Buckle up, in a quick recap of the last few weeks- we’re diving into algorithm updates, viral campaigns, and the latest from our creative playground.
Pop Culture:
- Rawdogging Life (Or Whatever): The trend of “rawdogging” is everywhere, and it's not what you think. It's about living or doing things with zero prep—travelling without entertainment, skipping inflight snacks, winging big meetings, or even winning the Olympics! It's become a badge of “fortitude” for Gen Z and beyond.
- Skibidi Toilet- From Meme to Mainstream: From quirky YouTube content to an upcoming Michael Bay movie, the viral “Skibidi Toilet” meme is breaking barriers. With 14.8B views, it’s Gen Alpha’s obsession and another example of how internet culture can launch box office hits.
- Demure or Brat? Why Not Both?: Young stars are creating moments that swing between ‘Brat Summer’ and ‘Very Mindful,’ but both share a confidence that’s inspiring brands. The key? Forget fleeting trends—build lasting platforms for authentic engagement. (source: Archrival Newsletter)
- Simone Biles & Alex Cooper Own the Olympics: Simone Biles didn’t just land gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics; she also crushed it on social, with her TikTok views skyrocketing to 3.3B in August. Meanwhile, Alex Cooper turned Olympic viewing into an interactive watch party with Call Her Daddy flair, gaining 1M promo views in 7 days.
Brand Activations: From Memes to Moments
- Swiggy- Modaks & Memes: Swiggy’s “Multiverse of Memes” hit 10M reach, and their Ganesh Chaturthi modak dispenser grabbed hearts, reaching 2.6M with 142K engagements in Mumbai.
- YouTube India- 3D Vibes: YouTube’s reel for FanFest used viral ganji chudail like animations, grabbing 123K engagements in a day. Is this “bad animation” meme play the next creative trend?
- Google India’s AI Escape Room: Google India’s “House of Gemini” AI escape room broke new ground, blending gaming and tech for 1.8M views. With help from Tanmay Bhat and 8 creators, this is the kind of immersive experience brands need to consider for tech-driven engagement.
- Foot Locker & The AR Olympics: Foot Locker went full ‘phygital’ with its AR adventures and sneaker games in Paris. Bringing sports and tech together, they scored big with immersive in-store events powered by AR.
- Squid Game IRL: Netflix isn’t done with Squid Game. From a real-life Squid Game experience in NYC to the mobile game Squid Game: Unleashed, Netflix is blending fan culture with tech impressively!
Creative Tech x Platform Trends
- AI Radio & YouTube’s Personal Playlists: YouTube’s upcoming shareable personal radio feature and Will.i.am’s AI-driven Radio.FYI are pushing the envelope in music curation. AI hosts might just become the future of interactive audio experiences.
- The Stones Meet Roblox: The Rolling Stones hit Roblox with Beat Galaxy, UMG’s metaverse experiment. This virtual space helps bridge the band’s legendary status with younger, digital-first audiences.
- AI’s Generative Evolution: From ChatGPT roasting Instagram feeds to Roblox building 3D worlds with generative AI, we’re heading into an era of AI-driven games and content creation. With tools like Google’s GameNGen generating real-time gameplay, creators have more power to disrupt the gaming landscape.
- AI Wingmen in Dating Apps: Looking to combat dating fatigue, apps like Hinge, Tinder and Bumble are going AI, with bots helping users craft flirty one-liners. Think AI matchmakers guiding Gen Z through the jungle of modern love.
That’s it. That’s the drip from Kulfi Collective! Stay tuned for more culture insights, trends and moments next month.
