Trend Taster: Caesar salad edition
In this week’s edition of the Trend Taster, we round up the snackable trends, stats and insights from around the world, including:
famous birthdays
fake news
communities
close friends
news seekers
streaks
Caesar salad and fries
Who has the most famous birthday?
Famous Birthdays underwent a transformation when founder Evan Britton observed a shift towards online personalities over traditional celebrities, prompting the creation of a dynamic map spotlighting influencers significant to Gen Z. Today, the platform offers a subscription service that delivers real-time updates on trending online stars, facilitating swift connections between talent agencies and emerging personalities. The site's trending list highlights popular figures such as gamers and models, often unfamiliar to mainstream audiences but highly influential among youth. For businesses targeting the teen demographic, Famous Birthdays provides crucial insights into current influencers resonating within this generation.
Who has the most fake news?
According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2024 survey across 47 markets, TikTok and X pose the greatest challenges in identifying the credibility of news content, with one in four respondents finding it somewhat difficult to distinguish between truth and fake news on these platforms. The report notes that concerns about misinformation often stem from encountering opinions, agendas, and journalism perceived as superficial or unsubstantiated, rather than outright fabricated news.
Facebook user can now create Messenger “Communities” to to 5,000 people
Meta now allows users to create "Communities" on Messenger, enabling admins to add up to 5,000 people without needing a Facebook page or group. However, this feature isn't available to all users yet, and Meta highlights that privacy levels differ from typical personal messages. These updates align Messenger more closely with platforms like WhatsApp and Discord, as reported by TechCrunch.
What is “close friends on live”?
Instagram has introduced a new feature allowing users to broadcast live exclusively to their Close Friends list. This "Close Friends on Live" feature enables users to go live with up to three others in their Close Friends circle. Originally launched in 2016, Instagram's live broadcasts were public and visible to all followers. Late last year, Instagram introduced Notes, a status feature that lets users share updates with real-world friends using text and emoji. These Notes appear at the top of friends' inboxes for 24 hours
X/ Twitter is still the main platform for news seekers
A Pew Research study indicates that X, formerly known as Twitter, has the most dedicated news-seeking user base among social media platforms. While most U.S. users on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok do not primarily use these sites for news, about half of X users regularly get news there, with 65% citing it as a main reason for using the app. X users also frequently see breaking news in real-time, with 75% reporting this experience, compared to Facebook (58%), TikTok (55%), and Instagram (44%). Despite Facebook being the top news source overall with 30% of U.S. adults using it for news, X remains a key destination for news-focused users.
TikTok is testing streaks that are similar to Snapchat’s
TikTok is testing a streak feature similar to Snapchat's, available in limited markets for select users. To get a streak, users must message someone over three consecutive days, earning a badge showing the streak count. The streak ends if no messages are exchanged within 24 hours. TikTok notifies users when a streak is about to end to encourage continuation, aiming to create a similar status symbol of frequent interaction among friends as seen on Snapchat.
What is the “It Girl Dinner”?
The trending summer meal combo, dubbed the "it" girl dinner on TikTok, features a viral meme highlighting a dry martini, Caesar salad, and fries as a popular choice among young women. This meme has sparked a trend on TikTok and X, praised for its balanced flavour profile, affordability (often cheaper than an entree), and shareable nature. Like past viral food trends, variations of this meal combo are already circulating, including substitutions like Diet Coke. Brands have the opportunity to engage with this trend as it continues to gain momentum.
