The annual Mariah Carey “defrosting” meme signals November’s kickoff on social media, as the holiday season awakens right after Halloween
Pop Culture & Meme Forecast
Holiday Memes & Nostalgia: November opens with seasonal humour. On November 1, the internet traditionally “defrosts” Mariah Carey – a meme of the diva thawing from ice as All I Want for Christmas Is You starts climbing the charts. Expect this wholesome gag to return, alongside jokes about skipping Thanksgiving in favour of early Christmas cheer.
Memes highlighting the holiday creep (think “November 1: already blasting Christmas music” posts) and relatable Thanksgiving scenarios (the family drama at dinner skits) will flood feeds. Nostalgia will be a powerful force in content, too. Creators are reviving throwback pop culture moments – from early 2000s songs to iconic movie scenes – to tap into collective nostalgia, a strategy that has a “high chance of going viral” in 2025.
Don’t be surprised if you see TikToks of people recreating their 90s childhood photos or referencing classic sitcom moments for laughs and likes.
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Trending Formats & Slang: Social media’s lingua franca will continue to evolve at breakneck speed. Quick, meme-able video formats will thrive – for example, the POV (point-of-view) trend, where creators act out funny or heartfelt scenarios with a text overlay (e.g. “POV: You’re the only single cousin at Thanksgiving”).These bite-sized skits make audiences feel seen and rack up shares. As ever, each new joke spawns its own lingo. Gen Z slang to watch includes terms like “locking in” (meaning to focus intensely on something) and “crashing out”(having an emotional outburst) – phrases popularised by reality TV and TikTok this year.
Influencer Predictions
Rising Voices & Holiday Heroes: Certain creator niches are poised to shine this November. Food and DIY influencers will gain traction as Americans seek out last-minute Thanksgiving recipes, tablescape ideas, and budget-friendly holiday decor. A TikTok home chef demoing a 3-ingredient pie or a crafty mom showing DIY centrepieces could go viral overnight – ’tis the season when grandma’s stuffing recipe and life-hacks for untangling lights become social gold.
Likewise, tech and deal-focused creators are heading into their Super Bowl: expect gadget reviewers and shopping gurus on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to drop Black Friday deal guides and “what’s worth it” lists that attract massive views. (After all, 97% of Gen Z now get purchase ideas from social media, so a well-timed TikTok about “Top 5 Black Friday sneaker deals” can translate into serious sales traffic.) We also anticipate a new cohort of comedy creators gaining followers with relatable holiday skits – those hilariously imitating family stereotypes or poking fun at “holiday expectations vs. reality” could strike a chord and rack up shares.
Brand Collabs & Campaigns: November’s ad blitz will heavily feature influencer partnerships. From big-box retailers to indie brands on Etsy, everyone is tapping creators for seasonal campaigns. Look for sponsored content ramping up in feeds: popular lifestyle YouTubers teasing “gift guide” videos (often in paid partnership), Instagram fashionistas doing collab posts with brands showing off Black Friday outfits, and TikTok stars unveiling limited-time discount codes in funny skits.
Some collaborations will be especially creative. In recent years, brands have learned that viral hooks = big results – e.g., Walmart’s past TikTok campaign used an AR filter (#UnwrapTheDeals) and TikTok stars like Zach King, scoring 5.5 billion views and 1 million user-generated videos. We predict more such interactive campaigns: imagine an AR filter that lets you “fight” over a virtual Black Friday doorbuster, or a trending hashtag challenge (💃 dance for a chance to win a gift card).
Even unlikely brands will use influencer humour; one standout example was Durex partnering with a Love Island alum on TikTok and using cheeky innuendo to grab attention. This year, keep an eye out for similarly bold pairings – perhaps a fast-food chain memeing its way through Turkey Day, or a luxury brand enlisting a TikTok comedian to riff on gift-giving fails.
Also, Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals will blur with entertainment: we might see live shopping streams where influencers demo products (TikTok Shop and Instagram Live sales are increasingly normalised).
Controversies & Shifts: With great influence comes… greater scrutiny. Audiences are savvy and prize authenticity, so any influencer missteps could blow up fast. One ongoing shift is the rise of “deinfluencing.” This TikTok-born trend has creators telling you what not to buy – a backlash to endless #ad culture that amassed over 3.5 billion views by mid-2024. Don’t be surprised if, amid the shopping frenzy, some outspoken influencers go anti-haul, calling out overhyped products or urging followers to shop more mindfully. This authenticity play could earn them kudos (today’s consumers will unfollow if a creator feels misaligned with their values). However, it might also spark drama if they name-drop brands – a delicate dance between honesty and burning bridges.
🎬 Content Format & Platform Trends
Short Reigns, Long Creeps In
Quick videos are still the king of TikTok, Reels, and Shorts – snappy edits, trending audio, and punchline pacing still drive reach. But longer content is creeping back in. TikTok and Instagram are now testing 3–10 min uploads, opening the door for mini-vlogs, product breakdowns, and punchier storytelling. Think: edutainment with more meat, less fluff.
Fresh Formats: POVs, Prompts & Memes
Video memes are replacing static ones. Creators are reenacting iconic jokes with trending sounds. POV storytelling is huge too (e.g. “POV: you’re the only one who brought a dish to Friendsgiving”). Prompts like “Send this to your guac-obsessed friend” are exploding, pushing people to tag and share. Brands are loving these formats for relatability and reach.
Lo-Fi Still Lives
Casual > curated. Photo dumps, off-centre selfies, and unedited slideshows are outperforming perfection. IG’s 20-frame carousels make “here’s my month in vibes” dumps even more swipeable. Candid = cool.
Filters, AR & AI Fun
Retro vibes and AR filters (funny hats, falling leaves, karaoke games) are everywhere. Expect at least one new viral effect to dominate. Plus, AI tools are now baked into content creation, from auto-subtitles to skits written with ChatGPT and AI-generated art. It’s weird, creative, and very scroll-worthy.
Platform Plays to Watch
- Instagram: Collab posts + product tags = more dual-brand reach. The Creator Marketplace makes influencer deals easier than ever.
- TikTok: TikTok Shop is huge this month. Expect creator-led demos, flash deals, and exclusive product drops.
- YouTube: Shorts still pop, but long-form vlogs are staging a comeback for deeper dives.
- X: Still the go-to for live commentary (Macy’s Parade, Thanksgiving games, etc.). Hot takes and debate-bait tweets are engagement fuel.
Bottom Line:
Formats are evolving, but the rule stays the same: entertain first, sell second. Whether it’s a meme skit, a lo-fi photo carousel, or an AI-powered unboxing, the best content in November is fun, fast, and just clever enough to get shared.
Seasonal Brand Tie-Ins & Commerce Trends
Thanksgiving Campaigns:
Brands leaned into heartwarming content and humour. Think: tearjerker family reunion videos, sassy tweets about “tofu turkey,” and cosy Friendsgiving influencer collabs. The Macy’s Parade sparked live posts and memes in real time — any awkward float moment was meme-bait gold. Smart brands stayed culturally sharp, reacting fast and riding the nostalgia wave.
Black Friday & Cyber Week:
Sales started early, loud, and everywhere. Creators teased deals weeks ahead with “something big is coming” posts. By Black Friday, TikTok was packed with haul videos, influencer-led livestreams, and real-time product demos. Branded hashtags like #BlackFridayFinds and cheeky spins like #BigDealEnergy flooded feeds. Comedy, chaos, and commerce collided — the more creative, the better.
Creative Campaigns & Comebacks:
Expect more bold stunts: think all-black teaser posts, mysterious countdowns, or surprise celeb influencer drops. Some brands hosted pop-ups or holiday-themed experiences for IRL buzz turned digital content. Others used humor to stand out — viral ads made us laugh (or cringe) while selling everything from mattresses to malware protection.
Christmas Mode: Activated
Holiday ad drops, jingle-heavy Reels, “12 Days of Giveaways,” and influencer gift guides dominated. Countdown content (like daily product unboxings) built hype fast. Meanwhile, #GivingTuesday campaigns highlighted charitable tie-ins and sustainability pushes. Brands flexed both heart and hustle.
In a Nutshell:
November was the month of scrollable sales, smart collabs, and good vibes. If a TikTok didn’t make you laugh and add something to your cart, did it even happen? Social feeds in 2025 served festivity with a side of FOMO — and if you played it right, you got the deals and the dopamine.
