Top TikTok Trends for August 2025 and How Brands Can Use Them

Published on

August 7, 2025

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TikTok content in August 2025 is a heady blend of emotional storytelling, self-aware humour, dance challenges and seasonal cultural moments. As TikTok continues evolving into a hybrid discovery and entertainment platform, the biggest wins go to brands that adapt their content strategies to trending audio, creator-led storytelling and community events.

For us, it's about aligning with the format and tone that audiences are already engaging with - using your existing products, campaigns and content. Based on insights from TikTok Creative Center - including trending creators, hashtags and audio - as well as wider cultural signals for August 2025, here is your comprehensive guide to what’s hot on TikTok and how your brand can capitalise.

We’ve also monitored ongoing discussions around a potential TikTok divestment or ban in the United States - which adds uncertainty and underscores the importance of adaptable strategies and audience diversification. This means strengthening audience relationships and focusing on authentic, human-centric storytelling that can weather platform shifts.

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1. Slideshow Storytelling & Image Ads Are Everywhere

What’s trending:
Top-performing formats this month include plot twists, clever misdirections and punchline reveals - often delivered via slideshows or image-led posts. Image Ads, designed for fast trend adoption, are helping brands break away from traditional video by sharing 3 to 5 caption-led images with punchline endings and layered humour (e.g. “Propaganda I’m falling/not falling for” meme).

What this means:
Slideshow formats are proving both low-effort and high-impact, especially when paired with trending audio. They often replace talking-head videos for memes, POV humour or subtle self-bragging - perfect for quick, digestible stories with punchy narratives.

How brands can use this:

🧢 Fashion & Apparel

Share “5 times our customers styled [product name]” slides ending with a wow moment
Post “expectation vs reality” transformations
Run UGC series like “this or this” to drive interaction

🍔 Food & Beverage

Use carousels to show “3 ways to snack with [product]”
Share “summer party checklist” slides where your product is the star
Show moments like “from fridge to picnic in 3 slides”

🎮 Entertainment & Gaming

Reveal a product or app evolution via image series
Post “behind the scenes in 3 photos”
Use slideshow formats to unveil cast/character moments or game features

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2. Relatable Humour, Soft Confessions & Body Confidence Wins

What’s trending:
Audiences are engaging with soft confessionals, body positivity and self-love monologues. Meme formats like “United in grief” (also known as “We’ve All Been There”) are trending, showing those awkward or painfully relatable moments. Other trends include:

“You Look Happier” (often set to Taylor Swift’s You Belong With Me)
“You need to nerd out” - celebrating niche obsessions
“Couples Running” - a competitive, humorous duet format

What this means:
Content that validates shared experience - from cringe-worthy mishaps to niche joys - builds trust and empathy. Emotional authenticity, humour and vulnerability resonate more than polish.

How brands can use this:

👠 Retail & DTC

“We’ve All Been There” when you didn’t need [product]… until you did
“You need to nerd out” on our [product category]
Playfully re-enact retail customer service clichés

💄 Beauty & Self-Care

Use “We’ve All Been There” moments with skincare struggles - and present your solution
Highlight nerdy obsessions with hero ingredients
Use “God forbid…” to challenge beauty norms
Collaborate with creators on honest testimonials
Share calming, caption-first videos focused on mindset and wellbeing

🏖️ Travel & Hospitality

Create “We’ve All Been There” moments around travel fails and how your service fixes them
Nerd out on destination facts or quirky attractions
Launch a “Couples Running” challenge at your resort or scenic venue

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3. Creators and Series Content Are Driving Engagement

What’s trending:
Creators are thriving with “day in the life” mini-series, GRWM videos, lifestyle vlogs and TikTok growth tips. Popular hashtags include:

#howtogoviral
#goingviral
#growthtiktok
#creatorsearchinsights

What this means:
Serialised content increases retention and builds community. Creator-led formats outperform AI-generated content, reinforcing the power of real voices. The “how to go viral” genre is booming - creators are openly dissecting platform mechanics.

How brands can use this:

🛍️ Ecommerce & Retail

Partner with creators for “Style This Week” using live inventory
Share 3-part features: unbox, use, react
Feature staff in “What I Wore to Work” or “Top Picks”
Collaborate with “TikTok coaches” to link your brand to platform growth

🧳 Travel

Shoot creator series like “day at our resort” or “travel like a local”
Use 3-part arcs: arrival, experience, wind-down
Repackage content into Stories with titled series

📱 Tech & Apps

Use “day-in-the-life” creator vlogs to demonstrate features
Launch “How to Go Viral with Our App”
Show team processes to humanise your brand
Tap into #creatorsearchinsights with platform tips

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4. Pop Culture & Nostalgia Hooks

What’s trending next:
August’s entertainment calendar is packed:

Film & TV:

The Naked Gun (Aug 1), Bad Guys 2 (Aug 1)
King of the Hill S14 (Aug 4), Wednesday S2 (Aug 6, with Lady Gaga)
Weapons (Aug 8), Alien: Earth S1 (Aug 12)
Nobody 2 (Aug 15), Peacemaker S2 (Aug 21), Caught Stealing (Aug 29)
Lilo & Stitch continues to trend (>$1B global)

Music:

Man’s Best Friend - Sabrina Carpenter (Aug 29)
Beyoncé’s ACT III (TBC) - tied to #tyrant
Other artists: Cian Ducrot, Renée Rapp, Craig David, Laufey (Snow White, Aug 7), Stray Kids

What this means:
Cultural relevance boosts discoverability. Nostalgia - especially '90s and Y2K - unlocks emotional resonance. Trending sounds are key, as the algorithm heavily prioritises them.

How brands can use this:

🎥 Entertainment & Streaming

Mirror plots or quotes in your product stories
Post “Your [Show Name] Starter Pack”
Meme new releases with branded overlays
Use retro filters and audio for “Then vs Now” formats

🍕 Food & Drink

Suggest snack pairings for TV rewatch sessions
Combine taste-testing and music reviews
Use carousel posts for movie-and-snack bundles
Leverage tracks like Espresso or Overdrive

📱 Tech & Apps

Create POVs like “If our app were a Peacemaker character”
Run trivia or recap challenges
Blend product stories with trending music
Show brand evolution with throwback edits

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5. Hashtag & Topic Momentum: Beyond the Obvious

What’s trending:

Growth: #goviral, #growthtiktok, #tiktokcoach
Cultural: #isthisillegal, #illegal, #youlookhappier, #beyonce
Seasonal: #trendingnow, #backtoschool2025, #summernails, #mls2025, #easymeals
Key Dates:
- International Cat Day - 8 August
- National Book Lovers Day - 9 August
- National Relaxation Day - 15 August
- International Dog Day - 26 August

What this means:
You don’t have to post about the hashtag directly - but you do need to understand its rhythm and tone. Use trending formats, experiment with meme audio and tailor your message to trending conversations.

How brands can use this:

🧴 Beauty & Self-Care