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
Locating Anime Monster Maps
The Poke Radar Shows Pokemon Go Players Where the Best are Hidden
Viral Instagram Campaigns
This Selena Gomez Photo is the Most Liked Photo of All Time
Game-Saving Helper Drones
The 'Pokedrone' Goes Where Pokemon Go Users Can't to Catch Pokemon
Trans-Positive Holiday Campaigns
Reformation's New Holiday Ads Star Trans Model Andreja Pejic
Diverse Lingerie Campaigns
Curvy Kate Proves That You Don't Need to Conform to Shallow Standards
Distressed Grunge Menswear
OTHER UK's 'Liberty' Line Features Stylishly Frayed Clothing and More
Luxury Felt Sketchbooks
These Sketchbooks are Ideal for Designers On-The-Go
Anime Monster Burgers
Down N' Out in Sydney is Offering a Limited Edition Pokemon Burger Trio
Revived Retro Apparel
This New Nautica Collection Was Made for Urban Outfitters with Lil Yachty
Instagram Star Editorials
NASASEASONS' Fall/Winter Line is Modeled by Eileen Kelly & Naleye Junior
Automotive Homeshare Marketing Promotions
Audi and Airbnb Teamed Up to Celebrate the Emmy Awards
Disney Tattoo Databases
'Inked Disney' Complies Disney Tattoos for the Inspiration of Fans
Body Positive Social Efforts
Nike Women is Promoting Relatable Instagram Models in Recent Posts
Anti-Bullying LGBTQ Campaigns
Connor Franta, Urban Outfitters and GLSEN Joined to Help Students
Hyper-Connected Hotels
This Integrated Hotel Was Designed to Target the Millennial Demographic
Fake Memorial Murals
'lushsux' Depicted the Internet's Response to the Recent Taylor Swift Feud
Celebrity Breakup Insurance
Taobao is Offering Insurance Based on Taylor Swift's Love Life
Modern Nigerian-Inspired Menswear
Post Imperial's New Collection Draws from Rural Landscapes
Anime Gaming Taxis
Pokemon GO Players Can Hitch a Ride to Catch Pokemon
Presidential Campaign Buttons
Artists Designed Creative Buttons for the Hillary Clinton Campaign
Homeshare Smart Locks
The 'Pin Genie' Front Door Locks are Engineered for Maximum Safety
Rapper-Curated Content
A$AP Rocky is on Board as a New MTV Partner to Offer His Creative Expertise
Compacted Classic Game Systems
The 'NES Classic Edition' comes with 30 Built-In Vintage Games
AR Jewelry Apps
The GRANI Jewelry App Lets Users Try on Jewelry Pieces in a Virtual Fitting Room
Politician-Inspired Tarot Cards
'Political Tarot' Features 22 Politicians as Tarot Card Figures
Anime Gaming Battery Cases
The Pokedex Battery Allows For Longer Pokemon GO Sessions
Supportive LGBTQ Campaigns
The Riot Life's #UniteForLove Tees Raise Money for LGBTQ Non-Profits
Anime-Themed Phone Chargers
This Pokeball Charger Helps Pokemon Go Players' Battery Life
Pain-Relieving Activewear
Python Performance's Contour Compression Collection has Built-In KT Tape
Anti-Social Media Hunger Campaigns
The Delete to Feed Campaign Encourages Offline Interactions
Feminist Political Pins
Madeleine Albright Wore a Hillary Glass Ceiling Pin at the DNC
Body-Positive Denim Ads
'OITNB' Actress Adrienne C. Moore Stars in the Latest 'Torrid' Jeans Ad
Pixelated Tennis Career Games
'Match Point' Explores Serena Williams' Victorious Tennis History
Music-Minded Rental Suites
Sonos and Rough Trade Joined to Create a Music-Geared Experience
Blended Anime Beverages
This Secret Menu Starbucks Frappuccino is Decorated Like a Pokeball
Plus-Size Anime Character Clothing
The Hello Kitty x Torrid Collection is Available in Plus Sizes
Responsive AR Environments
'Interactive Dynamic Video' Lets Virtual Characters Move Real Objects
Hosting Preparation Services
GuestReady Helps Airbnb Hosts Ready Homes for Short-Term Renters
Anime Chat Apps
'GoChat' is a Companion Messenger for Pokemon Go
Adult Anime Apps
The App Lets You Enjoy a Modified Version Of Pokemon For Adults
Open-Source Digital Games
The 'RouLED' Game Platform Offers Eight Different Games to Play
Educational VR Mapping Games
'Verne: The Himalayas' Teaches Kids About the Eastern Mountain Range
Political Cartoon Geofilters
The New Snapchat Hillary Geofilter Features Clinton and Sanders
Fast Food Social Apps
Taco Bell Explore is a Puzzle Game That's Activated with Keywords & Hashtags
Nostalgic Fast Food Infomercials
A & W Restaurants Advertised Its Root Beer Mugs with a Retro Ad
Photo-Edited Music Videos
Junk-E-Cat Has Produced a Prisma-Made Music Video
Anime Monster Emoticons
The Pokémoji Keyboard Turns Pokemon into Smartphone Emojis
Geeky Size-Inclusive Activewear
This Activewear Collection Lets Consumers Embrace Their Nerdy Side
Vibration-Sensing Door Alarms
Sabre's 'Door Handle Alarm' is an Affordable Way to Keep Homes Safe
Political Meme Generators
'MemeTheVote' Helps to Create Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Memes
Adventurer Photography Backpacks
The Miggo Agua Stormproof Sport Backpack 85 Keeps Gear Secure
Live-Streamed Political Conventions
Twitter Shares Republic and Democratic National Conventions
LGBT Teen Community Apps
LGBT+ Amino Helps People Find Others in Their Community on a Global Scale
Female Leader Coloring Books
The Coloring Pages for Adults Celebrate Hillary Clinton and Khaleesi
Global Anime Game Competions
The 2016 Pokemon World Championships are Closed to the Public
Anime Game Redesigns
Wendy Borg Restructures Pokemon Go to Be More Battery Efficient
Political Pizza Art
Pizza Express Created Pizza Faces That Resemble Hillary and Donald
AR Recycling Apps
The 'Recycling Starts Here' App Works In Conjunction With Marked Recycling Bins
Political Ice Pops
These 'Pixsweet' Ice Pops are Inspired by the U.S. Presidential Nominees
Video-Linked Chocolate Bars
Nestlé Teamed Up with Google for These YouTube Kit-Kat Wrappers
Homeless-Employing Hat Businesses
'The Cause Cap' Helps to Empower Homeless People
Cyber Monday Live Streams
'Walmart LIVE!' is a Live Stream of the Store's Cyber Monday Deals
Political Ice Cream Campaigns
Ben & Jerry's New Flavor is Being Promoted with a Hopeful Message
Humorous Burger Websites
Red Robin and The Onion are Releasing 'The Onion Ring'
Numerical Household Detergent Branding
This Collection Allows People to Clean in Steps
LGBT Streaming Apps
The Revry App Focuses On Streaming LGBT Multimedia Content
LGBT Motherhood Vlogs
Mommy Squared's 'Marriage After Kids' Video is Honest and Relatable
Political Anti-Homophobia Ads
Planting Peace's Billboard Shows Donald Trump and Ted Cruz Kissing
Social Storytelling Apps
The Yodel App Makes Snapchat-Style Stories a Group Effort
Nude Political Art Installations
Spencer Tunick Captures 100 Women in Nude Protest Against the RNC
Record-Breaking Robotic Dances
Hardware Company 'Ever Win' Made 1,007 Robots Dance Simulateously
Jelly Bath Water Experiments
Guava Juice's JELLO Bath Challenge Video Offers Gooey Fun
LGBT Kissing Marathons
Following a Homophobic Occurrence, a Couple Hosted a Statement-Making Event
Anime Monster Cocktails
These Boozy Beverages are Aesthetically Themed After Pokemon Characters
Connected Shared Housing Apps
The 'Ping' App Helps Airbnb Hosts Inform Guests about the House
8-Bit Disney Games
GOG.com has Partnered with Disney to Offer SNES Games Online
Maternal Gamer Vlogs
This Vlogging Site Carried Out a Study About Pokemon-Induced Labor
Anti-Discrimination Apparel Lines
Grindr's Varsity Collection Raises Funds for Anti-Discrimination
Comedic Fast Food Ads
This Burger King Mockumentary Chronicles a Whopper Blackout
Activist Music Videos
Project Everyone Remade a Spice Girls Music Video for Women's Rights
Student Collaboration Platforms
'Reach' Enables Student Productivity by Synthesizing Communication
Election Day Cookie Giveaways
Great American Cookies is Giving Away Free Cookies to Those Who Vote
Celebrity Mother Music Videos
Fergie's "M.I.L.F.$" Music Video Features a Ton of Celeb Moms
Online 8-Bit Consoles
The PICO-8 Console Creates New and Nostalgic 80s Video Games
Millennial-Targeted Halloween Ads
Svedka Series Pokes Fun at the Horrors of "First World Problems"
Trans-Positive Sports Collections
H & M Released a Video for Its 'Every Victory' Collection
Politically Charged Filters
The Hillary for AmericaCampaign Creates a 'Stop Trump' Snapchat Filter
Water Helmet Challenges
YouTubers Markiplier and Rosanna Pansino Created the 'Wet Head Challenge'
VR Racing Video Games
Driveclub VR Maintains Its Graphics in Virtual Reality
VR Basketball Video Games
'NBA 2KVR Experience' Features Immersive Mini-Games
Musical Parody Ad Campaigns
Xero's 'Chasing Payments' Uses Adele's Hit Song to Attract Clients
Barrier-Breaking Beer Ads
This Corona Ad Tells Mexican People to Not Let Walls Stand in Their Way
Personalized Voting Apps
The VoteWithMe App Helps Get Undecided Voters to the Polls
Politically Poignant Border Bridges
Legorreta's Cross Border Express Defies Political Posturing
Commemorative Video Games
This New Duke Nukem Release Celebrates a Classic 1990s Game
Concierge Rideshare Apps
UberLife Offers a More Rounded Travel Experience with Recommendations
Economy-Disrupting App Concepts
The Panda App is a Conceptual Project to Upset the Sharing Economy
Social Media Metronomes
Kmfa Created a Connected Ticking Device Set to the "Tempo of Austin"
Undercooked Chicken PSAs
This Campaign Warns Consumers About the Dangers of Undercooked Chicken
Flatulent Card Games
YouTubers 'Team Edge' Played the 'Gassy Gus Challenge'
Spiritual LGBT Singles Retreats
Men of Spirit Hosts an Annual Singles Weekend for Gay Men
Transgender Olympian Ads
The Nike 'Unlimited Courage' Ad Stars the First US Transgender Olympian
Adorable Anime Bookmarks
Pokemon Characters Dive into Books with the 'GO bookmarks' Series
Transgender Equality Campaigns
This Ad About Restroom Laws Was Made to Run During Trump's Speech
Updated Retro Sports Games
TecmoBowl.org Updated Tecmo Super Bowl for NES with 2016 NFL Rosters
Voter-Encouraging Music Stations
Rock the Vote's Election FM Shares Exclusive Music for Voters
Balloon-Popping Challenges
The Youtubers from Smosh Played a Game of 'Boom Boom Balloon'
Quick Guessing Challenges
YouTubers 'Team Edge' Competed in a Game of 'The 5 Second Rule'
Career Planning Excursions
Kareerly Connects Professionals With Those Doing Career Research
Outrageous 8-Bit Games
Old Spice's 'Youland' is a Quirky Facebook Video Game
Fast Food Parody Ads
Mcdonald's 'GRAVICHEESE Commercial Takes the 'Triple Cheeseburger' into Space
Political Makeup Transformations
Kandee Johnson Transformed Herself into Two Political Candidates
Bean-Balancing Game Challenges
This Game Review was Released on DisneyCarToys' YouTube Channel
Scientific Art Projects
The 'Red Silk of Fate' Creators Made a Mythological Material in Real Life
Finger-Chomping Games
YouTubers 'Team Edge' Competed in the 'Crocodile Attack' Challenge
Board Game Challenge Videos
YouTubers 'Team Edge' Faced Off in the 'Quelf Challenge'
Lipstick Celebrity Portraits
Artist Uses 'Lip Kit' to Draw Famous Kylie Jenner Instagram Posts
Anti-Police Brutality Campaigns
Campaign Zero's Star-Studded PSA Addresses US Racial Injustice
Rival Social Holiday Filters
Facebook Live is Launching Its First Filters in Time for Halloween
Comedic Music Video Parodies
BBC Radio 1 Puts a Humorous Spin on Kanye West's Famous
Disturbing Online Bullying PSAs
This Video Shows How Manipulative Tactics Can Be Enhanced Online
Cultural Political Campaigns
Hillary Clinton's 'Nuestra Historia' Ad Acknowledges Hispanic Voters
Political Convention Chatbots
Buzzfeed Created Buzzbot to Track News at the RNC
Elaborate Video Game Compositions
RYANUKO's 'Please Come To Me' was Made in 'Super Mario Paint'
Animal Rights Video Games
The Game is Based on The Smiths' 1985 Album 'Meat Is Murder'
Avant-Garde Music Videos
Yoko Ono's 'Catman' Expresses Ageless Female Solidarity
Presidential Candidate Games
'Hillary 2016' Lets Players Work at a Virtual Hillary Campaign HQ