Silence, Brand! 09.05.24
🦀 LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INHALANT ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM! What would you do if when you okay?! & babe!!! the 9-month cruise has docked!!!!
ok i’m sorry I am just a crab but I really need you to read this first viral blurb and..
idk, help me think of a way to do something for the good of the people…
this freaks me TF out.
as a crab tho!
in non-scary but similarly nonsensical news, #stresscore and the evolution of “ellie and mason HOUSE 💜” are powering a full internet meltdown into the most unserious of places. i love it.
ok also u didn’t know this (I kept a secret teehee *devious click*) but we have a baby now.
u and me.
(its the long-awaited return of the 9-month cruise) time to sit back, kick up ur feet, and await some sweet sweet drama
happy friday you shellfish beach
Why Teens Are Turning to Whippets: The Hidden Dangers Of Recreational Nitrous Oxide (Baller Alert)
The internet has seen a rise in content related to the use of "whippets" among teenagers, referring to the recreational use of nitrous oxide (N20). One brand, Galaxy Gas, has drawn quite a bit of controversy for its flavored "culinary" creation—that it sells with a glow-in-the-dark accessory dangerously resemblant to a mouthpiece. This "innovation" increased access to larger quantities of this sensitive substance, rendering it incredibly difficult to monitor consumption.
On TikTok, some users are engaging in ‘chroming’ under terms like ‘WhipTokk’ (the original spelling has been flagged), a slang term for the recreational use of nitrous oxide. Videos under the term ‘Whiptok’ have over 546.3 million views. Recent social chatter indicates well-known personalities such as Kanye West, Adin Ross, and Joshua Block (worldoftshirts) are alleged to have recently used the substance.
Despite being seen as a harmless party drug, inhaling nitrous oxide can lead to serious health risks, including hypoxia, anemia, nerve damage, paralysis, and hypoxia (that's the deprivation of oxygen to your brain, which can be fatal after just a few minutes). Please be safe. *hopeful crab clicks*
(deep breath)
Hit Em, The Microgenre That Came To Drew Daniel In A Dream (Stereogum)
A recent microgenre called "hit em" was invented in a dream by Drew Daniel, an English professor at Johns Hopkins and one-half of the experimental electronic duo Matmos. The genre is defined by 5/4 time, 212 bpm, and "super crunched-out sounds" and has quickly gained popularity with numerous producers creating their own interpretations. Daniel and fellow producer Travis Stewart, aka Machinedrum, are already working on a compilation of some of the best tracks within this new genre.
Viral TikTok Series ‘Who TF Did I Marry?’ Gets TV Adaptation, Natasha Rothwell to Star and Produce (Variety)
Natasha Rothwell is developing a TV adaptation of the viral TikTok series "Who TF Did I Marry?" by Tareasa "Reesa Teesa" Johnson, where she will also star and executive produce. The series, spanning 50 videos and over 8 hours, details Johnson's experiences with her ex-husband, who she claims is a pathological liar, and has garnered over 450 million impressions and 3 million followers for Johnson. Rothwell acquired the rights to the series through her Big Hattie Productions banner, with Mary Sayama McHenry recently hired as director of development.
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Secretary of State announces winners of Michigan’s first ‘I voted’ sticker design contest (Michigan Advance)
Michigan voters can look forward to sporting some stylish "I Voted" stickers this November, as the state held a contest to choose the designs. Over 57,700 public votes were cast, resulting in nine winning designs across different categories created by talented Michiganders of all ages. The stickers will be available for voters to wear proudly during the 2024 Presidential Election.
‘A Minecraft Movie’ Trailer: Jack Black’s Steve and Jason Momoa Meet Piglins and Creepers in Blocky Video Game World (Variety)
In the first trailer for "A Minecraft Movie," Jack Black declares, “Anything you can dream about here, you can make,” before humorously proclaiming, “I… am Steve,” much to the dismay of his companions. Directed by Jared Hess and featuring a star-studded cast including Jason Momoa and Danielle Brooks, the film promises to bring the beloved video game to life on the big screen, offering a glimpse of the blocky fantasy universe and its adventurous characters.
Autopsies show Superyacht victims' cause of death was 'death by confinement' (FOX News)
Autopsies revealed that the victims aboard the Bayesian superyacht, including New York lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda, died by drowning after the yacht sank off the coast of Sicily. A storm, possibly a waterspout, capsized the yacht, which had 22 people on board. Investigations focus on the crew’s actions, and potential charges may be filed. The storm’s forecast was reportedly known, but the crew may not have prepared properly, contributing to the tragedy.
Viral 9-month cruise wrap (Vox)
The 9-month cruise that took over TikTok last December is returning to port. Be on the lookout for these cruisegoers to start dishing on you FYP about all the dirty details of their time at sea.
Maduro decrees Christmas will start in October as Venezuela cracks down on dissent (CNN)
Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has declared that Christmas will begin on October 1, despite political unrest and a crackdown on opposition. The move comes amid international skepticism over Maduro's re-election and a wave of arrests and protests in the country.
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Temu's Crumby Croissant Lamp (TikTok)
This TikTokker was surprised to uncover the truth about the croissant lamp that she purchased on Temu. She used state-of-the-art testing technology to determine that it was not actually a sculpture but a real croissant covered in a resin-like coating.
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Spanish TikTokkers are trying to meet cute at the supermarket (Mashable)
Spanish-speaking TikTok users are shaking up the dating scene by using upside-down pineapples in their grocery carts at supermarket chain Mercadona to signal their availability for love during "flirting hour" from 7 to 8 p.m. This trend, sparked by actor and TV personality Vivy Lin, has gained traction with nearly 200,000 TikTok posts under the #mercadona hashtag, with influencers and shoppers alike joining in on the fun.
New evidence claims Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon could be listening to you on your devices (Mashable)
Several big tech companies have denied involvement in a marketing program that allegedly listens to users through smart devices for targeted advertising. The companies, including Meta, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, have all refuted claims of collaborating with Cox Media Group's "Active Listening" service, which aims to use voice data for advertising purposes.
The Instagram Story comment section is now open (The Verge)
New feature alert - bubbles on bubbles! We’re over here wondering how this could benefit our fellow brand friends. It’s free real estate.
Ding Dong
TikTokers use this trending audio to demonstrate what phrase will make them arrive at a friend’s house immediately if said to them.
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Ellie and Mason House (continued, infused w/brainrot)
This one is on the more insane side of things. In an amalgamation of many memes, this trend includes videos mixing “Ellie and Mason house,” “Donatella VERSACE 💜,” “Mommy, there a girl behind you,” and “nononono girl,” before devolving into deeper, more core internet memories. Many videos feature XTC ACID by SOPHIE.
Toy Story Penguin Meme
TikTokers are using this image from Toy Story to describe the look they give in a certain scenario via on screen text.
I k!lled a man
Girly Girl Productions is back with another banger—This time, they’re asking the viewer if they can keep a secret. 🤫 Also it’s a pet trend now.
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Bouncy Yaris
The music video for “Why’s This Dealer” by Niko B features an animated Toyota Yaris that bounces to the song's beat. TikTokkers are making videos about bouncy cars and their drug dealers.
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If you 'pose 28', I'll 'pose 28'
TikTokkers are once again riffing on the "if you dance, I'll dance" Lana Del Rey trend, this time replacing "dance" with pose 28 from Roblox.
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Stresscore
Originally spotted in our 8/30 issue, this mashup format is taking over the al-gore-rythym rn. Some users are pointing out this trend’s similarity to just plain old Brazilian Funk, though some experiencing the iconic bongo sounds on top of iconic songs for the first time are dubbing it Stresscore. The general vibe here is that the audio induces stress (and therefore doesn't necessarily stay on beat or feel very comfortable to listen to). #stresscore has over 8M views on TikTok.
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Streak Reminder
TikTokers use this trending stresscore audio to remind others to keep their streaks going.
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Victoria's Secret Model Makeup
Beauty creators are recreating Rose Marie Swift’s Victoria's Secret model makeup tips from her viral video
Chipotle Is Launching a Line of Halloween Costumes You Need to See (Food & Wine)
TikTok Outlines Updated Election Security Measures (Social Media Today)
New Report Highlights Key 2024 Video Content Trends (Social Media Today)
YouTube is making new tools to protect creators from AI copycats (The Verge)
The Internet Archive Loses Its Appeal of a Major Copyright Case (WIRED)
@kqednewsAn appeals court has upheld an earlier finding that the San Francisco-based Internet Archive violated copyright law by scanning and sharing digital books without the publishers’ permission. Four major publishers — Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, John Wiley & Sons and Penguin Random House — had sued the Archive in 2020, alleging that it had illegally offered free copies of more than 100 books, including fiction by Toni Morrison and J.D. Salinger. The Archive had countered that it was protected by fair use law.Tiktok failed to load.
Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserHow agencies are tackling accessibility issues for people with disabilities (The Drum)
Facebook says, 'How do you do, fellow kids?' (Tech Crunch)
Barack Obama Insists He Really Is Brat (Stereogum)
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserAt Last, Election Deniers Have an App of Their Own (WIRED)
Weezer Announce 'Blue Album' Box Set Enclosed In A Sweater (Stereogum)
Lady Gaga Says New Album Is Out in February 2025 (Pitchfork)
Katy Perry Addresses Her Decision To Work With Dr. Luke On Her New Album (Stereogum)
Linkin Park Unveil Emily Armstrong as New Co-Vocalist, Announce 2024 World Tour and Album (Rolling Stone)
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Caitlin Clark and the Fever are in the WNBA playoffs. Can they make a run to the Finals? (Yahoo Sports)
Ludacris Used His “Get Back” Arms To Throw Out The First Pitch At Last Night’s Braves Game (Stereogum)
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserApplebee's joins advertisers hoping a post-Taylor Swift NFL can convert viewers into buyers (DigiDay)
Nvidia is suddenly in trouble (CNN)
Most adult creators use AI in their work, new data says (Mashable)
The US Needs Deepfake Porn Laws. These States Are Leading the Way (WIRED)
Cops Are Towing Teslas to Recover Crime Scene Footage (Gizmodo)
e.l.f. Cosmetics Announces ‘Get Ready With Music, The Album,’ a Soundtrack of Self-Expression (Yahoo Finance)
Everyone At Fashion Week Is Ditching Red Lips For This Edgy Shade (The Zoe Report)
How 'Love Island USA' contestants go from 9-to-5s to earning over $20,000 a month (Yahoo!)
Anna Delvey Says She Got “Permission From ICE” for ‘DWTS’ and Will Wear Ankle Monitor (Hollywood Reporter)
Omar Apollo Reveals How He Prepared For ‘Queer’ Sex Scene With Daniel Craig (Deadline)
Abraham Lincoln Shared Bed with a Man for 4 Years, Fell Into 'Suicidal Depression' When He Left, Doc Says (People)
Good Read: The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time (Rolling Stone)
It’s Going to Be a Creator Commerce Holiday (AdWeek)
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Silence, Brand! is an internet culture and marketing newsletter compiled by unhinged brand marketing professionals—an elite army of internet idiots.
Thank you to this installment’s contributors: Ryan Benson, Dayna Castillo, Lenny Leithauser, David Cline, Dejaih Smith, and Benton Williams