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
Remixed Nail Polish Collections
The OPIcons Collection Reimagines Iconic Shades Like Funny Bunny
Virtual Fashion Contests
Bratz and ZEPETO Launch a Four-Week Avatar Styling Challenge
Expanded Pet Apparel Capsule
The Adidas Originals Pet Collection Brings Forth Brand Styling
Anti-AI Beer Billboards
Heineken's Latest Ads Poke Fun at AI Friendship Devices
Science-Backed Pet Care Lines
Welltayl Debuts Clean Beauty Standards for Pet Grooming
Toy-Doll-Starring Travel Spots
Expedia Debuts its 'Going Places with Ken' Campaign
Summer Soda Brand Campaigns
Sprite 'Turns Up the Refreshment' With its Immersive Campaign
Mess-Inspired Bag Charms
BISSELL x Susan Alexandra Launch Vibrant Bag Charms
Pet Team Kits
Adidas FIFA World Cup 2026 Pet Collection Mirrors National Jerseys
Gen Z Storytelling Campaigns
Coach is Running the 'Explore Your Story' Campaign for Spring 2026
Pet-Inspired Perfumes
Velvétail Perfumes Makes Fragrances Inspired by Dog and Cat Breeds
Plush Pet Hotels
Goodwoof 2025 Will Feature a Jellycat Dog Hotel Pop-Up
Gen Z Advertising Initiatives
Tubi Targets Younger Viewers with Ad Innovations at IAB NewFronts
Festival-Inspired Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Burberry Celebrates the Energy of British Music Culture
Nostalgic Y2K-Inspired Commercials
Dove Reinterprets 'Don't Cha' with the 'Hot Like Us' Campaign
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
Pet-Powered Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Animal Intelligence Redefines "AI"
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
Pro-Aging Campaigns
Oura Challenges Cultural Perceptions with 'Give Us the Finger'
Real-Life Mood-Board Transformations
Pinterest Launches the 'Bring My Pinterest to Life' Series
Phone-Free Crafting Experiences
Pinterest Brought a Phone-Free Experience to the Desert
Algorithmic Reset Campaigns
Länsförsäkringar's Algorithm Cleansing Song Brings Positivity to Feeds
Cultural Mullet Campaigns
Mcdonald’s McMullet Campaign Turns a Viral Joke into a Live Activation
Viral Satisfying ASMR Toys
MGA Entertainment's Slime Life Turns Digital Trends into Physical Play
Playful Gen-Z Dating Campaigns
Tinder's 'Crush Feelings' Captures the Essence of Modern Dating
Functionally Focused Dog Campaigns
The Honest Kitchen's Inflatable Dogs Challenge Beauty Standards
Anthropomorphic Hair Ads
Hair Ballad is Manscaped's First Super Bowl Commercial
Dog-Friendly Valentine's Gifts
Years.com's Valentine’s Day Selection Box Creates Special Moments
Glam Pet Adoption Pop-Ups
Uber Showcats Puts a Spotlight on Rescued Cats Available for Adoption
Rural Running Vacations
Airbnb and Strava are Motivating Gen Z to Book Run-Cations
Cinematic Campaign Posters
Nike 2026 World Cup posters frame national teams through film-styles
Expressive Hair Campaigns
Wavytalk's Main Character Hair Campaign Makes Everyday Styles Memorable
Brighton Retail Launch Ads
IKEA Brighton Uses Seagull Splatter Campaign to Win Local Attention
Friendly Fandom Campaigns
Heineken Kicked Off Fans Have More Friends with a Fun Social Experiment
AI-Powered Pet Products
PETKIT is Showcasing an Expanded Range of Connected Devices at CES 2026
Pet-Finding Billboards
Hrvatski Telekom Created Scented Billboards That Attract Lost Dogs
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Emotive Song Campaigns
Sos Songs Uses Technology to Show How Music Reflects Your Emotional State
Connection-Centered Bag Campaigns
Kate Spade's Spark Something Beautiful Stars Gen Z Icons
Home-Centric Beauty Campaigns
Sally Beauty Debuts the Holiday Beauty at Home Campaign
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Creatively Shot Footwear Campaigns
Christian Louboutin Releases the Creative Spring 2026 Campaign
Bold Beauty Campaigns
IPSY Reframes Beauty as a Hobby with the 'I Play Beauty' Campaign
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Post-Bath Pet Filters
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day's After Bath Zoomies Assigns Dogs a Score
Analog-Themed Camera Campaigns
Polaroid Launched 'The Camera for an Analog Life'
Game-Day-Ready Dog Campaigns
Blue Buffalo x Olivia Culpo Team Up for Football-Inspired Treats
People-Pet Treat Packs
The Mars Tails & Treating Pack Spoils Humans, Dogs and Cats
Influencer Dog Treat Collections
Woof Gang Dropped a Collab with Three Beloved Social Media Dogs
Music Scene-Informed Luxury Campaigns
Burberry Taps Twiggy for Spring 2026 Advertising Campaign
Pet Social Networks
Doggs.Life Connects Dog Owners And Enthusiasts Worldwide
Cinematic Sneaker Campaigns
Adidas Originals Superstar Campaign Features Icons Such as Jennie
Emotion-Led Household Brand Campaigns
Royale’s ‘There for All’ Campaign Emphasizes Daily Moments
Pet-Focused Soccer Programming Initiatives
Purina Introduces the National Pet Kit & a New Campaign
New Year Pet Apparel
This Adidas Chinese-Style Track Jacket is for Pets Only
Comprehensive Fast Food Reports
Yum! Brands, Inc. Explores Food Trends Influencing the Industry
Feedless Social Platforms
Bond Eliminates Feeds to Focus on Real-Life Experiences
Hair Repair-Focused Campaigns
Pantene's New Campaign Celebrates Southern Hair With a Summer Twist
Musician-Led Beverage Campaigns
poppi Tapped Charli xcx and Rachel Sennott for the Super Bowl
Humorous Healthcare Campaigns
Zocdoc And 72andSunny Reframe Doctor Search With Playful Anxiety
Adoptable Cat App Takeovers
Fresh Step's Date Cats, Not Humans Makes Adorable Matches
Supermarket-Inspired Nail Art Designs
Aldi Dropped a Festival-Inspired Nail Art Collection
Heart-Warming Pet Owner Campaigns
The CESAR 'Love Like Crazy' Campaign Showcases Pet Owner Love
Spoof Pet Product Collections
Dyson Beauty Teased a Dedicated Dyson Beauty Pet Range
Custom Painted Handbag Events
Bark Jacobs by Marc Jacobs Kicked Off with an Exclusive Soiree
Animated Pop Revival Shows
Paris Hilton’s Paris & Pups Brings Her Playful Persona to Youtube
Lyrics-Inspired OOH Campaigns
Taskrabbit Interprets Pop Culture Songs for Summer Home Tasks
Comedian-Supported Deodorant Ads
Pete Davidson Stars in AXE's Latest Advertising Campaign
Fashion Icon Toy Ranges
Playmates Toys Launches the Paris & Pups Range, Inspired by Paris Hilton
Elderly Companionship Campaigns
Mayores Amigos Matches People in Care Homes with Senior Dogs
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Interactive Scented Billboard Ads
LOLA MullenLowe Presents a Scented Lynx/Axe Campaign
Soccer-Inspired Auto Campaigns
Valvoline Global Debuts the The Original Motor Oil. For the Driven
Humorous Hotel Campaigns
Marriott Bonvoy x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Launch a Social Ad
Soccer-Inspired RV Platform Initiatives
RV Rental Platform Outdoorsy Targets Soccer Fans
Festively Themed Pet Products
The Pooch & Mutt 2025 Christmas Range is Packed with Options
Affectionate Cat Campaigns
SHEBA's Ignored to Adored Invites Cat Parents to Build Better Bonds
Social Listening Parties
Spotify's Wrapped Party Unites Users for Shared Experiences
Collaborative Domestic Violence Campaigns
Purina and Sarah Hyland Debut 'Courageous Together'
Travel Story Visuals
Travel Wrapped Turns Your Annual Journeys Into Shareable Infographics
Spontaneity-Inspired Travel Campaigns
Wyndham Debuts 'Where There's a Wyndham, There's a Way'
Couture Canine Accessories
The 2026 Louis Vuitton Dog Accessories Collection is Chic
Dog-Starring Sporty Campaigns
ASICS Taps Felix the Samoyed for Mind's Best Friend Ad
Pet Lunar Apparel
adidas introduces Chinese-style pet jackets for Lunar New Year
Cat-Owning Couple Series
Purina ONE's LiveClear, Love Clear Shares Real Struggles with Allergens
Streaming Moments Surge
Spotify’s Wrapped 2025 Engages Users with Personalized Year-in-Review
Food-Inspired Street Art
Knorr's Dish Pics Campaign Replaces Unwanted, Unsavory Images
Senior Creative Teams
Tosti Creative Put Out a Call for Senior Creatives Aged 70 and Older
Animal Welfare Group Grants
Petco Love Highlights Its Charitable Petco Love Stories Initiative
Pet Care Innovation Awards
Purina Spotlights PetPax as the Grand Prize Winner of a Competition
Social-First Hosting Campaigns
Out Host with Hisense Responds to the Rise of Home Viewing Parties
Multi-Faceted Whiskey Brand Programs
TINCUP Whiskey Has Launched the Heart-Warming Project TINPUP
90s-Era Snack Product Campaigns
The Pringles One You Pop Campaign Revives the Tagline for Gen Z
Pet-Inclusive Cruise Residences
Fabled Voyages Allows Residents to Bring Pets at Sea
AI Pet Matching Platforms
Amazon’s Tool Uses AI to Pair Adopters with Compatible Shelter Pets
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
Carrier Pigeon Campaigns
The Travel Agency's Viral Project Pigeon Spiked Social Media Engagement
Pet-Centric Travel Platforms
Dog Owners Can Book Stays and Plan Trips in One Place
Athlete-Branded Outdoor Appliances
Ninja Launched a New Campaign For Upgraded Backyard Cooking
British Lifestyle Pet Products
The Laura Ashley x The aDoraBle Pooch Company Range is Stylish
Post-Game Breakfast Campaigns
McDonald's Flipped Its Ads Sideways for Super Bowl Recovery
Pet Naming Communities
LetMeName Connects Pet Lovers Through Voting And Adoption Tools
Canine-Friendly Sporting Events
Mars, Incorporated Will Delight Pets and Their Owners This Summer
Dog-Focused Food Trucks
Bab’in Spotlights the French Cuisine for Dogs at Central Park
Pet Social Platforms
Bark Baee Builds A Dedicated Social Network For Pet Owners
Feline-Hosted Podcasts
Whiskas' Purrcast Supports & Entertains a New Generation of Pet Parents
Dog Enrichment Kits
Nom Nom Curated a Limited-Edition Kit with Food, Treats & Toys
Mascot Sumo Showdowns
Duolingo Launches Playful Event Featuring Gaming Icons and Cultural Mascots
Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns
Dove's #UnseenBeauty Initiative Challenges Y2K Beauty Standards
Wintery Pet Product Ranges
Lily’s Kitchen Debuted a Series of Seasonal Items for Cats and Dogs
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Celebrity-Signed Rolling Trays
SWED.com Leverages Snoop Dogg's Cultural Influence
Whimsical Dog-Inspired Tech Accessories
CASEKOO and LittleManyu Launch 'Pawfect Chill Time'
Pet Services Platforms
Petset.Life Helps Users Launch and Share Petsitting Profiles Easily
Pet-Pleasing Delivery Menus
Deliveroo and French Bandit Collaborated to Delight People & Pets
New Year Travel Experiences
Trip.com Group Spotlights 2026 Lunar New Year Travel
Personalized Present Campaigns
The Wonderbly Everyone’s Got Favourites Campaign is Rolling Out Now
Dog Enrichment Camps
K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel Launched an Eight-Week Summer Camp for Dogs
Shoppable Mascot Homes
Pillsbury's Mascot is Inviting Fans into His Modern Doughhouse Revival
Social Media-Inspired Streaming Apps
The Netflix App Feed Will Introduce a TikTok-Like Style
Generational Wellness Campaigns
Sports Research Evolved Its Marketing into a Cultural Movement
UAE Pet Care Companies
Milano Launches the Petshouse Pet Care Brand for UAE Customers
Pet Content Studios
Tails & Frames Turns Pet Photos And Videos Into Shareable Art Online AI
Gamified Cat Tax Campaigns
HitPaw Launches the 2026 Pay the Cat Tax Campaign
Layered Online Content Reports
YouTube Defines Creative Maximalism as the Key Point After 20 Years
Valentine's Day Dining Research
OpenTable Compiles Data on Valentine's Day Dining Trends
Sporty Pet-Centric Video Series
Purina Pro Plan Launched Fueled By Video Series
Pet-Friendly Accommodation Partnerships
PetScreening & OwnerRez Elevate the Vacation Rental Market
AI Pet Portraits
PetPic AI Creates Custom AI-Generated Pet Portraits With Style and Detail
Interactive Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Tessan Will Spotlight the 100 Travelers Campaign
Viral Egg Tasting Menus
Sweet, Savory and Surprising Egg Flights are Taking Off on TikTok
Cat-Like Attitude Certifications
Friskies' Certified Frisky is a Playful Nod to Cat-Like Behavior
Gamified Animal Aids
Cats-We Turns Virtual Pet Care Into Real Support for Cats in Need
Reflective Memory Platforms
My Dog Is The Best Helps Users Reflect On Pet Memories And Growth
Pet Wellness Insights
Daily Pet Care Tips By PetCareDaily For Everyday Pet Wellness
Visual Discovery Campaigns
Pinterest Autumn-Winter Ads Highlight Castlecore Dreams and Fuzzy Vibes
Myth-Busting Pet Campaigns
Royal Canin Runs a Campaign for National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
A-Lister Vacation Getaways
Trainline x Deuxmoi Partner for Celebrity-Inspired European Itineraries