It is safe to say that the internet has become a place where you can connect with people, find new hobbies, follow trends, and simply escape from reality. But what people do not realize is how impactful social media and the interest is in today’s world. Here is a breakdown of all of the most memorable moments and trends on social media this past year.
The Terrifying TikTok Ban (of 12 hours)
Late in 2024 and years prior, it had been rumored multiple times that TikTok, the viral platform for content creation, was at risk of getting banned due to security concerns. TikTok originally got its popularity after the popular lip-syncing and short video app, Musical.ly. TikTok rose in popularity in 2019 and only grew more successful during Covid 19 and quarantine. TikTok is known for its endless possibilities of video creation. Anyone can make 15-60 second videos to music, perform dances, share news, routines of daily life, and much more which allowed for its extreme success. As a result, content houses, most notably the Hype House, were created where teenagers and young adults collaborated to work on social media and eventually it became their job.
Once the rumor of its ban turned into truth and TikTok was decidedly going to be shut down for an unknown amount of time in January of this year, popular content creators, such as former Hype House member, Charli D’amelio, shared memories and memes for the app that gave her and others success in their lives.
After only being banned for 12 hours, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that delayed the ban for seventy-five days so TikTok could find a new owner. It has been more than seventy-five days and TikTok has yet to leave the devices of Americans all over the country. Phew.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Performance – Secret Message?
It’s reasonable to conclude that many viewers of the Superbowl are only really interested in the comical ads and the thirteen minute half time performance. This past Super Bowl was no different, and Kendirck Lamar’s performance became the most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance ever. Why was this?
Lamar made history by being the first solo hip-hop artist to ever headline a Super Bowl half-time performance and he blew it out of the park. His performance of his most favorable songs “Squabble Up”, “DNA”, “HUMBLE”, “Euphoria” and his duet with SZA “Luther” were a great attestment to his skills and career success. He also performed his diss track “Not Like Us” amid his rapping battle with Drake. But was there a political driven message that he was trying to convey?
Many viewers noticed the songs he picked and the features that he had, such as Samuel L. Jackson, dressed up as Uncle Sam and his dancers dressed in red, white, and blue seemed to be hinting at trying to send a message to the newly elected president, Donald Trump who made history being the first president to attend a Super Bowl.
Viewers called his performance “culturally significant” as it touched upon a heated debate during this time: a new age of politics.
Jeans or Genes? Sydney Sweeney vs KATSEYE
This has to be noted as one of the biggest mistakes that a well known brand has ever made during this generation.
One of Hollywood’s rising stars, actress Sydeny Sweeny, collaborated with American Eagle, a company well known for its jeans and other clothing items. In this campaign, American Eagle played on the words “Jeans” as in the clothing item and “Genes”, being DNA and characteristics because of the similar sounding of the words but differing meanings. The slogan for this campaign was “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans” which was off-putting to many people as Sweeney is white and has blonde hair and blue eyes which to many seemed to be promoting this belief that these traits are superior to others. This campaign was condemned for being tone deaf and insensitive to other races and physical characteristics.
Another popular, and some would say competing brand to American Eagle, GAP, came out with their campaign for their jeans, and collaborated with an upcoming international dance-pop group KATSEYE as a way to clap back at American Eagles unsuccessful and insensitive campaign. The ad consisted of KATSEYE along with a diverse set of women dancing in GAP’s sets of jeans to the iconic song “Milkshake”. This campaign received praise and celebration for embracing cultural diversity and confidence in young women.
The Labubu Frenzy
In the past, young kids were obsessed with American Girl Dolls, Transformers, Barbie, and other exciting toys and dolls, but in 2025, kids are obsessed with Labubu Dolls. The dolls are not just used to play with, they are used as key chains, collectibles, and decorations. What made
them so popular?
The doll is based on characters from The Monsters trilogy and they became popular in 2019 when the Chinese toy company teamed up with the popular toy company POP MART. POP MART noted that the sale of the Labubu’s “broke the sales record in the art toy category”. The toy price can range from $30-$100 depending on the rarity of the kind it is. With the global frenzy, it has been easy for marketers to create counterfeit Labubus known as “Lafufus” which also created a craze.
It is also not just kids who are obsessed with these toys, adults and celebrities are also partaking in this frenzy. Celebrities such as Dua Lipa, Rihanna, and Lisa from the K-pop group BLACKPINK have also given into the trend.
Kiss-Cam Scandal – Cold Play Concert
During the summer, an innocent Kiss-Cam image at a Coldplay concert ruined the professional careers of two prominent business members. The later identified CEO Andy Byron and head of HR Kristin Cabot were panned to during the band’s improvised “Jumbotron Song” segment during their concert and they awkwardly let go of each other and tried to duck and turn away from the camera to hide their infidelity.
Chris Martin, Coldplay’s lead band member stated “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy” and it turned out that the two were not very shy.
Like anything does today, this moment went viral on social media and as a result, people digging discovered who this “couple” was. It turned out to be a CEO of an AI and software company Astronomer and the head of the company’s HR department. As a result of the people’s findings, it was discovered that both Byron and Cabot were married, but just not to each other.
Surprisingly, and maybe even extremely, Byron was placed on leave from his company and he then eventually accepted his resignation and Cabot also was forced to step down from her position.
But the scandal did not stop there, reenactments on social media and from famous organizations such as the Philadelphia Phillies mascots continued to grow and grow. But as all things do, they fizzled out and the moment was forgotten.
These are only a few of the main highlights of 2025’s most memorable moments and trends and they took over social media but like all trends and moments do, they fizzle out. I wonder what 2026 will have in store.
