Straight off the bat, we just want to say we’re feeling it too. Now more than ever, our social feeds are becoming inseparable from current news feeds, which can make it pretty easy to slip into a spiral of doomscrolling and despair.
We think that makes the need for safe spaces and light-hearted content all the more important though, so please take a moment to decompress here – maybe think of this newsletter as a digital version of touching grass 🧘
In case you need an aperetif of positive news, here are some things that went right this week. Keep scrolling for more of that much-needed ✨lightness✨
What’s Gone Viral? 🔥
Just want the headlines? Here’s a peek at some of the bigger viral convos before we dive into trends and the more… unhinged.
CEOs stealing the spotlight
Who needs AI influencers when you have an out-of-touch CEO in the wings, right? McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski went live with this absolute clanger of a 'promotional' video and the internet has, predictably, gone wild. Ironically, his tiny bite(which quite frankly looked like it was taken at gun point) has fully overshadowed the launch of their 'biggest and boldest' burger yet. Cue the instant response from rival CEOs of Burger King & Wendy's, and this gem from Smash Burger – all of them fully taking advantage of the open goal.
But interestingly... even McDonald's themselves leant into the mocking. A riskier move that we think is actually pretty genius.
Chalamet slips up just before Oscars
The king of cool has ruffled some (show) feathers in a recent interview with Matthew McConaughey. Yes, for the first time in ages, Timothee Chalamet has made the headlines without the words 'Kylie Jenner' immediately following. The Oscar-nominee made some pretty scathing remarks about ballet and opera, claiming "no one cares about this anymore", which has understandably resulted in backlash from disappointed fellow members of the Arts. Brands have been quick to utilise the opportunity for promotion though, with Seattle Opera posting this very soon after. We love an uno reverse.
Harry Styles is soooo back, baby
The ex-1D star released a much-awaited new album and despite the mixed critic reviews it's dominated the charts. His comeback show in Manchester was an 'electrifying' experience, and a notable part of it was the no phones and filming rule – fans had their phones sealed in bags and were given disposable cameras instead. How very whimsical Mr Styles. True to the artist they were seeing, the fans attending the concert made waves with their impeccable outfits – so much so, Vogue covered the event in this round up.
Trending Format Alert 🚨
Get a load of this ‘head turn’ trend 👀
Yet more proof some people are just built different because what do you mean you're shouting in public. Our social anxiety could never.
Here at Culture Lab, we're split between admiring the silly goofy fun of it all and physically cringing at the audacity. Above all though, it highlights people's overarching willingness to do something embarrassing in real life, if it results in likes and shares online – something which can be both freeing and damaging in equal measure.
We can see real potential for brands to jump on this trend though – with physical product placement in the hands of the person willing to make a scene. Don't ask us to execute this though please 😳
Brand Champion 🏆
Roll up, roll up! It’s time for this edition’s TikTok Brand Champion, and this week we’re hanging out with Sisters & Seekers.
You can just tell the marketing team at Sisters & Seekers have a BLAST. And the fun is really paying off as they’re growing their audience and brand love on the daily.
Founded in 2017 by sisters Alice and Maisie Jones from their garden shed in North Wales, they really boomed during lockdown, largely thanks to their “Isolation Generation” collection which launched in May 2020. Since then, they have been showing up in all the right ways, tapping into the mindset, interests, and trends that resonate deeply with their target audience.
But their content isn’t just timely or reactive, it’s building a real community that feels invested in the people that work at the brand – not just the clothes they sell. From unfiltered authentic BTS videos, to unscripted staff Q&As, and even a vlog series with much longer videos that feel like you’ve stumbled onto an influencer YouTube channel. While it’s not right for every brand, it feels in keeping with how this business began and the way that their Gen-Z target audience like to consume content.
Culture Lab Spotlight 🌟
And, of course, we can’t forget some of our own recent client content 🎺
More Industry News 🗞️
Looking for a specific industry or topic? Say no more. Here’s a selection of a few bonus newsworthy moments and trends, organised into categories, ‘Type A’ style.
Travel & Hospitality ✈️
2025 was reportedly another record-breaking year for EU tourism
This surprising country is tipped to be the new prime destination for nature tourism
Need another excuse to book that holiday? Well how about boosting longevity…
Sport & Tech ⚡️
New-era F1 has started and there are mixed feelings across the board
GB Sky Brown becomes skateboarding World Champion for the 2nd time 🏅
UK launches a public consultation on banning social media for under 16s
Fashion & Lifestyle 💅
No, we’re not jealous of Burberry’s 170th anniversary campaign guest list.. Not one bit 🤥
M&S announce Gillian Anderson as their new ‘chief compliments officer’
Lily Collins set to play Audrey Hepburn in new biopic and she’s dressing the part
Music & Entertainment 🎤
Duo, who? Apple has launched a new unhinged TikTok strategy…we’re into it
Peaky Blinders hits the cinemas, 13 years after the series started
Gisele Pelicot among headliners at this year’s Hay Festival
Trend Alert 🚨
So, we're switching things up here to spotlight some of our favourite International Women's Day posts – and perhaps this is a cautionary tale of treating topical dates like trends...
Getting it right: posts like this from the UN which we think really hit the mark.
Getting it wrong: sadly this post only covers a fraction of the list.
We can’t believe we’re really saying this in 2026, but just to reiterate – it isn't good enough for brands to be throwing out a token post without expecting people to hold them accountable for the way they're running their business. Self-awareness is key, people.
We also really enjoyed the execution of this. Boo to those stats though.
And that's a wrap for this week. We'll be here with advice, inspiration, or even just some words of positive affirmation if that's what you need. We got this.
Live, laugh, love,
The Culture Lab team 💚
