2025 is coming to an end, and it’s been a wild year on social media. Every year, viral trends, videos, and memes take the world by storm, with the public either jumping in or being incredibly confused. Let’s take a walk down memory lane, reliving some of the funniest moments of 2025.
The Coldplay kiss cam moment
Back in July, Coldplay inadvertently brought the internet together during a stop at Gillette Stadium. The band’s kiss cam landed on a couple in the crowd, with Andy Byron, CEO of tech company Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, wrapped in each other’s arms. But when they realized they were on the big screen, the reactions were instant. Mortified, she quickly pulled away, covering her arms, and he vanished. From the stage, Chris Martin saw it all. “Wow, look at these two!” he said. When he noticed their horrified faces, he quipped, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just really shy.” What came after were some of the funniest memes and responses to the situation.
The Gen Z stare
In July, TikTok blew up with the Gen Z stare, the idea that the new generation has a very specific, blank expression when interacting with others, especially in public with strangers or at work. It’s hard to tell if the stare is one of dissociation, annoyance, or confusion. People created thousands of videos and memes with creators pretending to be Gen Z customer service workers staring blankly during a conversation, and taking a while to respond with deadpan emotions.
“67”
If you don’t know what “67” means, that’s part of the joke, because it literally has no meaning. The phrase traces back to Skrilla’s song “Doot Doot (6 7),” which took off in basketball edits, especially ones featuring LaMelo Ball, whose 6’7” height made the lyric instantly sticky. The number became a viral punchline with people replying “67” to comments, captions, or arguments where no explanation is owed. Things got so crazy that In-N-Out reportedly banned order number 67 because teens would wait for it to be called and scream and cheer for a viral video.
Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani may only be the mayor of New York, but the politician had people all around the United States saying, “That’s my mayor.” Clips of the New York State Assemblymember started spreading fast as he touched on housing, Gaza, and everyday cost-of-living issues. The internet framed him as proof that a different kind of politician can exist. When he met Donald Trump, clips went viral, with the president seemingly gushing over him.
Katy Perry goes to space
Back in April, the Blue Origin all-female launch took Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, Aisha Bowe, Kerianne Flynn, and Amanda Nguyen into space. The launch went viral for all the wrong reasons, with the internet mocking the length of time they were in there, and how they tried to spin it into a feminist moment in history. The person who got roses the moment was Perry, who revealed her Lifetimes tour setlist by holding it up inside the capsule, because even in orbit, promo never sleeps.
The labubu takeover
© Robert PrangeWhat started as a niche designer toy quietly crossed into full internet obsession. Labubu became the ultimate ugly-cute accessory with celebrities and normies clipping them onto luxury bags. The ugly dolls were confusing to many, and the trend came and went.
The “100 men vs. 1 gorilla” discourse
Who would win in a fight? 100 men or 1 gorilla? A question so dumb it somehow became brilliant. The internet’s collective brain power was wasted debating strategy, physics, morality, and gorilla stamina. It then hilariously took a turn with women using it to roast men, especially in the dating scene, with memes like, “you couldn’t even get that many men to commit to a time and place.”
Dubai chocolate
© SimpleImagesLike the viral chamoy pickle trend in 2023, Dubai chocolate had everyone wanting a taste. Everyone started buying Dubai chocolate, and restaurants and cafes added items to their menu.
Protein
© GettyFitness enthusiasts and athletes have long known the power of protein, but this year it became an obsession. With people trying to reach 100+ grams of protein a day, even those who aren’t necessarily hitting the gym, it became one of the most interesting trends of 2025. Companies started putting protein in EVERYTHING.
Ozempic
These days, it seems like most of Hollywood is on Ozempic. Although it’s been around for some time, once it became more accessible, all bets were off. People who weren’t severely overweight or diabetic got their mitts on it, and suddenly everyone became a suspected user. Celebrities shed dramatic amounts of weight, often without admitting they’d taken the drug. With phrases like “Ozempic face” circulating online, it became a full-blown cultural moment fueling debates about beauty standards, transparency, and who these drugs are really for.
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