All I think about
My Roman Empire includes these TikTok trends
How do you refer to X? According to a recent LinkedIn poll by Later (the social media management tool) 93% said “We still call it Twitter.” Renowned author Stephen King went even further, posting his thoughts on this recently, saying “This X shit’s got to go. #ChangeItBack.” Whether it changes it not, I have a feeling it will always be Twitter to us.
In today’s newsletter:
All I Think About: My Roman Empire Includes These TikTok Trends
Social Snack: New Photo App Promises “Friends not followers”
Unhinged: One Threads Account That I Actually Want to Follow
All I think about
Roman empire. Girl dinner. Girl math. Beige flag.
These are just a few of the TikTok trends that entertained us in 2023. And while they started on TikTok, many have spread to other platforms. So, in case you missed any of these trends and don’t want to feel left out, keep scrolling for explainers (and some pretty hilarious videos!).
1/4 Roman Empire
This trend exploded in August/September, and involves girlfriends and wives asking the men in their lives how often they think about the Roman Empire — and then generally being shocked by how often it is! Here is a compilation video (also seen below). The term “Roman Empire” then morphed to become known as anything you think about A LOT. Here’s an example that I love/haunts me.
How did it start? The trend was sparked on Instagram when Roman reenactor @gaiusflavius posted a Reel saying women would be shocked by how often the men in their lives think about the Roman Empire. It then moved over to TikTok. Here’s an explainer from Brandwatch.
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2/4 Girl Dinner
This trend is really about women creating one plate dinners to consume for themselves, without having to worry about feeding anyone else. And while it may have started with beautiful charcuterie plates, it definitely morphed into more simple dishes, like pasta, breadless sandwiches, and chicken nuggets.
How did it start? According to the NY Times, the term was coined by Olivia Maher, who paired it with audio by Karma Carr.
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3/4 Girl Math
This one has several layers. In some ways, it’s about justifying purchases to the point they are free, or are actually making you money. Here’s an example: spending enough to get free shipping. It can also be just about tricking the brain; for example, eating more fries than you think you can.
How did it start? According to The Standard, the term “girl math” was coined at a New Zealand radio station, FVHZM. It’s become a regular part of their morning show to break down a purchase so that’s essentially cheap, or free. Here’s an example (also see below).
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4/4 Beige Flag
If you search “beige flag” on TikTok, you will inevitably see a list of videos detailing strange or odd behaviour in a significant other or friend that isn’t really a deal breaker, but odd, nonetheless. For example, that boyfriend who is so impatient at restaurants that he brings out the plates himself, or being afraid to put a phone on silent in case the alarm doesn’t go off. Some people even share beige flags about themselves, like this one about being on time.
How did it start? Not sure about this one, but it’s almost always set to a jazzy saxophone soundtrack. 🎷
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🍯 SOCIAL SNACK 🍯
New Lapse photo app promises “Friends not followers”
“Do you remember photos before smartphones?” That’s the first sentence that pops up when you download the new photo-sharing app called Lapse.
It’s based on the idea that our phone is the disposable camera. So once you’ve taken your photo, you have to wait for it to “develop” in the app. Once it does, you can choose to share it with friends.
I’m still learning about it, but there is a great backgrounder in the NY Times. Here are some key points: All photos must be taken in the Lapse app and cannot be altered in any way. There aren’t any “likes” but your friends can react with emojis. The article also mentions that you have to invite 5 friends in order to use it, which I found to be true.
If you check it out, let me know what you think! My handle is @thesocialplatypus. And if you need an invite, let me know.
*Note: Even if you’re not sure whether you’ll use it, you should download it to claim your handle.
ICYMI
Facebook will let creators test different versions of Reels [The Verge]
Instagram adds song lyrics display in Reels clips [Social Media Today]
X is reportedly selling usernames and handles for $50,000 [Mashable]
Threads now lets you adjust your alt text on web [@Mosseri on Threads]
Facebook and Instagram to offer subscription for no ads in Europe [Meta Blog]
LinkedIn introduces new AI-powered premium experience [LinkedIn Blog]
🤪 Unhinged
If you’re on Threads and looking for a fun and slightly “unhinged” account to follow, you might want to check out the account for British broadcast television channel Channel4. It’s honestly a bit of a feed cleanser. Here is a sample of the type of posts you can expect…
