The New Digital Playbook for 2025: Get Real, Get Weird, and Keep Connected

Every year, I say, “Wow, that year flew by!” But this year, 2024, felt like it had a turbo button. One minute, we’re clinking glasses on January 1st, and now I’m sitting here in October, wondering where the year went!?!!? But forget the existential spiral—we’ve got way more important things to cover! These digital trends are hotter than ever, and I’m here to make sure you’re in the know for 2025. Let’s get it <3

Get Outside and Offline

When the pandemic forced us all inside we all pivoted to ditch our IRL personas and develop and curate our digital personas. Some of us were more successful at this than others. Think Addison Rae (love) or the D'Amelio’s. But as the world began to open back up and we became less fearful of the outside our digital personas started to crack. We probably all knew it was a facade at some level—these highly curated personas but it’s what we needed to get through those unprecedented times. However, humans innately crave authenticity and instinctively reject Uncanny Valley vibes.

So it’s time to lace up our shoes and get back out there! There’s only so much you can do from the comfort of your home or office, tragically. Believe me, if I didn’t ever have to leave my house I wouldn’t. But that’s not healthy. We need connection and face-to-face time (no this doesn’t mean Zoom or GoogleMeet either).

Seek out events in your area that you know your audience will be at. Holiday Markets, summer festivals, concerts, etc. But this isn’t reserved just for your typical seasonal events. This can include strange events like Horror Hound or the Timothy Chalamet lookalike contest in NYC. There’s events everywhere for those who have eyes to see…

Read more about experience marketing in my 2024 Digital Trends blog.

Which actually takes me to my next point…

Get Weird

Then get weirder. Do any of these words sounds familiar to you?

1) Skibidi Toilet

2) Skibidi

3) Ohio (no explanation needed)

4) Rizz

5) Rizzler

6) Gyatt

7) Floor time (I don’t know what it means exactly but I do love sitting on the floor)

If you’ve never heard these words before then congratulations you still have a chance to get strange. Gen A lovesss weird and hates Ohio. While I don’t have an exact explanation for why these words have laid the foundation for the strange chaotic marketing Gen A seems to love, I just know they’re beloved.

Chaos marketing isn’t anything new but it has gotten stranger and it has kind of gone mainstream. Nutter Butter is the most recent and famous account that utilizes the strange and random string of words and chaotic imagery that doesn’t necessarily drive their brand forward in a way that would make sense to the average person. But as someone who grew up watching Ebaum’s World (End of Ze World), Charlie the Unicorn, or Happy Tree Friends, I respect the strategy.

I’m not saying you need to get as bizarre as Nutter Butter (somehow, they make that work). But you do need to let your brand’s personality shine. So, drop the stiff LinkedIn speak and let your inner freak flag fly so you can find your audience that matches your freak!

Quit Chasing Celebrities

One unexpected takeaway from the pandemic was the clear view it gave us of the divide between the haves and the have-nots. It highlighted how celebrity culture, with all its perks and privileges, can feel distant and unrelatable. I’m not suggesting brands need to save the world, but they can make a meaningful impact by building connections with real people in their communities. This kind of advocacy marketing, usually reserved for things like ZYN Bucks or points systems in the workplace, could be an innovative approach for brands looking to build lasting loyalty.

Think about it: the Kardashians recently enjoyed a private screening of Wicked and meet-and-greet with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and brands like DSW and Tarte are flying out influencers who might not even use their products. Meanwhile, countless everyday fans already promote their favorite brands for free, simply out of genuine enthusiasm.

Why not tap into this real advocacy?

By working with notable community members, supporting underserved groups, and rewarding true fans, brands can create more relatable campaigns. It’s time to leave behind the era of unattainable lifestyles and start building loyalty with the people who truly believe in and use the product.

Content on the Go

Where ya goin’? I wanna come along! Vlogging On the Go is so hot right now. It’s not just about traditional vlogging; it’s the spontaneity of taking people along for your day, making every moment feel personal and real. And before we dive in, let’s get this out of the way: filming while driving? Not cool, ever. No update is worth the risk! But from a parked car or on the move (when safe), it’s a perfect way to connect.

For brands and small businesses, this trend offers a huge opportunity. Vlogging On the Go gives audiences a behind-the-scenes peek, building trust and showing what really goes on. It feels like we’re right there with you, scratching that itch for a bit of friendly voyeurism, making every interaction feel as authentic as it gets.

But if you’re like me, who pretends to be my 11 year old pug online, then you probably hate showing your face on camera. I get it. However, faceless content still gets the job done! You can film yourself grabbing your keys, hopping in your car, pushing a cart, opening boxes, cooking, or whatever it is that you’re doing without having to show your face.

In fact, faceless content is one of the fastest growing content trends on the market right now.

Whether you show face or keep it anonymous, just make sure to take the audience with you!

Lo-Fi Content

Content on the go stresses out a lot of people because the lighting is weird, the front camera sucks, you can’t see yourself when using the back camera, and it’s loud in public. But Lo-Fi content is real and it’s really hot right now.

Lo-Fi content is all about keeping it raw, real, and relatable. It’s the antithesis of polished, high-budget productions. Instead, you’re using what’s available—like natural lighting, a phone propped up on a stack of books, and authentic reactions without the need for perfect presentation. This type of content feels more like a spontaneous “slice of life” moment that pulls viewers in because it’s so refreshingly unfiltered.

Creators like Strawberry MilkMob capture spur-of-the-moment vibes, using what they have on hand and embracing imperfections. The phone might be slightly tilted, or the lighting may not be ideal, but that’s the beauty of it—it feels authentic, personal, and approachable. For brands, this style breaks down barriers, making the brand feel more like a friend than a faceless entity, creating a connection that polished, overly-edited content often lacks.

Tap-In to Online Lingo

Alright, I know I said it’s time to unplug, but scratch that for a minute—you’re going to want to log back in. Why? Because there’s some serious social listening to do! It’s scrolling with a purpose!

These days, internet trends aren’t just sticking around online; they’re bursting out into the real world and driving serious consumer engagement.

If you’ve been on TikTok lately or alive and awake in the world at all, you know that Girl Math is all about justifying purchases in the most hilariously relatable ways. Need a new outfit? “Investing in yourself.” Returning something you didn’t need? “Congrats, you just made money!” It’s shopping logic with a dash of playful delusion, and it resonates with audiences because it gives a feel-good spin on spending.

Pizza Hut was smart enough to pick up on this. They teamed up with influencer Anna Sitar, who used Girl Math to humorously justify ordering pizza (after all, sharing pizza with friends basically “doubles” its value, right?). By tapping into this trend, Pizza Hut wasn’t just selling pizza—they were adding to the ongoing conversation and making their brand feel like part of the fun.

And Pizza Hut isn’t alone. Look at Girl Dinner, another playful trend where TikTok users turn their quirky snack plates into mini-meals and call them "dinner." Lean Cuisine caught on to this, launching a limited-time “Girl Dinner” series with curated, balanced meals that made it feel like they were in on the joke. By turning these viral moments into real-world products, brands like Pizza Hut and Lean Cuisine aren’t just selling—they’re creating authentic connections with their audiences by meeting them where they already are.

So, if you haven’t dived into social listening lately, here’s your sign. Online trends are shaping real-world marketing. And those who are paying attention are the ones winning customer loyalty.

Jump Around

Storytelling jumps are one of my favorite trends right now. I am beggingggggg people to GET. TO. THE. POINT. Ever since short-form video exploded, we’ve been trained to endure a hook followed by a long, drawn-out intro—often just a glorified elevator pitch about why I, as a viewer, should keep watching. But guess what? I’m bored. I need the main point, like, yesterday.

This is why storytelling jumps are such a gift. They let creators start in the thick of the action—showing us the result or the dramatic peak before diving back to the setup. Think of it like the book, Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk. In that book, the story is all over the place; it’s chaotic, jumping back and forth, but somehow, it starts to make sense and hooks you in the process. Storytelling jumps are the same: they start at the end or in the middle, giving viewers that taste of why it’s worth sticking around before filling in the rest.

Remember, in this attention economy, you’ve got about three seconds to hook your audience. If you’re spending those precious seconds on a resume rundown, they’re scrolling away. Storytelling jumps skip the fluff, engage viewers instantly, and promise a payoff worth staying for.

Jump In, Tune In, and Stand Out

The digital world moves at lightning speed, and staying ahead means embracing these fresh, attention-grabbing trends. Whether it’s hopping on chaotic, lo-fi content that keeps it real, jumping into storytelling that hooks in seconds, or saying goodbye to celebrity marketing and hello to community advocacy—2025 is about real connection and bold, creative moves. Trends like Girl Math and Girl Dinner show how viral internet moments are shaping real-world marketing, and those brands paying attention are securing loyal followers and shaping online communities that extend into the real world.

So, here’s your cue: get in the mix, bring your brand’s personality to the forefront, and make this next year one for the books.