Trend Taster: google maps girl edition
In this week’s edition of the Trend Taster, we round up the snackable trends, stats and insights from around the world, including:
Teenagers are taking control of their smartphones
Hermès turned shopping into a murder mystery
Maybelline is the first-ever official cosmetic partner of WWE
Explainer: google maps girl
NotebookLM now has featured notebooks
Teenagers are taking control of their smartphones
New research shows 40% of 12-15 year olds now take deliberate breaks from smartphones and social media, up 18% since 2022. They're not waiting for parents to set limits anymore, they're taking control themselves. Nearly half of 16-24 year olds are switching off notifications and using "do not disturb" mode, recognizing these platforms aren't neutral but designed to monetize their attention. What's fascinating is how this generation views constant connectivity as a choice rather than inevitability. They're essentially rewriting the rules of growing up digital, turning screen breaks into acts of rebellion against tech manipulation.
Hermès turned shopping into a murder mystery
Hermès just turned shopping into a murder mystery. Their New York activation transforms customers into detectives hunting for missing horses through rooms that cleverly disguise product displays as crime scenes. It's retail theatre at its finest, where browsing becomes an adventure and luxury goods hide within interactive storytelling. This isn't just about selling handbags anymore. When brands compete for attention through experiential narratives rather than traditional showrooms, they're acknowledging something fundamental: modern consumers want to participate, not just purchase. The free, family-friendly format also signals how even the most exclusive brands are rethinking accessibility.
Maybelline is the first-ever official cosmetic partner of WWE
Maybelline has become WWE's first-ever Official Cosmetics Partner. While traditional sports partnerships focused on energy drinks and protein bars, WWE is betting that makeup withstands body slams better than expected. The timing isn't coincidental either, as beauty brands chase audiences beyond traditional demographics and WWE continues building its female fanbase. This partnership signals something bigger: beauty is becoming less about aspiration and more about authenticity across all life moments, even ones involving steel chairs and championship belts.
Explainer: google maps girl
A new TikTok trend sees people wandering around screens looking lost whilst staring at phones, set to Charli XCX's "Girl, so confusing." The Google Maps Girl trend captures something deeper than comedy: genuine spatial anxiety among GPS natives. People who've never learned traditional navigation feel genuinely proud of simple feats like cycling between boroughs without directions. An entire generation has outsourced basic wayfinding to algorithms, creating dependency that feels both convenient and slightly embarrassing.
NotebookLM now has featured notebooks
Google just turned NotebookLM into a curated knowledge playground. The AI research assistant now features notebooks from The Economist, The Atlantic, and academic experts, letting users dive into everything from longevity advice to Shakespeare's complete works. Over 140,000 public notebooks have been shared since the feature launched last month, suggesting people want structured discovery over endless search results. This shift from search to exploration reflects how we're craving more thoughtful engagement with information rather than just quick answers
