The Scoop

This week in digital and social?

Welcome to The Scoop, your weekly lowdown on the best social and digital moments. Every Friday, tune in for trending content, internet drama, and tech updates.

This week, we cover the glorification of murderers, The RSPB gave us the content we didn't know we needed and hawk Tauh girl is back.

Need help getting your brand at the forefront of social culture? Let’s chat.

Our Favourite Brand Social Moment Of The Week

Seagulls and Charlie XCX

The RSPB has been tuning into Gen Z culture on their TikTok channel this year, taking a completely different strategy from other social channels and gaining masses of attention online. Now we've had the cross-over of the month with The RSPB and Charlie XCX with the Sweat Tour.?

With a play on the words “it's so confusing sometimes to be a girl” to “it's so confusing sometimes to be a gull”, a line from one of Charlie XCX's new albums. They even took one of their RSPB gulls to the London leg of the Sweat tour to film some hilarious content.?

Tech Triumphs

From Meme Star to Cryptocurrency

Do you remember the popular Hawk Tuah meme earlier this year? Its star, Haliey Welch, is in the news once more, after stretching that 15 seconds of fame wide and thin... Shortly after its inception, Welch's cryptocurrency, the "Hawk" coin, shot to an incredible $490 million market cap. But in a few hours, the coin's value fell by more than 95%, leaving investors in shock.

Welch has been accused by critics, such as YouTube cryptocurrency expert ‘Coffeezilla’, of masterminding a "pump and dump" operation, in which the value of a coin is manipulated before its creator's payout. Welch has refuted the claims, stating that none of her team's tokens were sold. The story calls into question investments made by influencers and the dangers of following trending cryptocurrency fads…

After her own show, podcast and merchandise, has Haliey finally met her wits end with crypto?

Platform Updates?

TikTok’s future in the US hangs in the balance as their most recent appeal was rejected

TikTok is racing against the clock to avoid a ban in the US next month. After losing its latest appeal, the app has requested an emergency injunction and plans to take the case to the Supreme Court, arguing it needs more time to resolve the matter.

The Department of Justice is pushing back, claiming TikTok’s objections have already been “definitively rejected.” Adding to the uncertainty, TikTok points to Donald Trump’s potential reelection and his past comments about reversing the ban.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for TikTok's future in the US…stay tuned for updates!

Our Fave Social Trend?

This is possibly one of our favourite trends of 2024…

One of our favourite trends of 2024 has to be the embarrassing moment's slideshow! If you’ve seen the olive oil story reenactment, you’ll understand why this trend has us hooked. It’s all about sharing your most outrageous and cringe-worthy moments in a dramatic slideshow format, complete with choir music and Pepe the King Prawn’s hilariously shocked reactions.

The blend of theatrical storytelling, over-the-top music, and Pepe’s iconic expressions is pure internet gold. It’s easy to join in, but brands should tread carefully—jumping on a trend without meaning or creativity risks feeling flat.

A perfect example was Nuuly ’s response to the infamous “poo on a train” story, where a commuter accidentally sat in human faeces while wearing rented trousers from their collection. Their version of the trend showed how the story unfolded in their office, including the reaction when the team told their boss, the fate of those trousers (thoroughly cleaned and retired from rentals), and their reassurance that “ subway poop incidents” wouldn’t lead to charges. It was a fantastic way to engage with the trend, and the community and humanise their brand!

Drama, Discussions, Debates

How the Internet loves a vigilante

This week, the internet has been buzzing over Luigi Mangioni, the man found guilty of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Rather than outrage, many online have rallied behind him, glorifying Mangioni as a vigilante fighting an unjust system. The bullets used in the crime, engraved with "Deny Defend, Despose", have been interpreted as a political statement, resonating with those frustrated by rising healthcare costs, inequality, and systemic failures.

But what’s unsettling is how quickly the narrative has shifted. Mangioni’s youth, education, and appearance have inspired fan edits and online swooning—drawing comparisons to the cultural obsession with figures like Ted Bundy and the Menendez brothers.

This glorification often feels amplified by dramatised retellings of real-life crimes on platforms like Netflix, where sensationalised adaptations blur the lines between fact and fiction. The result? A disturbing mix of parasocial relationships and romanticised portrayals overshadow the gravity of their actions.

It’s a stark reminder of how internet culture—and entertainment—can turn even the darkest figures into something uncomfortably aspirational.

Thanks for Catching This Week’s Scoop! We’re here every Friday, dishing out the hottest highlights and boldest takes to keep you ahead in the world of social and digital culture. Want to stay in the know? Subscribe so you never miss a newsletter, and if you’re a brand ready to own the conversation and make waves in trending culture, let’s connect.