Each month on B&T, Fabulate’s head of strategy and talent, Lucy Ronald, breaks down what’s trending on TikTok – and more importantly, why it matters.
June gave us a brand new soundtrack for impending doom (yay!). The iconic Boyz n the Hood saxophone became the official audio for those moments when you know you’ve made a terrible decision, from ignoring a final notice to buying another iced coffee while your bank account quietly begs for mercy.
Elsewhere, creators were brutally explaining why they’d never survive a stint on Love Island, creators unlocked a new level of wizardry with “food jutsu”, and over on Instagram everyone suddenly wanted strangers to draw their outfits.
The internet was weird, self-aware and very entertaining this month. Here’s everything that took over your feed in June!
Saxophone’s Getting Louder
The iconic Boyz n the Hood saxophone has officially become TikTok’s soundtrack for impending doom. Creators use it to narrate the moments where they absolutely know they’re making a bad decision – ignoring a final notice, buying another iced coffee while their savings account cries, or telling themselves they’ll “start fresh on Monday” for the fifth week in a row. As the situation spirals, the saxophone gets louder. It’s basically collective denial in content form, and the comments have become one giant support group.
@kazstrxn Original video @@josh ♬ original sound – Tyra
Reasons Why I Can’t Go on Love Island
With Love Island back on our screens, creators have found a far more entertaining use for it than actually watching the show. The format is simple: list all the reasons you’d be dumped within 48 hours. Can’t share food. Terrible sleeper. Face physically incapable of hiding annoyance. Usually filmed over a GRWM, it’s self-aware, painfully relatable, and somehow delivers more entertainment than the latest episode.
@luxegen‘Love Island’ wasn’t made for us x Love Island Reasons why Love Island UK♬ original sound – luxegen
Food Jutsu
Anime hand signs. Quick cut. Full drink/meal/something appears. That’s the trend. Inspired by Naruto and Jujutsu Kaisen, creators perform dramatic “food summoning” rituals before instantly revealing an elaborate dish. It’s ridiculously simple, incredibly satisfying to watch, and restaurants have wasted absolutely no time jumping on it. You don’t need to understand anime to understand why 36 million posts later, this trend is everywhere.
@its.trinitymariee♬ Delirious – ｘｕｎ
Draw My Outfit
One of Instagram’s most satisfying editing trends right now. Creators literally draw over themselves on screen, sketching each clothing item or object before it magically appears in real life. Jacket. Shoes. Bag. Accessories. It’s clever, surprisingly technical to pull off, and exactly the sort of editing flex that makes you watch twice just to work out how they did it.
View this post on Instagram
Not Proud of It But Brave Enough To Say It
The internet has collectively decided shame is out. Creators open with “I’m not proud of it, but I’m man enough to say it…” before confessing the most hilariously niche thing they’ve been hiding. Using the same kitchen sponge for eight months. Pretending to be busy so they could stay home and watch a documentary about bridges. Eating dinner standing over the sink.
The more specific the confession, the better. The comments quickly become thousands of people admitting they’ve done exactly the same thing.
@userabaoowiieb
Rage Baiting Our Boss With The 3 Second Challenge
The newest workplace prank is beautifully evil. Someone asks their boss, colleague or friend to stop a stopwatch exactly on three seconds. But while they’re celebrating what they think is perfect timing, the filmer secretly swaps to a screenshot showing 3.00 on the screen. Cue the victory dance, the confusion and everyone else trying not to laugh. The prank itself is simple, but the reactions are carrying the trend.
@remmiebyriley proof is in the pudding dude 😭😂 if you know you know
Suspect Drawing Challenge
One person sits behind a laptop with a character on screen – usually something gloriously cursed like our king Donkey from Shrek. . The person on the other side can’t see the screen and has to draw the “suspect” based purely on a verbal description. “Suspect has a very long head. Bushy eyebrows. Quite small eyes.” The drawings are always wrong in the most spectacular way and the reveal never gets old.
@remmiebyriley donkey prank
