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Searching for an Instagram trend to fill out your content calendar this week? Say no more.
If you’re running a brand account, tapping into trends and memes can be a great way to connect with your audience, enhancing engagement, boosting shares, and growing reach.
But, staying on top of the ever-evolving landscape of trends and memes can be time-consuming—and if you miss the point of the trend (or jump on the bandwagon too late) you can risk looking less relevant than if you’d never posted the trend at all.
That's why we've produced a comprehensive weekly blog that documents the latest Instagram trends and memes, complete with their context, and suggestions for how to relate them to your niche.
It’s everything you need to get in on the joke—without having to research the eighteen layers of internet culture that went into making the joke in the first place.
If you want this kind of content delivered directly to your inbox, you can opt in to our Trends Digest email list here.
July 23, 2024
‘Everyone says I look like I’m having fun’ trend
Some soundbites are just born to become memes. And a snippet from Simone Biles’ June interview at the US National Championships of one of those soundbites. “Everyone says I look like I’m having fun, so that’s good, because I feel like most of the time if I’m not stressing or having anxiety, I do feel like I’m having fun,” she tells her interviewer through a 1000-watt smile. Creators have found hilarity and relatability in the juxtaposition of her jubilant expression, and the crystal-clear admission of overwhelm that leaks through her wording (and mild voice break).
How it’s catching on
Creators are using the clip to highlight times that they might have looked like, outwardly, they’re having fun—when the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Most people are either remixing this Reel from user @theskimm, and overlaying contextual copy that relates the clip to their niche. Others are just using the audio and applying it over footage of them either mouthing the words, or performing an everyday task that secretly overwhelms them.
Examples in action
How to make the trend your own
Choose which approach is best for you: either remixing the original Reel and simply applying copy over the top, or pairing the audio with a lipsync or footage you already have. Then, think of a task or situation in your niche that’s frequently mistaken for being fun. You can keep the copy relatively simple for this since the audio offers much of the context.
For example:
[For a florist] ‘Me halfway through setting up a wedding’
[For a swimming pool or leisure center] ‘POV you’re a lifeguard supervising Kids Swim Hour’
‘Maya Rudolph shocked’ trend
There’s nothing we love more than a good, simple CapCut trend. And this shot, clipped from Maya Rudolph’s Apple TV show Loot, is easy to relate to almost any niche. In the clip, Rudolph’s recently divorced, billionaire character Molly—who is at a wellness retreat and has sworn off men—turns around during a breathwork class when a latecomer arrives. The latecomer is no one other than Benjamin Bratt (playing himself). Cue shocked dismay/awe as Molly finds herself immediately swooning over the Miss Congeniality star.
How it’s catching on
The trend gained popularity on TikTok, but has migrated over to Instagram and has had a surge of popularity in recent weeks. Creators are using the trend to highlight times a situation has left them in a state of shock and awe—like when their boyfriend has brought home a takeaway unprompted and tells them to pour a bubble bath, or a client reveals that they have an unlimited budget.
Examples in action
How to make the trend your own
This trend is easy to put together. First, think of relatable moments in your niche that might shock you in a good way. Then, pick an appropriate image or video that relates to the situation, and slip it into the CapCut template. Next, simply overlay the contextual copy in-app.
For example:
[For a confectionery brand account] ‘When he brings home a pack of [your product] and a bottle of wine, and tells me we can watch whatever I want on Netflix tonight.’
[For an online education platform] ‘When I open today’s session and the lecture is only 28 minutes.’
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July 16, 2024
‘Slow blink’ trend
If you’ve been scrolling Instagram over the last few days, you might have noticed an abundance of one-second Reels on your feed, featuring a creator simply staring into the camera and blinking. They’ve likely paired their footage with this short audio, which features a single cartoonish tinkle. We’ve dubbed this the ‘slow blink’ trend, and since it’s so low-effort to produce, it’s a great trend to jump on this week.
How it’s catching on
Creators are using this trend to denote a sense of disbelief at a situation within their niche or their own life. After filming themselves staring blankly into camera and blinking in time with the audio’s chime, they overlay text that describes the situation in question. Think, ‘When you give your friend a book recommendation that will change their life and they still haven’t read it’, or ‘When your client shows you a face apped photo as makeup inspiration’.
Examples in action
How to make the trend your own
This trend is fairly flexible, so there are many different ways to make it work for you.
Simply film yourself blinking in time to this audio. Then, it’s time to overlay your text.
Consider etiquette or decorum that seems obvious within your niche, but is often misunderstood by people outside of it—this could be a great way to bond with your audience over a relatable misunderstanding or struggle.
For example:
[For an account that educates graphic designers] ‘When a client requests 8 rounds of amends and then decides they prefer V1.’
Alternatively, you could try using the trend more self-promotionally, simply expressing your disbelief that people your account is directly targeting haven’t hit ‘follow’ or bought from you yet.
For example:
[For an account promoting a cafe] ‘When people say they’ve tried the best croissants in Seattle… but they haven’t tried ours yet’
‘Quick succession’ trend
Love a visually satisfying Reel? This might be the trend for you. It involves syncing footage to an audio piece with a deep, ominous beat followed by 17 rapid-fire drumbeats. The quick succession of the beats makes for a satisfying result with well-synced visuals.
How it's catching on
Creators are using this audio in a variety of different ways. Some use the multiple drumbeats to convey a sense of overwhelm, syncing pieces of text to pop up in time to the beats like intrusive thoughts.
Others use the beats to show the work in progress between a satisfying before and after.
Examples in action
How to make the trend your own
There are lots of different ways to adopt this trend.
One option is to go down the ‘overwhelm’ route, showcasing the background knowledge that might go into pulling off a standard task within your niche. This is a great way to show expertise, and your overlaid copy is key to pulling this option off.
Start with simple text that provides context. For example, if you were a florist, it might be ‘POV you’re making a bridal bouquet’
Then, sync additional pieces of text to pop up in time to the drumbeats, and list all the factors that go into making a bridal bouquet.
For instance,
What are the weather conditions?
What’s in season?
Indoor, outdoor venue?
Formality of wedding?
What’s the bride’s budget?
How do I incorporate the heirlooms the bride gave me?
What’s the color scheme?
What’s the groom allergic to again?
As far as footage goes, since the focus is on the text, you can keep it quite simple: just film yourself looking to camera, or carrying out a daily task.
Alternatively, film a satisfying before and after: start with a shot of your ‘before’, then film your entire process so you can cut between shots of the ‘during’ in quick succession with the drumbeats. For the last few seconds of the audio, simply show a satisfying shot of the ‘after’ product.
This option could work particularly well for anyone in a creative or foodie field: think makeup artists, bakers, jewellers, and so on.
July 10, 2024
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‘brat’ trend
Charli XCX’s 6th studio album has just launched, and in the last few weeks, it’s been taking over our feeds. Wondering why everything on Instagram is suddenly looking lime green? It’s all thanks to the cover art, a simplistic design showcasing the word ‘brat’ in Arial Narrow font on a vibrant lime-green background. And naturally, it’s gone viral, generating spin-offs galore.
How it’s catching on
There are a few different variations of the brat trend.
One version riffs off the cover for the deluxe version of the album, which features a white background, with simple black text stating “brat and it’s the same but there’s three more songs so it’s not”. Using the minimal, grainy typeface with some nonchalant, poorly formatted, tongue-in-cheek copy, creators are harnessing the same nonchalant energy for promotions or topics in their own niche.
Some consumer brands are latching onto the lime green coloring of the studio album, simply superimposing their products on a lime green background and using some version of the word ‘brat’ in the creative or caption.
Examples in action
How to make it your own
No budget for a graphic designer? No worries, the deluxe album version is easy to replicate thanks to the Brat app generator.
All you have to do is add your own, slightly unhinged copy: think “new product but it’s just a different flavor” to reference an FMCG launch, for example. Extra emphasis on poor formatting!
Or, you could go the route with the lime green background (hex code: #8ace00) by placing your product as the hero. Running a butcher business? This one’s for you.
Got a well-curated grid and worried about clashing colors? Instead, you could try introducing a tiny hint of lime green into your existing creative as a nod to the trend.
‘My favorite animal is me’ trend
The ‘my favorite animal is me’ trend originated on TikTok and has quickly found its way to Instagram Reels. The most common audio to attach to this trend is Work by @thenewclassic (aka Iggy Azalea) or Where Them Girls At by David Guetta.
How it’s catching on
Creators and brands alike are using the trend to share experiences or things that have pushed them to the edge and made them snap go completely wild (in a fun way).
It’s a chance to be quirky, slightly unhinged or get extremely heated in the comments —whatever suits your target audience the most!
Examples in action
How to make the trend your own
Take a selfie-facing video while looking at the camera, you could either look serious, or feeling elated. Use the text overlay “My favorite animal is me when…” and complete the sentence based on whatever effect you’re going for, whether you’re feeling angry and ecstatic, or wild and celebratory. For example “My favorite animal is me when my manager asks me to make one tiny change,” or “My favorite animal is me when someone points out a typo in the comments of a boosted post.”
July 3, 2024
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Looking for a Man in Finance trend
The Looking for a Man in Finance trend originated on TikTok and has found its way to Instagram. It's been around for a while but it's still getting love. It’s a song written by singer Megan Boni (@megan_boni) and the lyrics go “I’m looking for a man in finance. Trust fund. 6'5". Blue eyes.” And repeat. Yep, that’s it. That’s the song.
How it’s catching on
Judging by how widely this trend has been adopted, this one of those social media jokes that’s going to stick around for awhile. The tune is surprisingly catchy—it’s internet humour at its best—and there are so many different ways that creators and brands are playing into it.
Some, like financial organisations, are taking the words literally and posting (ahem) thirst traps of their financial advisors. Others are using the audio as background sound and overlaying videos of their product or shop with text that describes something relatable, familiar or descriptive to their niche as a way to capture the attention of a like-minded audience.
And some brands are using it as a siren call to list out the objectives of their ideal customer, or potential client.
Examples in action
How to make it your own
There are a few different remixes of the song doing the rounds, but the OG version, with 28.8K Reels is the one that’s likely to get you the highest visibility.
This one is easy to adopt and transform to suit your niche. Using the audio, you could either film yourself lip-syncing to camera along with the words of the song, or capturing a few different pieces of footage to illustrate your product or service, edit the footage for each beat and then overlay with text that describes what you’re looking for.
For example, if you are running an account for a boutique homeware store:
“I’m looking for a girl
Who loves colour
Unique homewares
Candles.”
Or if you want to take a humorous approach as a client-based service:
“I’m looking for a client
Pays on time
Clear briefs
No changes.”
IG vs Reality Trend
The IG vs Reality trend originated with Deandre Brown (imdrebrown - aka “the corporate baddie”) on Instagram, with the original showing off his very best corporate mugshot, before transitioning into some…pretty unprofessional ‘out of office’ shenanigans. The original video has been viewed more than 3 million times.
How it’s catching on
There are a couple of versions of IG vs Reality floating around, but it’s this audio that’s been used 13.4K times that seems to be the most popular. The trend relies heavily on the audio that starts off with orchestral music and quickly transitions into rap to really highlight the IG vs Reality concept.
It’s a highly relatable and fairly easy way to offer a glimpse at the behind the scene realities of running a business, brand or being a creator. It’s also one of those rate opportunities to really show off the bold (or unhinged, if that’s more your vibe) personality behind the corporate straight jacket. Creators and brands alike are using it to provide a glimpse of their “real” personality, allowing the audience to connect on a more authentic level.
Examples in action
How to make it your own
Time to dust off your most polished looking headshot. Don’t have one? Whip out your phone, flip to portrait mode, find your best angle, smile in corporate, and voila (and use that to update your LinkedIn bio photo while you’re at it)!
Use the corporate headshot for the first beat of the audio with the text overlay “Who you think you’re emailing.” The next clip should be something that really reflects your personality and is somewhat outlandish and unexpected. Overlay this clip with the text “Who you’re actually emailing/who is actually coaching you/who is actually managing your social media,” applying the industry lens if applicable.
June 26, 2024
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Please Please Please trend
Sabrina Carpenter’s on a roll this summer. Her latest release, Please, Please, Please is the #1 trending audio on Instagram as of June 24, with 264,000 posts (and counting). The lyrics include “Please, please, please, Don't prove I'm right. And please, pleasе, please Don't bring me to tеars when I just did my makeup so nice.”
How it’s catching on
You’ve probably noticed this track popping up all over your feed, with some videos racking up millions of engagements, and with such easy to remix lyrics, it’s no surprise that everyone from UGC creators to lifestyle brands, fitness accounts and restaurants are using Sabrina’s song somewhere in their content.
There are several versions of this song trending, but this is the most popular and more likely to get the highest reach.
While influencers have been lipsynching along to the lyrics and showcasing their OOTD or make up tutorials, brands are capitalising on other lyrics like “I know I have good judement, I know I have good taste” to hype up a new product launch.
Examples in action
How to make the ‘please please please’ trend your own
There’s no hard and fast rule for using this song in your post, so there are a few different ways to tailor it to suit your audience, depending on your niche.
If you’re managing a clothing brand - you could use this audio as a fun transition when putting together an outfit. Film yourself lip synching to the first half of the intro, use an item to cover the screen, cue the transformation reveal (no tears allowed!)
If you’re an entertainment venue: Cut the audio portion to include just the lyrics “please, please, please don’t prove I’m right”, and showcase your product with the text overlay ‘Please, Please, Please (come rock climbing with me).’
‘I just needed a holiday’ trend
This sound is a remixed snippet of Madonna’s iconic Holiday to include a compilation of the audio “I wasn’t sad, I just needed a holiday,’ which instantly translates into content that has fun remake appeal.
How it's catching on
From travel vloggers to lifestyle brands, most creators have used this sound as the soundtrack to showcase aesthetic footage of a new product, destination or a lifestyle service against a text overlay that says “I’m not sad, I just needed a…” adapting the last few words to suit their specific niche.
Using the text against the backdrop of visually engaging video footage creates a sense of feel-good camaraderie to whatever service they’re promoting.
Examples in action
How to make ‘I just needed a holiday’ trend your own
This audio is perfect for small businesses, and you’ve probably got some aesthetic destination footage, UGC or epic food shots that are just crying out to mash up with this sound. Replace the following text with whatever service or speciality fits your audience best.
First clip: Ohhh, I wasn’t sad.
Second clip: ✨I just needed a massage/haircut/new print for my bedroom✨
June 20, 2024
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‘Is somebody gonna match my freak’ trend
As of June 20, this audio is the #5 trending audio on Instagram. It’s an excerpt from Tinashe’s song ‘Nasty’, and features the lyrics “Is somebody gonna match my freak?”
How it’s catching on
Creators are using the audio to soundtrack situations where they might appear to do something ‘freakish’—in other words, something most people would deem to be unconventional or eccentric.
However, self-love and an unapologetic attitude (with a hint of self-depreciation) are at the heart of the trend. Playing into the lyrics ‘is somebody gonna match my freak’, creators are using the audio to say: this is my offbeat trait, can anyone relate?
Most creators are simply filming themselves in action, doing whatever they’re referring to, then overlaying it with the text: ‘Is somebody gonna match my freak?’ followed by a description of their eccentric ‘thing’.
Examples in action
How to make the ‘Is somebody gonna match my freak’ your own
This trend is a great chance to relate to your followers and make them feel ‘seen’, by highlighting an eccentricity or unconventional way of doing things that’s, in reality, quite widespread amongst your audience.
Film yourself performing the act in question, then set it to this audio. Overlay it with copy that contextualizes the clip within the trend.
For instance:
[For a gym account] Is somebody gonna match my freak (watching exercise tutorials with my screen on low-light so no one sees)
[For a cleaning service account] Is somebody gonna match my freak (pre-vacuuming my house on cleaning day so my cleaner doesn’t judge me)
‘What’s your name, who’s your daddy?’ trend
This excerpt from ‘Time of the Season’ by The Zombies is doing the rounds, and is currently trending on Instagram. It features the lyrics, ‘What’s your name, who’s your daddy?’, and is—in some instances—being remixed with this clip from user @tanya_rrri.art of Pedro Pascal looking smugly-off-camera.
How it’s catching on
Creators are using the trend to highlight times they've felt a sense of smug pride - perhaps someone has complimented a project the creator pulled off solo, or the creator has done something that's been otherwise widely lauded.
Examples in action
How to make the ‘What’s your name, who’s your daddy’ trend your own
Depending on the context you refer to in your post, you can either apply the audio to relevant footage (think a clip of you smiling to someone off-camera, or admiring your own handiwork) or use remix the clip of Pedro Pascal.
Overlay your clip with copy that contextualizes the audio.
For example:
[For a nail salon account] When someone comments on my client’s Instagram asking who did their nails.
[For a cooking account] When I’m at a party and someone asks, ‘Who made the tiramisu?’
June 13, 2024
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‘Art the Clown Grinning’ trend
This clip comes from the 2022 film Terrifier 2, in which Art—a serial killer clown character played by David Howard Thornton—has a highly meme-worthy reaction to being threatened by police. The clip shows the clown giving a shocked expression, followed by a sly grin.
How it’s catching on
Creators are using this CapCut clip, which has been paired with the track Theme From A Summer Place by Percy Faith.
Creators are overlaying the clip with a text that denotes a time they might have initially reacted to a situation with shock, only to have a sly realization.
Examples in action
How to make the ‘Art the Clown Grinning’ trend your own
Using this CapCut template, think of a ‘sly realization’ people in your niche might have, or benefit from knowing.
Perhaps a situation or ‘best practice’ commonly believed to be serious or crucial is quite trivial afterall. Or maybe there’s a difficult or niggly task that can be tackled in an easier way.
For instance:
[In a haircare niche, where you’re educating your followers that too-frequent washing can be harmful]: When you realize that washing your hair max twice a week is better for its health
[On a page that teaches low-effort cooking tips]: When you realize you don’t have to peel potatoes to make a smooth mash
‘The Spark’—Irish Children’s rap trend
Last month, a group of children in Ireland recorded what has been declared ‘the song of the summer’. Featuring the lyrics “Think you can stop what we do? I doubt it. We got the energy, we’ll tell you all about it. I searched for my spark and I found it,” the song has been praised for its energy, catchiness, and positivity.
How it’s catching on
As of June 13, the song is Instagram’s #2 trending audio. It has quickly translated into an anthem for creators to share projects and passions that has helped them find or express their ‘spark’.
There’s no most popular or dominant format for this trend on Instagram, so creators are adopting the format that feels most natural for their niche: for some, this means filming a daily task, while for others it’s an enthusiastic dance.
Others are leaning into the rebellious nature of the song, highlighting an unconventional practice they adhere to, and defiantly proclaiming that they won’t be stopped.
Examples in action
How to make ‘The Spark’ trend your own
Since the song is all about unapologetic spark and passion, this might be a good opportunity to reintroduce your brand’s point of difference to your followers.
For instance, you could film your team performing a high-energy dance to the audio, and pair it with text along the lines of:
‘How it feels knowing you work for the only brand to [insert something your brand is unique for].’
Alternatively, film a key part of your working process: that could be packing orders if you work for an eCommerce company, or serving food if you work for a hospitality business.
Overlay it with text that infers that your product or service is high-quality, popular, or unbeatable.
‘How it feels knowing more than 1000 people every day get to receive our [insert product here]’
‘How it feels making the best [insert food item] someone will eat all year.’
June 4, 2024
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‘Take a look around’ trend
This trend originated from the iconic 2003 film 'Uptown Girls,' starring Dakota Fanning and Brittany Murphy. In the movie, Fanning portrays Ray, a precocious 8-year-old girl who delivers the memorable line, 'Take a look around, do you see her anywhere? News flash. You're not gonna.' The line is spoken to Ray’s nanny, Molly, who Murphy plays, and it alludes to the girl's absent mother.
How it’s catching on
Creators are now repurposing this line to humorously refer to people, things, or versions of themselves that are conspicuously missing or unattainable.
Some creators appear on-screen, lip-syncing to this audio, while others use a CapCut template of Dakota Fanning delivering the line.
Creators then overlay text that contextualizes the trend within their niche.
Examples in action
How to make the ‘Take a look around’ trend your own
Decide whether you want to lip-sync the audio, or use a CapCut template.
Either way, it’s worth setting your video to one of the audio versions that have picked up lots of momentum. There are a few going around, but this one has some videos that have clocked more than a million views—that means the sound has more exposure, which will improve your video’s discoverability.
Once you’ve created your reel, type a text overlay, thinking of a person, thing, or version of yourself that is now elusive, or impossible to find.
You could try relating it to an outdated belief or trend in your industry, for instance:
[In the beauty industry, where fluffy brows are the current look]: “Where’s that girl that used to teach the sculpted eyebrow tutorials?”
[In the social media industry, where follower counts are now seen as a less important success metric]: “Where’s that guy who used to know everything about rapidly increasing follower counts on Instagram?”
‘So I’m not gonna talk about it’ trend
In April, Ryan Gosling hosted Saturday Night Live, using his opening monologue to refer to his stint playing Ken in the Barbie movie.
Due to the mass hysteria Barbie sparked over the past year, Gosling quipped that he was ‘not gonna make any jokes about Ken’.
“So I’m not gonna talk about it,” he said, before appearing to ‘give in’ and declare, “I actually am gonna talk about it a little bit.”
How it’s catching on
The line has sparked a feeling of relatability, with Instagram creators using the audio to refer to topics they just can’t resist talking about, no matter how hard they try.
Some creators are reposting the SNL footage as a reel or remixing other creators’ reels, while others are lip-synching to the audio.
Creators are then overlaying the video with text that refers to a topic they can’t stop talking about.
Examples in action
How to make the ‘So I’m not gonna talk about it’ trend your own
Using this audio, film yourself lip-synching the line "So I’m not gonna talk about it. Okay, I am gonna talk about it a little bit."
Then, overlay the footage with text that refers to a topic you’re passionate about, or a project you’re proud of.
This audio lends itself particularly well to projects or products for which you’ve already run extensive marketing or content campaigns—it reminds your audience of the product once more, while humorously acknowledging that this probably isn’t the first time they’ve heard about it.
For instance:
"When I’ve just launched a new skincare line and everyone’s sick of hearing about it."
"When everyone is sick of hearing about our new croissant flavor."
This article has been reviewed and updated to ensure the information provided is accurate and up to date.