Trending Now: AI ASMR, KPop Demon Hunters, The Savannah Bananas, & more
Aug 15, 2025 – [[read-time]] minute read
Boat Racing
Meme
What it is: A viral trend on YouTube Shorts featuring clips from the traditional Indonesian festival of Pacu Jalur. The videos show young dancers performing smooth, effortless moves at the head of long racing boats to motivate their rowing teams, often set to the song “Young, Black, and Rich.” Creators are now recreating the dance of one particularly popular kid, nicknamed “The Reaper.”
Why it matters: The meme's popularity may indicate a major shift in online self-expression. It marks a turn away from the "cringe but free" era of authenticity towards a more curated, understated performance of "effortless cool." The value is no longer placed on trying hard, but on appearing naturally talented and unbothered.
KPop Demon Hunters
Music
What it is: A Netflix hit film from Sony Pictures Animation, following a group of K-pop superstars that use their secret identities as demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present threat. It features an original soundtrack including music from renowned K-pop producers and idols.
Why it matters: The film has sparked a massive fan movement that treats the fictional group like a real-world music act, generating a huge volume of fan-created content like song covers, dance trends, and original artwork. Because the characters are animated, it provides fans greater creative liberty than they have with real-life idols, allowing them to write new storylines and explore relationships in ways that are often taboo in K-pop fandom. It proves how culturally authentic media can empower fan communities to innovate and build powerful new models of engagement.
The Savannah Bananas
Sports
What it is: An exhibitionist, "barnstorming" baseball team that operates like the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball. They prioritize entertainment—including trick plays, choreographed dances, and special guests—over the traditional rules of the sport.
Why it matters: Their "social media-first" strategy has achieved massive viral reach on Shorts. This online success is translating directly into real-world results, with sold-out stadiums, attendance figures rivaling major league games, and mainstream media attention. The Bananas are a powerful example of how to reinvent a legacy sport for a modern, online audience.
Surreal ASMR
AI
What it is: A new wave of ASMR content powered by video generation models with sound capabilities, like Veo 3. Creators are using AI to generate videos of physically impossible scenarios—like cutting through glass fruit,* spreading gemstone jam on toast, or scooping milk like ice cream—to create unique sensory triggers.
Why it matters: AI gives creators the tools to invent entirely new sensations that are not physically possible, pushing the boundaries of a well-established content format and bringing long-running internet memes like "forbidden snacks" into a surreal reality.
The Gen Z Stare
Discourse
What is is: A blank expression often displayed by young retail or service workers that has sparked generational debate. Using skits and POVs, creators are exploring how Gen Z navigates social expectations in public-facing roles.
Why it matters: More than just entertainment, this conversation reflects a shift in how Gen Z defines professionalism, presence, and performance. This widespread conversation, amplified on platforms like Shorts, helps to reframe what expression — and lack thereof — means in a digital-first work culture.
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*Glass can be dangerous. This is an Artificial Intelligence depiction of a new ASMR trend. Please do not try this Artificial Intelligence trend at home or anywhere else glass may be present!