Stunt Uses Robert Pattinson and Zendaya for Buzz
December 10, 2025
Sprout Social Unveils First Social Media Dictionary, Naming 'Aura' the 2025 Word of the Year
Niche, community-led moments are rapidly transforming language and culture
December 10, 2025
OpenAI Taps Slack CEO Denise Dresser for Global Revenue Strategy
Dresser is Slack's first Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), signaling a major strategic push to convert its massive user base into sustainable enterprise revenue and accelerate its transformation into a global business powerhouse.
December 10, 2025
A very good list of what defined culture in 2026
From the Coldplay kiss-cam to the Louvre jewelry heist
December 10, 2025
63 Years Later: Connie Francis’s Classic “Pretty Little Baby” Dominates TikTok as Global Song of the Year
The record was used more than 28 million times in posts that racked up more than 68 billion views, including uploads from Nara Smith, Kylie Jenner, and Ariana Greenblatt
December 10, 2025
What is the Lavender Soap Theory?
The "lavender soap theory," named after a concept in Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass, is a trending reminder on TikTok encouraging users to stop saving their nice or luxury items and start using them now instead of waiting for a perfect moment that might never arrive.
December 10, 2025
TikTok Trend: Jon Hamm Dancing Meme
Jon Hamm is all over TikTok with a viral clip of himself dancing in the Apple TV+ show Your Friends & Neighbors, sparking a trend of users applying the footage to euphoric and nostalgic moments, leading to a surge of meme examples and the resurgence of the 2010 track "Turn the Lights Off" by Kato featuring Jon Nørgaard
December 10, 2025
Walmart x Pinterest
Pinterest users can add ingredients from eligible recipe Pins straight to their online cart on Walmart’s website or app with a quick tap on the “Shop Ingredients” button
December 10, 2025
Facebook Tries to Be Cool Again with a Bold, Gen Z-Focused Redesign
Marketplace -- used by one in four young adult daily active Facebook users across North America -- will soon be moved from the “More” option and placed “front-and-center” in the tab bar alongside the Reels, Friends, and Profile hubs, making it more accessible upon opening the app.
December 10, 2025
Substack Begins Testing Sponsorship Ads in Limited Newsletter Pilot
The program is designed to help creators earn incremental revenue without disrupting subscriptions
December 10, 2025
Alex Cooper, Amy Poehler, ‘SmartLess’ Among First Golden Globes Best Podcast Nominees
The category will debut at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, scheduled for Jan. 11, 2026
December 9, 2025
McCormick Predicts This Flavor Will Dominate Menus in 2026
Black currant is the brand's 2026 “Flavor of the Year,” part of its annual report on dining trends that helps the company develop products consumers want to buy.
December 9, 2025
Roughly 1 in 5 U.S. teens says they are on TikTok and YouTube almost constantly
YouTube is not only widely used, but it’s also the platform the most teens visit on a daily basis
December 9, 2025
Chappell Roan is MAC’s new global ambassador
One of the most natural and authentic collaborations in a long time
December 9, 2025
Hermès is Selling $200 Bandaids
The type of leather used as well as the color of the product is a surprise upon ordering. 3 band-aids come in each order
December 9, 2025
The Latest "It" Dessert on TikTok
Ina Garten’s Brownie Pudding
December 9, 2025
The annual Pinterest Predicts report is here! (Not surprisingly) nostalgia and Gen Z’s preferences will shape the year ahead
Over the past six years, 88% of its predicted trends have materialized, from Eclectic Grandpa and the Jellyfish Cut to Cherry Red and the Pickle Fix. For 2026, the trends span generations, though Gen Z is powering 67% of them.
December 9, 2025
Another Gap Collab: Gap x Summer Fridays
For the first time, the retailer is partnering with a beauty brand for an apparel collaboration, as it prepares to launch fragrance next year - with Barbie Ferreira as the face
December 9, 2025
Spotify Launches Music Videos For U.S. Subscribers
The initial video catalog – featuring artists like Ariana Grande, Olivia Dean, BABYMONSTER, Addison Rae, Tyler Childers, Natanael Cano, and Carín León — is limited for now but promised availability will grow quickly over the coming months
December 9, 2025
And “Streamer of the Year” is...
IShowSpeed was officially crowned Streamer of the Year at The Streamer Awards, recognizing a year of monumental growth and his unique brand of high-energy, chaotic livestreams
December 9, 2025
TikTik Introduces Shared Collections
A new way to share and organize TikTok content in one place with friends or family
December 9, 2025
The YouTube Shorts algorithm now prioritizes newer uploads
Ccreators and channel owners are validating claims about the shift, noting the downturns they have discovered in their Shorts analytics
December 9, 2025
🎮 Sony celebrates 30 years of PlayStation
Captured by photographer Benedict Redgrove
December 9, 2025
The r/bald subreddit went viral on X
It's empowering bald men + pretty wholesome, tbh
December 9, 2025
What's “Established Adulthood” ?
There’s a new phrase for the middle phase of adulthood
December 8, 2025
Salesforce Might Become 'Agentforce'
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff is done talking about the cloud and is renaming everything after its AI software Agentforce
December 8, 2025
The Microsoft Excel World Championship 2025 Winner is ...
Diarmuid Early, who bested 23 competitors to win in Las Vegas last week; players had to complete 130 questions, with the first to do so correctly taking home $5k and a very cool belt.
December 8, 2025
🛟 Meta launches a 24/7 support hub
In the past year, new account hacks decreased by more than 30% globally on Facebook and Instagram, and recovering an account is now faster and simpler with the help of AI — the relative success rate of hacked account recovery has increased by more than 30% in the US and Canada this year
December 8, 2025
Sohla El-Waylly leaves NYT
From her Instagram stories: she discusses no longer working for NYT since February due to the low pay
December 8, 2025
Saie Beauty x New York Knicks
Saie is now an official sponsor of the New York Knicks @nyknicks and Knicks City Dancers @knickscitydancers
December 8, 2025
💎 Brilliant Earth x Ring Pop
A sweet collaboration: Brilliant Earth partnered with Ring Pop for a limited-edition capsule collection of sustainable jewelry inspired by '90s and Y2K nostalgia, available on their website
December 7, 2025
Snapchat will be banned in Russia
It seems that Snapchat and FaceTime are the latest victims in Russia’s effort to enact more control over citizen activity
December 7, 2025
⚽ World Cup 2026 Draw is Set!
The expanded 48-team Mundial draw for the US, Canada, and Mexico took place yesterday at a flashy DC ceremony, where President Trump was awkwardly awarded the inaugural FIFA peace prize
December 7, 2025
TikTok Trend: Accomplishment Cake
The accomplishment cake trend on TikTok is a wholesome, interactive holiday activity where participants celebrate wins from the past year—ranging from personal wellness to professional achievements—by writing them on notes and sticking them into a cake or other dessert
December 6, 2025
Béis Called Out for ‘Illegal’ Cyber Monday Email Stunt
"the FTC is going to freakin love this one"
December 6, 2025
Skims Tests Live Entertainment and Shopping with TikTok Stream
“Kimsmas Live!,” which represents the biggest real-time event hosted by Kardashian on her TikTok channel, highlighted the star’s favorite holiday tips and Skims products, including special bundles, and included surprise celebrity guests
December 5, 2025
Justin and Hailey Bieber announced a Rhode x Skylark collaboration
"You heard it first. Hailey's got her own collection with SKYLRK. The tea is here!" said Justin.
December 5, 2025
The Ralph Lauren Team USA Winter Olympics ceremony uniforms are here
In addition to the ceremony uniforms, Ralph Lauren has released a Team USA lifestyle collection, allowing fans to get the Olympic Village look without the training regimen
December 5, 2025
Zuckerberg Plans Deep Cuts for Metaverse Efforts
Meta confirmed a reduction in resources for the metaverse, saying savings will funnel toward other futuristic projects within Meta's Reality Labs division, including AI glasses and wearables
December 5, 2025
TikTok Trend: Dopamine Menus
People are creating activity 'menus' as a way to trigger feel-good chemicals; it’s the latest in a series of attempts to claw back control from the grips of the attention economy and stave off brain-rot
December 5, 2025
TikTok Trend: ‘Flipping the Camera’
People have been quick to call the trend out as a form of bullying, reflecting broader cultural anxieties around citizen surveillance and the fear of potentially going viral without consent
December 5, 2025
The 2026 World Cup draw is today
FIFA expanded next year’s World Cup tournament—set to take place in June in the US, Canada, and Mexico—from the usual 32 nations to 48
December 5, 2025
BÉIS x Chipotle
The travel brand and restaurant company have partnered on an 11-piece capsule collection of travel essentials
December 4, 2025
Airbnb.org Asks Viewers To 'Gift A Night' Of Emergency Housing
As Airbnb faces backlash for the impact of its short-term rental properties on the national housing crisis, the company’s nonprofit launched an end-of-year campaign about the importance of emergency housing for individuals and families impacted by natural disasters
December 4, 2025
TikTok Trend: Words-on-Fingers Video
It’s a creative way to promote your brand, share quick tips, or drop something relatable
December 4, 2025
TikTok Trend: Your girlfriend doesn’t want X, she wants Y
It’s a fun way to poke at industry misconceptions or spotlight what your community truly values
December 4, 2025
Jacquemus x Nike Ski Collab
Their Instagram shows a mini ski film in fashionable items and describes it as, “A silhouette built for speed and softness - featuring waterproof GORE-TEX fabrics.”
December 4, 2025
Reddit’s CEO says r/popular ‘sucks,’ and it’s going away
Reddit is also limiting how many popular communities one person can moderate and pushing more personalized feeds
December 4, 2025
Year in Search 2025
With new AI capabilities in Google Search, people asked questions in more conversational ways, like they would while talking to a friend. This year, we saw people asking “What’s the deal with…” queries more than ever. (One popular example? “What’s the deal with 6-7?”)
December 4, 2025
And the 2026 Pantone Color of the Year Is… White?
Cloud Dancer is its official name
December 4, 2025
Introducing TikTok Nearby
TikTok is introducing the "Nearby Feed" to help its community discover and connect with local content, creators, and businesses, allowing users to explore what is happening close to them with location sharing being optional and manageable
December 3, 2025
Threads Tests New Way to Manually Guide Feed Algorithms
If you want to update your Threads algorithm in-stream, you can type “Dear algo” at the beginning of your post, then provide a conversational query to update your registered interests
December 3, 2025
The It CPG Brand: One Tick Pony
Popularized by fan Ashtin Earle, the peanut butter brand is blowing up
December 3, 2025
Chanel Brings Couture to the MTA
Chanel's new creative director, Matthieu Blazy, debuted his first Métiers d'Art collection on a decommissioned platform at New York's Bowery subway station, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship in designs that reimagined classic Chanel codes through the lens of diverse New York commuter archetypes
December 3, 2025
Spotify Wrapped 2025 is here!
Wrapped Party pits your listening habits against your friends’ to see who’s more afraid of silence
December 3, 2025
TikTok Shop sheds bargain-bin reputation
Recent entrants include household names like Samsung, Disney and QVC, all of which now sell their wares on the platform; that growth is likely helping push prices higher
December 3, 2025
YouTube Launches First Annual Recap Feature For All Users
Comparable to Spotify Wrapped, YouTube Recap is a year-end engagement feature that surfaces creators' channels in users' top viewing lists, allowing people to save and share personalized Recap cards that can boost channels' social media visibility during the holiday period, with access starting today for North American users and rolling out globally throughout the week
December 3, 2025
Instagram will order all US staff back to the office five days a week in 2026 as part of CEO Adam Mosseri’s plan to be “more nimble and creative"
Additional changes include fewer meetings, more product prototypes, and faster decision-making
December 3, 2025
Wikipedia released its 20 most popular pages of 2025
Here are the Top 5 as ranked by page views: Charlie Kirk; Deaths in 2025; Ed Gein; Donald Trump; Pope Leo XIV
December 3, 2025
Who is Jack Aldridge?
The star of the 2025 John Lewis Christmas advert is also making waves on Netflix after starring in a chart-topping historical drama from the creators of Game Of Thrones
December 2, 2025
Reneé Rapp is the new face of Abercrombie
"she looks so 2018 here"
December 2, 2025
Prada Acquires Versace
Founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace in Milan, the brand renowned for its bold, glamorous aesthetic will join the group’s two main labels – its namesake Prada and the smaller but fast growing Miu Miu – marking a sharp strategic shift for the Italian fashion house
December 2, 2025
NYT Cooking taps McCormick for its first product placement
A 'The New York Times' newspaper truck transforms into a holiday cookie delivery vehicle, bringing the campaign to life
December 2, 2025
The TikTokification of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The cross-generational strategy worked: The parade pulled a record 34.3 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, 8% higher than last year, with adults 18-49 up 13%. The NBC broadcast alone averaged 25.4 million viewers, the biggest entertainment audience since the 2019 Oscars.
December 1, 2025
Another indication that the hashtag is dead...
Instagram may be cutting the hashtag limit from 30 to 3. Many users are receiving in-app pop-ups about this update, but there has been no official statement from Instagram yet.
December 1, 2025
A$AP Rocky has just been named an official ambassador at Chanel
The rapper was previously an ambassador at Bottega Veneta
December 1, 2025
🏆 The Best Emoji of 2025: Icons That Dominated Our Messaging in a Strange Year
The most popular brand-new emoji of 2025, based on the Unicode 16.0 list, is ... Face with Bags Under the Eyes.
December 1, 2025
TikTok Trend: Come on Superman, Say Your Stupid Line
Creators are sharing their own overused one-liners in this self-deprecating trend
December 1, 2025
'Rage bait’ named Oxford University Press word of year
Capturing the internet zeitgeist of 2025
December 1, 2025
Cyber Monday is today (and it turns 20 this year)
After a record-setting Black Friday, US shoppers are poised to break more records today
December 1, 2025
Zootopia 2 dominated the Thanksgiving weekend
The highest global debut of 2025 and the No. 1 movie globally, domestically, and internationally for the weekend
December 1, 2025
TikTok's extended US sell-off date is December 16
It feels like Groundhog Day once again for TikTok in the U.S...
November 30, 2025
Molson Coors says ‘Just Bring the Beer’ in bid to millennials, Gen Z
The campaign leverages the data point that 74% of Millennials and Gen Z prefer memorable experiences over traditional gifts to position beer as the effortless holiday gifting solution, using humorous taglines like “There are hunters, and there are gatherers. You are neither” paired with the simple directive: “Just Bring the Beer.”
November 28, 2025
Goldfish had the tiniest float ever at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The float—which is 49 times smaller than the average display—signaled Goldfish's return to the parade for the first time in more than a decade
November 28, 2025
“Quarter zips” are having a moment
The young gentlemen of TikTok are trading in their Nike Tech for business casual
November 27, 2025
TikTok Trend: In Your 20s
"In your 20s, someone's to tell you to [insert action], and it's very important you listen to them."
November 26, 2025
Military chants are having a moment on TikTok, alongside a dance
Specifically a viral dance based on the American armed forces' "I Left Home" chant, are having a concerning TikTok moment that, while mirroring the popularity of early 2020s sea shanties, may also be seen as a form of inadvertent propaganda that affirms the theory that economic instability is driving young people toward military enlistment
November 26, 2025
Wabi-sabi is having a dual moment on TikTok
The Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which celebrates imperfection, is having a dual moment on TikTok where some embrace its true meaning while others, primarily teens, use the concept of celebrating "flaws" as a sarcastic and mean-spirited way to mock their friends.
November 26, 2025
Consumers Want To Go Shopping IRL
At a time when automation and social media algorithms can lead to a sea of sameness, consumers are looking for authenticity and real-world experiences. According to the report, 82% of Gen Z and millennials expressed a desire for brands to bring people together in spontaneous ways, and 76% said the best social media trends are those that “show up in real life.”
November 26, 2025
440% Year-over-year increase in searches for Thanksgiving in the UK
The growing appetite for American cuisine across the pond has been driven by a swelling number of US expats, as well as a rising curiosity among Brits who, one expert told the Guardian, simply want in on the cozy, autumnal vibes
November 26, 2025
🥫 Campbell Soup Exec on Leave Amid 'Poor Customer,' '3D Printer Meat' Slurs
In a statement Tuesday, the company said the alleged comments by Martin Bally, Campbell's vice president of information technology, were "unacceptable."
November 26, 2025
Netflix’s Stranger Things send-off starts tonight
The long-awaited final season of Stranger Things drops tonight on Netflix, marking the end of an era that began in 2016
November 26, 2025
Sol de Janeiro taps into the viral ‘67’ trend with limited edition fragrance launch
The Brazilian beauty brand has leaned into the internet’s obsession with the phrase ‘67’ with Cheirosa 67 – a limited-time-only fruity-amber scent which has sold out in 24 hours
November 25, 2025
YouTube is working on a feature that will fix the messy home feed
While it remains to be seen how popular “Your Custom Feed” will be, the ability to customize a YouTube feed could be a game changer. This could be a more effective alternative to clicking on videos one by one and using the “Not interested” or “Don’t recommend channel” options.
