From hummus-dipped carrots to Love Island’s return, social media is once again serving up chaos, comfort, and cultural commentary.
The “just a little something to take the edge off” trend has been embraced with open arms by Gen Z and millennial creators. But instead of reaching for a cigarette or a hard drink at the end of a long day, users are humorously posting themselves holding things like a carrot dipped in hummus, posing as if it were a cigarette. The more random the object, the better.
Burnout and self-care are hot topics among these generations, but humor remains the go-to coping mechanism. The trend is funny, but it also reflects a broader shift in behavior: young people are swapping out “unhealthy” habits for more mindful ones: whole food snacks, Pilates classes, and journaling.
The cigarette of the 2000s is being replaced by a pen to write down their feelings.
Brands, this is your moment. If you have a product that could help Gen Z and millennials "take the edge off", now is the time to tap into this trend.
Every time Love Island hits screens, it dominates social media. From memes on X to live reactions on TikTok, the show has become a cultural moment that lives far beyond the TV.
For Gen Z in particular, watching Love Island isn't just about tuning in, it's about sharing, commenting, and creating content in real-time to be a part of the cultural conversation – the Love Island community.
This year, two influencers, Joe Baggs and Ash Holmes, are joining Love Island: Aftersun as hosts. Their commentary is already a hit online and resonates with how Gen Z likes to watch TV: with a phone in hand, engaging in real-time reactions.
Maya Jama, who has hosted Love Island since 2023, is also building hype across her social channels. She is a key figure in pop culture, especially among late Gen Z and young millennials. Maya is teasing her return with content that is generating more excitement around the first episode on Monday, 9th June.
This certainly won't be the first time we speak about Love Island this year…
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok recently, you will have stumbled upon the #holyfknairball trend with Soul Survivor by Jeezy as the backing track.
If you’re confused as to where the words “holy f*kn airball” come from, they were originally shouted by students at a high school basketball game after a completely missed shot. “Holy airball” is essentially a take on the phrase “holy cow,” used to express shock over a major miss.
On TikTok, the trend has taken on a new life. It’s now used by creators to call out moments when someone has misunderstood, dismissed, or underestimated them. A creator will tell a short anecdote about someone throwing an “airball” in conversation, followed by a cut to the truth – an image or clip of what the person missed out on.
@mylifeaseva totally owned the trend. She posted “told them I was really busy on Sunday”, then cut to a clip of her strutting down the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. You were wrong if you thought she would be running errands around town!
The trend is an easy one to jump on, as we all have a #holyfknairball moment. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has even jumped on board. If a “traditional” celebrity wants to remain relevant today, they need to embrace social media.
Ironically, the comment section is full of Gordon’s fans calling him out for not fully spelling out his favorite F word…
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