If you want your brand to stay relevant and visible on TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, keeping up with new social media trends is a must.
Trending formats, audio clips and short-form video ideas move quickly, but when you jump in early and make them your own, they can help boost reach, increase engagement and show your brand’s personality in a way your audience actually wants to watch.
And no, this does not mean copying every trend you see five minutes after it goes viral. It means spotting the right moments, adapting them to your business and creating content that feels natural, relevant and worth watching.
Here’s a roundup of some of the biggest social media trends right now, plus how your brand can use them without looking like it is trying too hard. And if you are looking to breathe new life into your social media campaigns, come speak to our social media experts at Dialled In. We offer social media management services to help your business stand out from the crowd and find new business.
1. The “Smile if you…” Trend
A fun and versatile way to humanise your brand. This trend invites your team (or you) to smile in response to a prompt, perfect for light-hearted, relatable moments.
How to use it:
- Swap in industry-relevant prompts to connect with your audience’s day to day reality.
- Keep it quick, natural, and authentic.
Ideas for brands:
- “Smile if you want a day off tomorrow.”
- “Smile if you’ve already mentally checked out for the weekend.”
- “Smile if the client approved the first draft.”
- “Smile if your marketing plan is still living in a Google Doc from January.”
Check out our post here to see this trend in action
2. Would You Rather? The August Edition
This trend plays on exaggerated, obvious choices, and it’s perfect for brands wanting to add humour to everyday work situations. It works because the answer is usually painfully obvious, which gives you an easy way to show personality while still keeping the content relatable.
How to use it:
- Set up a playful “Would you rather…” scenario with a clear winner.
- Poke fun at internal struggles (like the marketing team’s never-ending filming requests).
Here’s a great example of this trend being used
Example:
“Would you rather sip cocktails on a beach… or film another reel with no budget and a ring light from Amazon?”
3. End of July Chaos “August” Audio
This sound is everywhere and taps into all the things you meant to do but somehow did not.
It is a low-effort, high-relatability trend that works particularly well for business content, especially if you are brave enough to laugh at your own to-do list.
How to use it:
Overlay text on the video such as:
- “Wasn’t the rebrand happening this summer?”
- “Weren’t we launching a podcast in July?”
The humour works because it’s self aware and relatable.
4. Nothing Beats a Jet2 Holiday
An ironic twist on a cheerful travel ad. The bigger the contrast between the upbeat music and your chaotic footage, the better.
How to use it:
- Highlight expectation vs. reality
- Share behind the scenes mishaps
- Show your team laughing through the madness
Example:
“Setting up an event stall in sideways rain.”
Trending Audio: Hold My Hand – Jess Glynne (Jet2 holiday ad remix)
See how this trend and audio are put together here
Trending Audio ideas
Trending Audio 1: August – Taylor Swift
This track is trending again and sets the mood perfectly for new month content. Use it for:
- New launches
- Monthly goal setting
- Seasonal mood-setting
Trending Audio 2: Camera Roll – corn.wave
A nostalgic, soft track that’s taking over feeds. Turn your phone’s camera roll into a montage, from heartfelt team moments to behind-the-scenes chaos, with transitions that match the beat.
Take a look at our example post here
Why You Should Jump on These Social Media Trends
Using new social media trends is not about jumping on everything for the sake of it. That is how brands end up looking a bit desperate, and nobody needs that on their feed.
The trick is choosing trends that fit your brand voice, audience and message.
When you get it right, trends can help you:
- Boost visibility in busy feeds
- Create more engaging short-form video content
- Show the people behind your brand
- Make your content feel more current
- Start conversations with your audience
- Turn simple ideas into content that actually performs
How Can I Improve My Social Media Engagement?
Social media is moving fast, and trends will keep changing. The brands that get the best results are usually the ones paying attention, testing ideas and showing up consistently.
Want these social media trends even earlier? Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest advice for social media strategies that work for businesses.
Need help turning new social media trends into content that actually does something for your business? Get in touch with Dialled In, and let’s turn what’s trending into results for your brand.