These 2016 viral trends show just how powerful online interaction can be when it comes to getting a message out. If you're interested in looking into other successful campaigns, go to our 2017 Trend Report.
As always, pets are popular throughout these 2016 viral trends, with familiar furry faces like Marnie The Dog being implemented into advertising efforts. Airbnb's commercial proved successful largely because of this, as it enticed its audience to keep watching while it showed them how accommodating its service can be for pets.
During 2016's controversial election, many women donned OPI's 'Madam President' color, sharing images of their nails online and showing up to the polls with it on in an effort to show solidarity with Hillary Clinton.
Also featured is a father who wanted to find a wife for his son and thought that posting an full-page ad on the front of the newspaper would be the best method. He included a list of strange requirements and even propositioned to interview interested women before they would be able to meet his son, a 48-year-old man.
Top 40 Viral Trends in 2016
From Travelling Canine Food Bloggers to Politically Aimed Fight Songs:
Riley von Niessen — Jan 28, 2017 — Pop Culture

40
Meme-Inspired Clothing
This Clothing Collection Was Inspired by the 'Arthur Fist' Meme

39
Colorful Rainbow Coffees
This Barista Uses Food Coloring to Make Rainbow-Colored Coffee
38
Social Media-Requested Photos
James Fridman Takes Social Media Photo Editing Requests Literally
37
Anti-Bullying LGBTQ Campaigns
Connor Franta, Urban Outfitters and GLSEN Joined to Help Students
36
Anime Gaming Taxis
Pokemon GO Players Can Hitch a Ride to Catch Pokemon
35
Body Positive Movement Hashtags
A Plus-Size Blogger Got Women to Embrace their Shape on Twitter
34
Canine Food Bloggers
Popeye is the Foodie Dog Starring in This Popular Instagram Account
33
Charitable Children's Tattoos
This Artist is Inking Sick Children with Temporary Airbrush Tattoos
32
Meme-Inspired Horror Films
Sony is Giving 'Slender Man' his Big Screen Debut
31
Parody Campaign Ads
The 'Hillary Clinton: Meme Queen 2016' Ad Has a Fake Hillary Acting Out Memes
30
Wife-Seeking Newspaper Ads
This Full-Page Ad Was Made by a Dad Trying to Find a Wife for His Son
29
Snapchat Television Revivals
The Cribs Snapchat Series Will See the Relaunch of the MTV Hit
28
Gorilla Meme Video Games
'Harambe vs. Capcom' is a Fighter Game Featuring the Late Primate
27
Gamified Anime Marathons
Runners Can Play 'Pokémon Go' at Virgin Active's 'Pokérun'
26
Cartoon Choreography Software
MMD Satoshi Uses Open Freeware to Create Pokemon Dance Videos
25
First Lady Karaoke Videos
Michelle Obama Belted it Out with James Corden on 'Carpool Karaoke'
24
Anime-Eliminating Browser Extensions
The 'PokeGone' Browser Extension Wipes Pokemon from the Web
23
Political Solidarity Nail Polish
Many Americans Showed Up to the Polls Wearing OPI Madam President
22
Satirical Presidential Transports
Neill Blomkamp's YouTube Videos Show Opulent Political Vehicles
21
Comedic Yoga Webseries
'Namaste, Bitches' Pokes Fun at LA's "Spiritually Unpure" Yoga Culture
20
Viral Fashion-Savvy Dogs
Tinkerbelle the Dog is an Internet-Famous Model, Actor and Travel Blogger
19
Viral Cat Commercials
This German Commercial Follows Grocery Shopping Cats with a Meowing Song
18
Jelly Bath Water Experiments
Guava Juice's JELLO Bath Challenge Video Offers Gooey Fun
17
Canine-Centered Kid's Books
Mitch Boyer Made a Photo-Edited Book of His Dog to Help Kids Adjust
16
Anime Hunting Game Features
The New 'Nearby Pokémon' Feature of Pokémon Go Makes FindingAnime Easy
15
LGBT Superhero Campaigns
Mike Buonaiuto's Trailer Shows What Films Would Be Like with LGBT Leads
14
Activist Music Videos
Project Everyone Remade a Spice Girls Music Video for Women's Rights
13
Viral Hunger PSAs
Feeding America's 'Empty Plates' Ad Copies the Format of Viral Recipe Videos
12
Anime Gaming Chat Apps
The 'RazerGo' App Hosts 'Pokémon GO' Chats
11
Viral Sugary Baths
Tanner Braungardt Combined Coca-Cola and Mentos in His Bathtub
10
Crowdsourced Lawyer Hashtags
#TransLawHelp Connects Lawyers with U.S. Transgender People in Need
9
Inclusive Pride Campaigns
The You Can Sit with Us Campaign Celebrates the Diversity of Pride Month
8
Viral Lip Sync Videos
This Video Features Husband and Wife Duo Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
7
Frenzied Comedic Channels
'Hola Soy German' Puts a Frenetic Twist On Spoken Comedy
6
Pet-Friendly Rental Home Ads
Marnie the Dog Was Featured in This Luxurious Airbnb Commercial
5
Retiree Music Videos
Senior Citizens Make a Hilarious Taylor Swift Parody
4
Hometown-Celebrating Rap Videos
This Kendrick Lamar Short Film Features Compton Residents Rapping
3
Satirical Movie Sequels
This Parody of the Drive Movie Reimagines Ryan Gosling as an Uber Driver
2
All-Acoustic Faucet Music
Si Bennett's Song and Video Only Use the Sounds from a Leaky Faucet
1
Politically Charged Fight Songs
The DNC Featured a Star-Studded Music Video for Hilary Clinton
Related Ideas
Playful Billboard Campaigns
Dreamies Treats Unveil a Show-Stopping 3D Billboard Campaign
Aggressive Athlete Ads
Nike Launches the Winning Isn’t for Everyone Campaign
Humorous Brand Campaigns
The Ikea Rewards Program Embraces Its Late Arrival with Humor
Romantic Elegance-Inspired Fashion Capsules
Petal & Pup Debuts With Love Ahead of Valentine's Day
Summer Soda Brand Campaigns
Sprite 'Turns Up the Refreshment' With its Immersive Campaign
Positive Social Media Campaigns
The New Tumblr Campaign Champions Community Over Controversy
Personalized Pet-Inspired Handbags
Marc Jacobs Introduces the 'Bark Jacobs' Experience
Plush Pet Hotels
Goodwoof 2025 Will Feature a Jellycat Dog Hotel Pop-Up
Humorous Menswear Ads
Men’s Wearhouse Goes Full Funny with its 'Love the Way You Look' Campaign
Unique AI-Generated Ads
Skinny Mobile Introduces Its New AI-Powered Brand Ambassador
Gen Z Advertising Initiatives
Tubi Targets Younger Viewers with Ad Innovations at IAB NewFronts
Creative Online Social Networks
BuzzFeed Introduces the New BF Island Social Network
Comedic E-Commerce Brand Spots
Instacart Unveiled a Teaser for its Super Bowl Commercial
New Yorker-Approved Campaigns
New York’s StreetEasy Urges You to Never Become a Former New Yorker
Retro Athletic Pet Accessories
The Adidas Originals Pet Accessories Collection is Extra-Cute
Beauty Hack-Inspired Campaigns
Vaseline Launched 'Vaseline World' Based on Social Media Content
Influencer-Inspired Ads
Tomcat's Ad Shows an Influencer Mouse with a Fatal Unboxing Twist
United Mascot Commercials
The First-Ever Instacart Super Bowl Ad Unites Beloved Brand Icons
Influencer-Driven Consumer Insight Tools
Brilli™ is a New Tool That Disrupts Food Research
Humorous Payment Campaigns
Paypal's Latest Campaign Features Actor Will Ferrell
AI-Generated Pet Teasers
Iams' I Want a Puppy/Kitten Studios Helps People Pitch an Idea
Pro-Aging Campaigns
Oura Challenges Cultural Perceptions with 'Give Us the Finger'
Remixed Skincare Commercials
CeraVe's "Hey It's Me" Got a Remix Inspired by TikTok Memes
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Multichannel Retail Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' 'Happy Lolidays' Campaign is Engaging
Adorable Pet Campaigns
Purina's Latest Contest Searches for 'Chief Snuggle Officers'
Offbeat Fashion Campaigns
ASOS 'Inspired By' Delivers Non-Traditional Inspiration to Style-Seekers
AI-Assisted Business Ads
Google Workspace's 50 States, 50 Stories Shares Small Businesses Using AI
Star-Supported Animated Character Campaigns
Hello Kitty and Bruno Mars Commemorate an Anniversary
Vibrantly Comedic Travel Campaigns
The 'Booking.yeah' Campaign Features The Muppets
Dynamic Basketball-Informed Marketing Campaigns
March Madness' New Campaign Features NCAA Athletes
Lyrics-Inspired OOH Campaigns
Taskrabbit Interprets Pop Culture Songs for Summer Home Tasks
Culinary-Centric Dating Campaigns
Knorr x Tinder Partner for the #UnlockYourGreenFlag Initiative
Expansive Seasonal Pet Products
The Petco Merry Makings Holiday Collection is Packed with Options
Football Fan-Addressing Soda Commercials
Pepsi's Launches the Football Always Wins Campaign
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Emoji-Centric Campaigns
Hubba Bubba's New Campaign Offers a Petition for a Bubble Gum Emoji
Dating-App Holiday Campaigns
Bumble Holiday Campaign Sparks Real-Life Connections This Season
Data-Driven QSR Campaigns
Burger King's BK Unwrapped Reveals Customers' 2024 Ordering Preferences
Social Media App Campaigns
Snapchat Promotes Creators in a Bold Campaign Amid TikTok Uncertainty
Personalized Pet Amenities
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will Offer 'Pawsome Pampering Packages'
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
NBA-Themed Dog-Friendly Collections
Little Beast and NBA Join on a Special Collection
AI Video Insights
Sora Creators Curates Trending AI-Generated Videos from Twitter in Real-Time
Interactive Scented Billboard Ads
LOLA MullenLowe Presents a Scented Lynx/Axe Campaign
Global Runner-Inspired Campaigns
PUMA Introduced its 'Go Wild' Campaign
Humorous Pet Furniture Campaigns
IKEA Playfully Presents its UTSÅDD Collection in a Campaign
Anti-Digital Social Campaigns
Heineken Partners with Joe Jonas for 'Socials Off Socials'
Hands-Free Driving Campaigns
Ford UK's Social Campaign Shares Merch for the "Passenger Princess"
Personality-Matched Luggage Collections
Airs Debuts Personality Quiz-Based Travel Gear for 2025
Heart-Warming Pet Owner Campaigns
The CESAR 'Love Like Crazy' Campaign Showcases Pet Owner Love
Sustainable Dog Clothes Brands
Pet Passion offers Dog Wear Inspired by Babywear Design Techniques
Celeb-Approved Pet Grooming Lines
Paris Hilton's Pet Grooming Line Marries Pet Care and Glamour
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Cosmetics-Themed Dog Toys
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Pawer Grip Primer Dog Toy Supports Animal Welfare
Spontaneity-Inspired Travel Campaigns
Wyndham Debuts 'Where There's a Wyndham, There's a Way'
Supermarket-Inspired Nail Art Designs
Aldi Dropped a Festival-Inspired Nail Art Collection
Trend Prediction Services
Tagwalk Revolutionizes Fashion Forecasting with a New AI Dashboard
AI-Powered Review Insights
Yelp Adds New AI Features for Restaurant-Goers and Owners
Color Infusion Paint Campaigns
vitaminwater's Paint Your Rent Brightens Lives & Living Spaces
Premium Pet Care Capsules
PurrryPetLove.com Unveils an Expansive Collection of Pet Products
Empowering Fashion Campaigns
Coach's Spring 2025 Campaign Celebrates Personal Time Management
Virtual Pet Races
Purina Arena Pet Racing Reaches a New Generation of Pet Lovers on Roblox
Dog-Friendly Cake Bites
Three Dog Bakery's Ultimate Celebration Cake Bites are Poppable
Humorous LNY Stories
Panda Express’ Lunar New Year Ad Celebrates Family, Food, and Humor
Celebrity-Starring Super Bowl Ads
Taco Bell Recruits Doja Cat for its New Super Bowl Advertisement
Stylish Soda Pop-Ups
Poppi World Enticed Health-Conscious, Fashionable Visitors During NYFW
Authentic Skincare Campaigns
We are Social France Spotlights Avène’s New Anti-Blemish Cream
Scrolling Video-Based Social Medias
Bluesky Launched a New 'Trending Videos' Feature
Humorous Star-Studded Chip Campaigns
Pringles Unveiled its 'Call of the Mustaches' Campaign
Seasonal Soda Ads
Olipop's Christmas Ad Challenges Big Soda
Global Holiday Campaigns
David Beckham Stars in SharkNinja's 'Ninja the Holidays' Campaign
Inspiring Food Color Reports
Oterra Color Trends 2025 Put Four Trends in the Spotlight
Humorous Hotel Campaigns
Marriott Bonvoy x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Launch a Social Ad
Globally Inspired Dog Meals
Restaurant Favorites Inspired Tiki Dog's Taste of the World Recipes
Social Media Fridge-Decorating Trends
Lynzi Judish Released Several Viral 'Fridgescaping' Videos
Dog-Starring Sporty Campaigns
ASICS Taps Felix the Samoyed for Mind's Best Friend Ad
Internet Humor News
The Daily Snoo Turns Hilarious Reddit Trends Into Satirical News
AI-Enhanced Pet Adoption Photos
The Personality Pics AI Tool Helps More Pets Find Forever Homes
Pet Play-Centric Campaigns
Pet Valu Debuts the Multi-Faceted Playtime Campaign
Interactive Influencer Features
YouTube's New 'Hype' Feature Allows Viewers to Share in Success
Social-First Car Campaigns
Škoda's Reddit Car Share Amplified the Voices of Passionate Fans
Humorous AI-Forward Spots
GoDaddy Unveiled its 'Act Like You Know' Super Bowl LIX Ad
In-Hotel Human Dog Beds
Plufls and Staypineapple Announced a Human and Dog Bed Swap on April 1st
Creative Cancer Awareness Campaigns
F Cancer Debuts the 'Pick Up Your Poop' Campaign
Worldwide Service Marketplaces
Airbnb Services are for Booking Everything from Catering to Makeup
No-Nonsense Haircare Campaigns
The No Gimmicks Campaign by LolaVie Focuses on Proven Products
Athlete Hair Campaigns
Schwarzkopf Professional's Up Your Hair Game Celebrates a Product Relaunch
Real-Time Trending Spot Features
Roadtrippers Introduces the Trending Spots Feature to Its App
Viral Face Generators
CrazyFace Generates Fun, Viral YouTube Faces from a User's Photos
Lost Pet Locators
Puppy Platoon Helps You Find Lost Pets Fast with Posters and Hyperlocal Ads
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Reimagined Story-Driven Campaigns
Visa Presented its 'Typewriter' Campaign at the 2025 Oscars
Rental App Holiday Campaigns
Airbnb Presents its Santastrophe Campaign Following Santa Claus
Feline-Hosted Podcasts
Whiskas' Purrcast Supports & Entertains a New Generation of Pet Parents
Social Video Beauty Brands
Time Inc. Unveils 'The Pretty' Social Video-Based Beauty Brand
Comedian-Supported Deodorant Ads
Pete Davidson Stars in AXE's Latest Advertising Campaign
Influencer-Led Mascara Campaigns
Milani Cosmetics and The Lipstick Lesbians Struck a Partnership
Canine-Friendly Sporting Events
Mars, Incorporated Will Delight Pets and Their Owners This Summer
Multi-Faceted Whiskey Brand Programs
TINCUP Whiskey Has Launched the Heart-Warming Project TINPUP
Pet-Equality Campaigns
Pet Ownership Rights Take Center Stage in Innovative Campaign
Festive Pet Letter Campaigns
Chewy Claus Accepts Holiday Wishes from Pets
Chinese Youth Search Reports
Xiaohongshu Has Released Report on Search Habits Among Youth in China
Travel Lifestyle Brand Ads
Away’s 'Travel Changed Me' Film Captures the Power of Exploration
Solution-Oriented Holiday Ads
Orange’s Holiday Ad Brings Families Together Over Smartphones
Feel-Good Financial Campaigns
Ally Financial's Banksgiving Supports Customers in Need with Funds
Hair Salon-Powered Sports Campaigns
Great Clips Ties Its Latest Campaign to the Stanley Cup
All-Inclusive Pop Culture Trips
Klook Debuts a Campaign to Highlight ANZ's Top Asian Culture Fans
Viral Egg Tasting Menus
Sweet, Savory and Surprising Egg Flights are Taking Off on TikTok
Dog Enrichment Kits
Nom Nom Curated a Limited-Edition Kit with Food, Treats & Toys
New Year-Inspired Travel Campaigns
Trip.com Group Unveils the Lunar New Year 2025 Trends
Pet-Calming Channels
Fore Fireworks Season, Sky and NOW Created BonfireNight with Dogs Trust
Language App Pop-Ups
Duolingo Hosted an Interactive Street Society Event in Soho
Whimsical Dog-Inspired Tech Accessories
CASEKOO and LittleManyu Launch 'Pawfect Chill Time'
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
No-Nonsense Grooming Campaigns
The Rock Face Makes Scents Campaign Pokes Fun at Marketing Cliches
Celebrity-Signed Rolling Trays
SWED.com Leverages Snoop Dogg's Cultural Influence
Athlete-Centric Bingo Campaigns
The 'Share Your Bingo Moment' Campaign Spotlights Olympic Legends
Frozen Pizza-Centered Campaigns
Dr. Oetker Debuts the Frozen Pizza Publicist Campaign
Gender-Based Violence Awareness Films
My Friend Max Hate Exposes the Dark Side of Online Influence
Real-Time Nightlife Finders
HotSpot Discovers Trending Nightlife Spots With Real-Time Insights
Pet-Specific Wedding Apparel
Chewy's Frisco Brand Launches a Wedding Collection for Pets
Animal Welfare-Focused Wines
Top Dogs Wines Has Recently Launched in New York
Animal Adoption Platforms
Adopt Me Teaches Users About Animal Adoption and Responsible Pet Care
Pet-Themed Branding Initatives
Lyft and Animal Planet Promoted Puppy Bowl in February
Iconic Commercial Reboots
Oscar Mayer Brings Back Its Iconic Jingle for a New Generation
Short Film-Inspired Ads
Apple’s New ‘The Underdogs’ Ad Features Various Apple Products
Viral Political Campaign Accessories
The Viral Harris-Walz Camo Hat Appeals to Gen Z Voters
Artist Connection-Focused Initiatives
Summer VonHolten’s New Personal Blog is About Connection
Pet-Friendly Accommodation Partnerships
PetScreening & OwnerRez Elevate the Vacation Rental Market
Party-Centric Quick-Commerce Campaigns
Flipkart Launches 'Everything for Every Party Animal'
Ad Inspiration Archives
Nobody Reads Ads Showcases Print and Outdoor Ads With Notable Success
Dog Enrichment Camps
K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel Launched an Eight-Week Summer Camp for Dogs
Pop Culture Presidency Campaigns
Kamala Harris Adopts Charli XCX's 'Brat' Trend for Her Campaign
Gamified Animal Aids
Cats-We Turns Virtual Pet Care Into Real Support for Cats in Need
Social Video Sponsorship Platforms
Find, Vet, and Book YouTube Sponsorships with Thoughtleaders.io
Instant Accommodation Bookings
Travly Debuts its New Online Travel Agent
Censorship-Combatting Social Media Campaigns
Operation Retweet Uses AI-Generated Avatars
Dog-Themed Meeting Avatars
Doge Meet Transforms Google Meet Avatars into Talking Doge Characters