The Viral Landscape of 2025: A Year of Cultural Moments
The internet continues to transform how cultural moments unfold. Words, products, and pop culture mishaps can explode into viral phenomena overnight, and 2025 was no exception—especially across art, music, politics, and gaming. This year delivered countless memes and trends that defined our online experience, picking up where 2024 left off. From politically charged memes and questionable jeans to the rise of AI and the enigmatic "6 7," we experienced especially unhinged virality.
Below, we delve into ten of the best viral moments of 2025, each contributing to the rich tapestry of internet culture.
1. Ghibli Me: A Whimsical Trend
Like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge before it, the Ghibli Me photo trend went viral thanks to its participatory appeal. This AI-powered filter allowed users to transform photos of themselves, their pets, and loved ones into Hayao Miyazaki-style images reminiscent of Studio Ghibli classics like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. The trend reached its peak when Miyazaki himself weighed in on AI-generated art, calling the ethics behind it "an insult to life itself." His quote quickly became a viral sensation, adding another layer to the conversation around AI in art.
2. Marcus the Worm: A Gaming Phenomenon
Occasionally, a niche gaming meme breaks through to the mainstream. In 2025, we witnessed the rise of Marcus the Worm, a surreal VRChat character created by streamer Jouffa and popularized by Roflgator. Marcus’s bizarre appearance and absurd "Jimbo James" rants captivated audiences, leading to millions of views on TikTok. The character’s popularity skyrocketed, with one Instagrammer valuing Marcus at $5 million, while Etsy became flooded with Marcus-themed merchandise, from calendars to plushies.
3. Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show: A Cultural Milestone
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show delivered on the hype, transforming the performance into a cultural moment. Fresh off his feud with Drake, K. Dot blended powerful symbolism—like Samuel L. Jackson as "Uncle Sam" and dancers forming an American flag—with undeniable showmanship. The show generated countless memes, including the "Say Drake" walk and the "Not Like Us" shuffle, which went diamond on TikTok. With 133.5 million live viewers, it became the most-watched halftime show ever, surpassing even Michael Jackson’s iconic performance.
4. Baby Head JD Vance: A Bipartisan Meme
The Trump Era has produced countless viral memes, but Baby Head JD Vance stands out. This chubby-cheeked caricature of the vice president originated in late 2024 but exploded in early 2025 after Vance demanded Ukrainian President Zelensky thank the U.S. for its support. The meme gained rare bipartisan appeal, with both sides using it to mock Vance’s demands and ridicule the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Its adaptability allowed it to take on a life of its own, even appearing on the Las Vegas Sphere.
5. Celebrity Privilege: The Blue Origin Space Trip
Sometimes a moment goes viral purely for cringe, and the star-studded Blue Origin space trip was ripe for ridicule. Katy Perry’s over-the-top response—kissing the ground upon returning and calling it life-changing—sparked debates about celebrity privilege and the economic and environmental costs of space tourism. Wendy’s social media account captured the public mood perfectly with a pointed tweet: "Can we send her back?"
6. The Great Jeans Debate: A Cultural Flashpoint
The Sydney Sweeney "great jeans/great genes" debate nearly broke the internet, igniting fierce arguments about white supremacy, eugenics, and cancel culture. The discourse became so chaotic that it was hard to discern who stood where or what damage control could have satisfied critics. Meanwhile, Sweeney’s fans defended her decision to take the American Eagle campaign, highlighting the financial realities even famous actors face.
7. Coldplay’s Kiss Cam: A Moment of Impact
The most viral moments often spark conversation and become part of our vocabulary. Coldplay’s infamous kiss cam delivered on both fronts during a July 2025 concert. When the camera captured a dancing couple who quickly separated and hid their faces, Chris Martin quipped, "Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy." The fallout led to CEO Andy Byron’s resignation, making it arguably Coldplay’s most impactful moment since "Viva la Vida."
8. The "6 7" Phenomenon: A Generational Catchphrase
What is "6 7," and why are Gen A and Gen Z repeating it endlessly? The phrase comes from drill rapper Skrilla’s song "Doot Doot (6 7)," a catchy earworm tied to NBA player LaMelo Ball. Its peak came when Dictionary.com named it Word of the Year, cementing its mainstream status. The phrase’s nonsensical nature and generational appeal give it real staying power, proving that the best memes don’t need to make sense to cause a cultural shift.
9. Labubu: The Ugly-Cute Craze
Other than "6 7," the only thing you were more likely to hear about in 2025 was "Labubu." Created ten years ago by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, these collectible, ugly-cute monsters became a sensation after BLACKPINK’s Lisa was spotted with a Labubu keychain. The perfect storm of celebrity clout, blindbox scarcity, and TikTok unboxing videos fueled the craze, leading to long lines at Pop Marts worldwide and a massive presence at Comic Con. An upcoming Labubu movie from Sony further illustrates how this phenomenon has defined 2025.
10. The Unhinged Nature of Virality
As we reflect on these viral moments, it’s clear that 2025 was a year marked by the unhinged nature of internet culture. From AI-generated art debates to bizarre gaming characters, each moment contributed to a broader conversation about society, privilege, and the absurdities of modern life. The internet continues to be a powerful force, shaping how we engage with culture and each other in ways we could never have imagined.
