Broiled Duolingo and Supporting Black Businesses

Hi!!! Welcome!! This is the a newsletters that has taken the IRL weekly trends briefing, and been transformed into the written word. All this information is a weekly digest of current news, trendy soundbites and sharp insights so that you can quit reading and still sound smart. Gathered from articles, newsletters, reports, and TikTok: It's like Blinkist for culture.

Algorithm References  

There has been quite a lot of algorithm references this week, but the main theme for this newsletter will be on brands and how they show up on socials and successfully double down on their personality and values.

Black Businesses Supporting Black Businesses

Topicals is a fave brand of mine, I’ve never used any of their products but I can confidently call myself a fan. They’ve done amazing brand trips, have very reputable products and have recently done a TikTok that encourages people to buy other black-owned brands, lip products. This behaviour should be common practice for brands because it emulates the feeling of community without having to explicitly call it that - something that many businesses try to manufacture. I’m excited for Topicals, and I know they’re only going to become bigger and better.

Broiled Green Birds

Duolingo is an ick brand reference to me, so know that I put this in because I think it’s worthy*… Recently Duolingo hosted a dance party called ‘Broiler Room’ and the condition of entry was to prove you had a streak - all shot very Berghain-esk. It’s included in this week's newsletter because it’s a good experiential example, that got more eyes through content than the event itself but we know that was the point - it reinforced that it’s a brand that gets it. *Disclaimer, I don’t even like this event but I understand what it was trying to do and I respect that.

@duolingodeutschland

Broiler = Brathähnchen, weil meine Raves sind einfach HOT 🍗🔥 und das alles nur für euch ❤️ #duolingo #rave #djlife

Speed round of things I’ve been seeing on socials - people on TikTok have been predicting the Superbowl halftime show again, more examples of creators changing their thumbnails to increase views, a disgusted ‘ew’ sound is making its rounds and Trisha Paytas’ second child is apparently going to be a reincarnation of King Charles…

Articles

No articles have been properly read this week, but many have been saved to read later! So here is that list - lots of interesting stuff.

The secret to finding the best idea ever? First think about the absolute worst, Bring back cubicles!, We need to address the double standard of Black Queer representation in Black culture, Universal Music’s War on TikTok: Behind the Battle Plan and finally Day One Agency: Welcome to our dictionary for the future (2024 predictions).

(Will have extra articles next week because we all deserve to read at least one article a week <3)

To keep in line with the discussion aspect of Trends Briefings, here is a question for you to reflect upon… or even message me your thoughts and we can chat

!!Weekly Question!!

Thank you for getting this far. I look forward to hanging out with you all next week!

I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. The history, culture, diversity and values of all Indigenous people are recognised and respected. I pay my respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present.

Always was, always will be.