Don't get caught looking out of place. Here's everything you need to know about what’s happening on the internet to sound smart in front of your boss, compiled by unhinged marketing professionals
What the internet is talking about right now:
YouTuber Alex Choi Charged for Stunt Involving Fireworks and Helicopters
YouTuber Alex Choi has been charged for a stunt involving fireworks, a helicopter, and a Lamborghini. The incident took place in Los Angeles, leading to multiple charges, including reckless driving and illegal use of fireworks.
“Slowmance”
Hinge offers advice for improving dating app experiences after releasing its second annual LGBTQIA+ D.A.T.E. (data, advice, trends and expertise) report. The report suggests users should “take things a little slower than in the past,” and introducing the term “slowmance.”
Summer Dating Report
Young people are increasingly seeking out in-person events to meet partners according to Eventbrite’s 2024 Summer Dating Report.
The Return of Kelly
Sketch comedian and early YouTube star Liam Kyle Sullivan made a rare appearance as his character Kelly to perform the song “Shoes” at an L.A. Pride event.
World’s Largest Buc-ee’s Opens
The world’s largest Buc-ee’s travel center opened in Luling, Texas, spanning over 75,000 square feet. This massive facility offers travelers a wide range of amenities and services, including numerous gas pumps, a convenience store, and dining options.
Furality Umbra
Furality Umbra, the first ever VR furry convention took place over the weekend, welcoming over 21,000 attendees, and raising $46,120 for The Center Orlando. The event was put together by Furality, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Miss AI Beauty Pageant
The Miss AI Beauty Pageant ushers in a new type of A.I. influencer, highlighting the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the influencer industry.
Skibidi Toy-let
YouTube phenomenon Skibidi Toilet has partnered with Bonkers Toys and Invisible Narratives to create a new line of toys based on the popular web series that features humanoids with TVs, cameras, and speakers for heads.
Squirrel Water Skiing at Mall of America
Twiggy, an eastern grey squirrel, racked up views over the weekend for water skiing at The Mall of America.
“Looking For a Man in Finance” TikTok Parodies
More parodies of the viral song are surfacing, including:
“Your Contact Lenses Just Arrived”
Stemming from a 2008 1-800 CONTACTS commercial, the sound is paired with a situation where someone thinks their taste is peculiar only to find that their needs/desires are perfectly catered to.
“Who Shot up the Taco Bell?”
Users are repurposing the original reaction to a trashed Taco Bell to ask “who would have done this” questions ranging from things they did themselves to questions that may not have answers.
“You Said Normal Girls Were Boring”
Users pair these Taylor Swift lyrics with an experience where they were appreciated for being different but abandoned when it got “too weird.”
“Bitch Why You Ain’t Call My Phone in a Fuckin Week” Dance
This easy-to-perform dance trend is circulating, paired with this specific sound.
“Show Me Your Bad Dog”
The above sound encourages listeners to use it and show their “bad dogs” being evil.
Rating Things My Dad/Mom Has Done
Users recount (sometimes traumatic) things their parents have done and rate them out of ten. Spoiler alert: they mostly end with their parent dying.
Randonautica Reminiscing
Fans of the app Randonautica are recalling their strange adventures with the app, which provides an arbitrary location to “explore.” Many stories include the explorers finding more than they bargained for.
Removing Your Brain ASMR
As a solution to “brain rot,” ASMR creators have taken to providing POV ASMR videos from the perspective of someone providing the service of brain removal.
“I hope they play...”
This trend highlights various artists and events, beginning with a desire to hear a particular song by an artist and then revealing that they are not attending that artist’s show at all.
Now for a more granular look at moments across the web:
Starbucks Launches Starbucks Studios
Starbucks announced the launch of Starbucks Studios, an in-house media production unit that will create premium entertainment content aimed at “move culture through entertainment.”
Dolly Parton Broadway Musical in 2026
Dolly Parton announced a new Broadway musical set to debut in 2026. The musical will feature original songs based on her life and career.
Chappell Roan Declines White House Invite
Singer Chappell Roan declined an invitation to perform at the White House, citing a lack of “liberty and justice for all.” After performing at the Governors Ball music festival, Roan took to Twitter to confirm her statement.
“Whoop, Whoop” /sad
The payment platform used to process tickets for the annual Insane Clown Posse-centric, Gathering of the Juggalos festival was hacked, resulting in stolen money from ticket buyers. Organizers are investigating the incident and working to resolve the issue. "It's a fuckin shit show," remarked one juggalo Redditor.
Phish Fan Banned for Bong Rip
A Phish fan was banned from the band’s concert venue after being caught on camera taking a bong rip during a show. While the ban was rescinded, the incident sparked discussions about fan behavior and venue policies.
Megan Thee Stallion’s A.I. Controversy
Megan Thee Stallion choked up on stage in Florida, with fans assuming it had to deal with an alleged deepfake AI-generated sex tape. The rapper expressed her distress over the situation on Twitter, which has raised concerns about the ethical implications of explicit AI-generated content.
Rihanna’s “I’m Retired” Shirt
Rihanna was spotted wearing an “I’m Retired” slogan t-shirt in New York. This fashion statement has fueled speculation about the singer’s plans and potential retirement from the music industry. The star was also spotted talking about a possible future album with Entertainment Tonight, saying she’s “starting over.”
Bad Bunny’s Wardrobe Malfunction
During a recent concert in Puerto Rico, one of Bad Bunny’s backup dancers suffered a wardrobe malfunction when her tights got stuck to the rapper’s crotch area while performing. Despite the mishap, Bad Bunny maintained his composure and continued the show.
Spotify to Raise Prices
Spotify plans to introduce a new subscription tier that will cost at least $5 more per month and include access to high-fidelity audio and new playlisting tools. The company aims to cater to music enthusiasts by offering an enhanced audio experience and advanced features for creating playlists and managing music libraries.
USA beats Pakistan in T20
The USA defeated Pakistan in a thrilling Super Over finish during their T20 World Cup match in Dallas. Both teams scored 159 in their respective 20 overs, but the USA edged out Pakistan 18/1 to 13/1 in the Super Over. Leading the way was Saurabh Netravalkar, the lefty bowler (think: pitcher) who helped secure the victory for the U.S. His full-time job? According to his LinkedIn profile, he is a principal member of the technical staff at Oracle.
FBI releases O.J. Simpson documents
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released 475 pages of documents relating to O.J. Simpson, the NFL Hall of Fame running back who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend.
Summer Game Fest Reveals
The Summer Game Fest showcased announcements from major publishers and upcoming games like Doom: The Dark Ages, six horror titles from Blumhouse, Bokeh Game Studio’s debut title, Slitterhead, and more.
Genshin Impact Streamer Controversy
Tectone, a Genshin Impact streamer, made controversial claims against other creators in the community. In a 34-page document, Atsu detailed how he had hit “rock bottom” and named multiple creators who were allegedly involved in the drama, including ‘Braxophone‘, Tectone, ‘Gooser‘, and many more.
Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour
Starting this month, Animal Crossing: New Horizons fans will be able to experience an aquarium tour at a handful of locations throughout the United States. During the tour dates, visitors at these particular stops can expect to see special Animal Crossing themed signage and descriptions that come straight from the game.
Nvidia near overtaking Apple
Nvidia has passed Apple as the world’s second-most valuable public company. The market cap passed $3 trillion for the first time, putting the chipmaker just is close to surpassing Apple as the world’s second-most valuable company. With a market cap of $2.38 trillion, it trails Apple by about $230 billion. The rise is driven by high demand for A.I. chips, which increased Nvidia’s value from $1 trillion to over $2 trillion in nine months.
Green Day and Dickies Collaboration
Green Day has partnered with Dickies to release a “Dookie” capsule collection. The collection celebrates the 30th anniversary of Green Day’s iconic album with exclusive apparel items.
Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe Tomato Clutch
Designer Jonathan Anderson has transformed a viral tomato meme into a clutch bag for Loewe after users on Twitter joked that the tomato looked like it aligned with the aesthetics of the fashion house.
Virginie Viard Leaves Chanel
Virginie Viard has left her position as creative director at Chanel. Her departure marks a significant change for the iconic fashion house, which is searching for a new creative leader to shape the brand’s future direction.
Drake’s Big Pants
While attending his son’s soccer game, Drake wore pants that lacked shape and need tailoring as seen in a pic he posted to Instagram. The internet went wild, calling it cosplay and recommending tailors.
Beauty Blindness
TikTokkers are reflecting and revealing the moments when they could not see that they were a victim of beauty trends, especially with over-the-top eyebrows (think Dip Brows circa 2016) or too-fluffy eyelashes.
Daily Shed
TikTokkers are revealing their high-maintenance nighttime beauty routines by showing their “daily shed” (aka “morning shed”) or the number of beauty tools they need to remove from themselves first thing in the morning.
Dr Pepper Surpasses Pepsi in the U.S.
Dr Pepper has overtaken Pepsi to become the second most popular carbonated beverage in the United States. Coca-Cola remains the top-selling soda in the country.
Sugar Substitute Linked to Heart Risks
A Cleveland Clinic-led study found that the sugar substitute erythritol is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The research suggests that higher blood levels of erythritol are linked to greater cardiovascular risk.
Wendy’s Triple Berry Frosty
Wendy’s has introduced a new Triple Berry Frosty, which is available for a limited time. The dessert features a blend of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries mixed into their classic Frosty base.
Flavor Flav Orders Entire Menu
According to TMZ, Flavor Flav ordered every item on the Red Lobster menu, claiming he hopes to bring the restaurant out of bankruptcy.
7-Eleven x Drumstick
7-Eleven has launched a new Drumstick Slurpee flavor. The king-sized cone brings the tart flavor of 7-Eleven’s iconic blue raspberry Slushee to an ice cream cone.
Yogurtland Unveils Giant Spoon
Yogurtland celebrated National Spoon Day on July 11, by offering free giant spoons.
Joey Chestnut Banned From Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Joey Chestnut, the 16-time champion of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, has been banned from participating in the 2024 event due to a business arrangement with Impossible Foods. This rival company produces plant-based vegan frankfurters. Major League Eating refused to allow Chestnut to endorse a different hot dog brand despite accommodating his other demands.
Pat Sajak’s Final’ Wheel of Fortune’ Episode
Pat Sajak’s final episode as host of “Wheel of Fortune” aired on June 6th. Sajak has hosted the popular game show for over four decades.
Suzanne Collins Releasing New Novel
Suzanne Collins is set to release a new “Hunger Games” novel next year. The book will be a prequel exploring the origins of the dystopian world.
Alex Jones to Liquidate in Bankruptcy
Alex Jones has filed for bankruptcy to liquidate his assets in response to defamation lawsuits from Sandy Hook families. The families are seeking compensation for damages caused by Jones’ false claims about the 2012 school shooting.
Dick Van Dyke wins Daytime Emmy
Dick Van Dyke, at 98, became the oldest winner of a Daytime Emmy Award when he was awarded for his guest appearance on “Days of Our Lives.”
Apple WWDC23 Highlights
Apple’s WWDC23 showcased new software updates, including iOS 18, macOS Sonoma, and watchOS 10. The event also introduced the Vision Pro mixed reality headset and new Mac hardware, such as the M3 chip.
Twitch D.J. Program
Twitch introduced a new D.J. program, allowing creators to legally play music on their streams. This initiative aims to provide a seamless experience for both streamers and viewers while respecting copyright laws and supporting the music industry.
Instagram Virtual Pets
Instagram is experimenting with virtual pets in Stories. This feature would enable users to adopt and care for digital pets within the popular social media platform, adding a new interactive element to the user experience.
Instagram-WhatsApp Integration
Instagram is testing the ability to cross-post Stories to WhatsApp. This integration aims to provide users with a seamless experience across different platforms, allowing them to share their Stories with a broader audience.
Elon Musk’s Apple Ban
Elon Musk plans to ban Apple devices from his companies over OpenAI’s deal with Apple. This decision reflects the ongoing tensions and competition between tech giants in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
Instagram Partnership Upgrades Speculation
New Instagram partnership features were spotted in the wild that could improve working with influencers on the platform.
Crabs can’t read … But you can!
Here are some good reads we picked from around the web:
404 Media: Americans Are Hiring People in the Philippines to Help Them Find Adderall
Charli xcx: Check out Charli xcx’s new Brat generator
[Not a read, but it’s still cool]
Not all brands deserve a W, but this one does:
Silence, Brand! is an internet culture and marketing newsletter compiled by unhinged brand marketing professionals.
Thank you to this week’s contributors:
🦀 Dayna Castillo, Madison Marcus, Apple Xenos, Max Runyon, and Ryan Benson 🦀