6 social media trends you shouldn’t miss this August 2026

1. Things that are worth every penny

Original audio

While #underconsumptioncore has been having a moment on social media, the “Things that are worth every penny” trend – that sees creators share a list of items that are genuinely worth buying, no matter the price tag – is having its own viral moment on TikTok and Instagram.

It spans everything from small indulgences like JENKI matcha and good eye masks to higher-ticket items like flight upgrades or a Dyson Airwrap.

What’s interesting is that this isn’t a return to the “haul” culture of the 2010s. It doesn’t flaunt excess, but implicitly acknowledges that cutting back doesn’t mean cutting out everything, so long as each purchase can be justified.

For brands, it’s possible to mimic this format by weaving your own product into a list of unrelated items. However, getting your product organically placed on one of these lists by a trusted influencer would represent a bigger win, rather than scripting content that reads like an ad.

Source: vaishnavi_0_7_ (Instagram)

2. Netflix documentary 

Audio: On a Mission – Duomo

This trend sees creators mimic the tense style of a Netflix documentary or reality TV confessional – mini mics clipped on, cutaways to producers, and taking a dramatic breath – with accompanying text explaining something banal like getting hangry, or being in a bad mood sometimes

The audio, Duomo’s “On a Mission,” supplies the tense, cinematic score that builds momentum through the clip – all the trademark beats you’d recognise from any true-crime documentary.

The trend’s humour comes from the mismatch between the overly dramatic setup and the sheer banality of the subject matter, and it’s even been jumped on by major names like Rihanna and Kirk Franklin. 

For brands, it’s an easy, low-cost format to borrow. You can use it to dramatise something small that happens in your business, from a routine customer query to a Monday meeting.

Source: kirkfranklin (Instagram)

3. Time stamp trend

Audio: “paparazzi” – Aiden McNilly

As content creators continue to romanticise their lives on social media, this simple trend sees users film three landscape clips of themselves or their view at different points of the day, then stack them on top of each other so all three play at once. 

The clips, which are each labelled with a timestamp – say 7 am, 1 pm, and 8 pm – share a visual mood of the day. They can capture a day-in-the-life at the office, a day spent on holiday, or even special occasions like weddings and birthdays.

Unlike lots of the fast-moving, transition-heavy trends flooding TikTok, this one doesn’t involve any complex edits, choreography or scripted commentary – just a simple view into a day’s arc.

The best thing? It’s super easy to replicate this format using CapCut. It also offers brands a low-effort way to show a day-in-the-life of their company, or to advertise any milestone events or services.

Source: printandpop__ (TikTok)

4. Slowed-down golden brown audio

Audio: “Golden Brown (Slowed)” – The Stranglers

As nostalgia for older sounds continues to shape TikTok’s audio landscape, this trend pairs a slowed-down version of The Stranglers’ 1982 hit “Golden Brown” with sweeping, cinematic footage of anything from golden hour landscapes to a coastal walk.

When slowed down, the track’s hazy, dreamlike feel gives ordinary footage a wistful quality, which is why it’s gained so much popularity as a backdrop for scenic and reflective content. 

Some creators have taken the audio in more niche directions, from medieval-inspired fashion edits to gaming content. However, its core use remains the same: elevating a simple view into something that feels emotionally resonant. 

The trend offers businesses a way to add a cinematic, premium feel to travel, hospitality or lifestyle content. Like the time stamp trend, it’s easy to replicate too; just take a well-shot clip and pair it with the audio – no scripting required.  

Source: megaaswiss (YouTube Shorts)

5. I would do anything for you 

Audio: “Just the Way You Are” (snippet) – Milky

This trend, which typically involves two people, starts with one person lip syncing “I would do anything for you”, over the soft opening of “Just the Way You Are”, playing it up as a grand, heartfelt declaration.  

The other person then replies via text on screen with a request that’s deliberately easy to fulfil, like “don’t be late”. This prompts the first person to storm off, visibly offended that their sweeping promise 

The humour lies in the gap between the dramatic setup and the mundane task – the bigger the declaration, the funnier it is when it’s deflated by something so trivial. 

For brands, it’s an easy plug-and-play format: pairing the “I would do anything for you” line with a simple, on-brand request is a low-effort way to add some humour and personality without it reading as a hard sell.

Source: yuanathan (Instagram)

6. Dance Moms’ ‘Dingbat, LISTEN!’ dance

Audio: T. Kyle’s Dance Moms – Kelly vs. Abby Lee Miller (Jersey Club Mix)

Abby Lee Miller enthusiasts rejoice – Dance Moms is officially back in the form of a viral TikTok trend. The “No I didn’t, dingbat, LISTEN!” trend uses audio from an iconic Dance Moms clip where infamous dance teacher Abby Lee Miller has a spat with one of her students’ mothers.

In videos, creators mime along to the dialogue, then break into a choreographed dance as the clip escalates. It’s irreverent, playful, and leans into the 2010s reality-TV nostalgia wave, which is currently sweeping across platforms and proving especially popular among younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences. 

Instead of co-opting the trend to promote products or services, this is a great way to show your brand’s personality and embrace a bit of silliness. Social teams can mime the exchange over an internal in-joke, giving audiences a look into the people behind the brand.

Source: ňącåpr1 (Instagram)