7 social media trends to boost your business in January 2026

1. Turn the lights off

Sound: Turn the lights off — Kato (feat. Jon)

Whether it’s enjoying the little pleasures in life or getting a bout of good luck, sharing even the smallest wins has long been a part of online culture.

And right now on TikTok, people are celebrating those wins through Kato’s electronic/dance hit “Turn the lights off”, paired with a clip from the Apple TV series “Your Friends & Neighbors”, which features the main character dancing at a nightclub.

The trend starts with someone on camera sharing what they enjoy (such as that first sip of coffee in the morning or realising you have the day off work tomorrow), before transitioning to the dancing clip.

It’s a simple trend that rejoices in the small things, and businesses have jumped on this trend to promote their products in a fun and light-hearted way. A good way to use this trend for your own business could be promoting the start of a discount or sale, or showing ways in which your product or service makes customers’ lives easier.

Source: PerfectTed (TikTok)

2. 2025 accomplishment cake

Sound: None

When looking back on the past, many like to reflect on the things they’ve achieved in that time. Whether it’s travelling to new places, hitting personal milestones, or making progress toward long-term goals, every win counts.

For those celebrating their 2025 successes, many have taken to TikTok to share them through a “2025 accomplishment cake”. The trend starts with a cake, but instead of using candles, the creator (or multiple people) sticks little flags into the cake — each one representing a personal milestone written on it.

While New Year’s Eve has passed, this trend is a wholesome way to reflect on these achievements, and it’s something SMEs have caught onto as well. While 2025 was a challenging year in the business landscape, founders and entrepreneurs are using this trend to highlight the positives in the last year — whether that’s landing new partnerships, getting new business funding, or securing a record number of customers.

Source: LRM Goods (TikTok)

3. 2025 flop cake

Sound: None

There’s no such thing as a perfect year, as even the best ones can throw a few curveballs our way. And while many people have been looking back on their past achievements in late December and early January, others are also acknowledging moments that weren’t so great. 

Known as the “2025 flop cake”, this trend is more or less the opposite of the accomplishment cake. While it follows the same format of sticking flags in a cake, this time, its purpose is to share the failures and setbacks that happened in the last year. 

It might sound negative, but it’s actually become a funny and relatable way for creators — including businesses — to poke fun at their slip-ups and show that not everything goes to plan. Setbacks are also naturally part of starting a business, so posting your own “flop cake” is a fun way to share valuable lessons and keep moving forward.

Source: Little Moons (TikTok)

4. The 2025 season comes to an end

Sound: The 2025 season — minleemusic (TikTok user)

Even during the early days of January, the “end of the 2025 season” is still a popular trend — featuring a simple clip show that showcases multiple video clips of your highlights, memorable moments, and milestones.

The trend starts with a sound clip from creator Sammy Levitt, who says the lines: “And with that, the 2025 season comes to an end. Goodnight.” before transitioning to the song “Everything Is Romantic” by Orchestra Club.

For businesses, this is a simple way to spotlight your best moments from 2025, celebrate your achievements, and show your target audience what you’ve been up to in that time.

Source: RiRi Hair Extensions (TikTok)

5. Mum said pack the essentials

Sound: Animal I Have Become — Three Days Grace

We’ve all heard the term “pack the essentials” when planning to go on a trip. While this typically means items like clothing, toiletries, and medication, TikTok users have poked fun at this phrase by “packing” their suitcases with anything but essentials.

Similar to the “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now” videos from November’s social media trends, this trend also features piling something with random objects. In this case, creators are stuffing their bags with ridiculous or unexpected items rather than the usual travel necessities.

Businesses have picked up on the silliness of this trend by cramming their own products into a suitcase. You can use it as a playful way to promote your products, showcasing your top sellers and not-so-subtly implying that your products could be considered essential (and explaining why they are in your caption!).

Source: Holland & Barrett (TikTok)

6. I’m not cute anymore

Sound: Not cute anymore (sped up version) — ILLIT

Popular trends can be random and nonsensical at times, and this is no exception. 

Stemming from a sped up version of the k-pop song NOT CUTE ANYMORE by girl group ILLIT, this bizarre trend features someone filmed from an angle that makes them look smaller than they really are. The cameraperson then reaches out their hand and “grabs” the tiny person by the hat or hood and lifts them up, who in turn begins running on the spot as if they’re being held in the air.

It’s an odd trend, but one that’s been gaining traction nonetheless, and businesses have been using the “mini person” effect to promote themselves and engage with the audience in a comical and non-serious way. 

Whether it’s poking fun at everyday problems, showing off new products, or simply humanising the team behind the brand, trends like this can help make content feel more memorable for your target audience. 

Source: Juicy Couture UK (TikTok)

7. Outfits I can’t wait to wear this summer

Sound: No Lie/Adventure of a Lifetime (mashup) — Sean Paul and Coldplay

The new year brings weeks of cold and gloomy weather in January, so it’s no surprise that social media users are already looking forward to the summer season.

Using a mashup of Sean Paul’s No Lie and Coldplay’s Adventure of a Lifetime, the trend involves users sharing videos or slideshows of the outfits they can’t wait to wear once the warmer months arrive.

This trend is a little niche, as it works best for clothing brands that want to showcase their seasonal pieces. Alternatively, another way to capitalise on this trend is by showing your staff in uniform (if you have one), or the outfits they’re planning to wear to your offices or events, to add a behind-the-scenes spin.

Source: Tullulahs (TikTok)