First Friday: The May Edition
Arcade fight scenes, fighting the urge to stare directly into the sun and a radio debut.
Let’s dive into the trends that have taken over our feeds in April! From adrenaline-pumping 80s arcade fight scenes to the heartwarming vibes of Natasha Bedingfield, there's something for everyone in this edition of First Friday.
Trending Lifestyle Audios
Since late March, this trend has surged and continues to captivate. Users emulate "fight scenes" from iconic games like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, synced with an 80s hit. Each move corresponds to on-screen text, adding rhythm to the argument, spanning from comical scenarios like food ordering to more tense discussions about past relationships.
These Words – Badger & Natasha Beddingfield
This audio exudes charm, wholesomeness, and pure joy! It's making waves across various niches on TikTok. While many videos feature it as background music, there's a select few that pair the sound with the text "You're not sad, you're just..." on screen.
Calling all social media managers:
Capturing all the right content, from every angle—even the candid moments. Every possible content opportunity MUST be documented.
Sometimes it’s important to take a step back and look at the humour of it all and how we may come across to our colleagues and clients—and this trend does exactly that.
An Entire Universe of Solar Eclipse Memes
This month, many were lucky enough to experience the Great North American Eclipse—a moment that inspired both awe and creativity across the globe. While some marvelled at its breathtaking beauty, others seized the opportunity to showcase their meme-making abilities.
Leading up to the eclipse (and following it) our FYPs were flooded with a wave of tongue-in-cheek memes, offering playful perspectives on the celestial spectacle—from photoshop masterpieces to jokes about daring to face the sun's glare head-on.
Social Media Isn’t Real
Similar to the concept of “de-influencing,” influencers across Instagram and TikTok are revealing the reality behind their flawless social facade by sharing photo captions that capture their true emotions around body image, money-related stress, and loneliness.
It's a shift away from pretending everything's perfect. Influencers are opening up, and being honest about their ups and downs. By being genuine, they're building stronger connections with their followers.
Adverb Airs on CBC
On April 22, Adverbian Remi Baker made waves by appearing on CBC radio to discuss an inspiring story. The tale revolves around a forward-thinking, openly gay high school student from Edmonton who had a poignant quote in mind for his yearbook. Now, this remarkable narrative is gaining attention thanks to the efforts of the Edmonton Queer History Project.
For this project, Remi serves as a dedicated research assistant, contributing to the project's mission of preserving and sharing LGBTQ+ history in Edmonton. Alongside them was Dr. Kristopher Wells, a Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual & Gender Minority Youth at MacEwan University, who added valuable insight and expertise to the discussion.
Their appearance on CBC radio shines a spotlight on the importance of recognizing and celebrating 2SLGBTQ+ voices and experiences in our communities, and we couldn't be prouder of Remi's involvement in this meaningful project.
Thanks for joining us for this edition of First Friday! From arcade nostalgia to heartfelt tunes and impactful radio debuts, April has been a whirlwind, and we’re excited to see what May has in store. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!