The Apple dance was inspired by the song "Apple" from Charli XCX’s Brat album, and it's the standout viral trend from 2024. Created by TikToker Kelley Heyer, the simple but playful choreography to Charli XCX’s lyrics "I think t iraq database telegram he apple’s rotten right to the core" was copied by thousands of people. The singer herself joined the trend on TikTok, helping the dance spread and garnering over 51 million views in the process.
Apple dance - 2024 social media memeImage source
The trending sound has inspired 1.7 million TikTok videos with celebrities like the Twisters cast and Joey King posting their versions. It hit another wave of popularity on Instagram, where accounts like the USA’s Olympic Women's Rugby Team joined in.
Takeaway: This trend took off because of its low barrier to entry — no amazing dance skills were needed to join the craze. Trends like this are perfect for plugging your brand into internet culture.
2. The hilarious fallout of Universal Music Group removing their music from TikTok
When Universal Music Group (UMG) pulled their music from TikTok due to a licensing change at the beginning of 2024, people worried the app would change forever. But TikTokers — always the resourceful bunch — turned this upset on its head by pivoting to unlikely creative sources. They created dances and fan-edits to royalty-free music. Others sang DIY covers to mainstream songs. Some made lists of their favorite songs — without sound.
UMG music removal - 2024 social media memeImage source
Just Dance embraced the situation and shared videos replacing the music in their game with royalty-free music songs. Their TikTok got over one million views.
Takeaway: This could have been a disaster for the platform, its users, and brands. But in typical Gen Z fashion, creators turned a challenge into a comedic opportunity, showcasing how adaptable the platform and its users truly are.
This trend involves images of rainbows, waterfalls, and flying dolphins á la Lisa Frank set against the song “Symphony” by Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson. These images are paired with an irreverent, self-deprecating, or unhinged caption, like "I have social anxiety."
I just wanna be part of your symphony - 2024 social media memeImage source
Gen Z and Gen Alpha love bright and flashy 90s and Y2K aesthetics, but this trend serves them up with a side of irony and cynicism. It's the juxtaposition that makes it work!
The artists of the song obviously jumped on the trend. Clean Bandit’s TikTok, "I love popcorn and Cher," has over 3.5 million views. Zara Larsson took it a step further by posting "What the f*** is going on." She also added a blow-up dolphin at her concerts as a nod to the trend.
