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 "6 7," we experienced especially unhinged virality.
Below, check out the lore for 10 of the best viral moments of 2025 to help you get up to speed on all things internet culture.
Here are our ten picks for the top 10 best viral moments of 2025.
10.#GhibliMe AI Photos
Like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge before it, the Ghibli Me photo trend went viral thanks to its participatory appeal. The AI-powered filter let users 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 clearest sign the trend had peaked? Miyazaki himself weighed in on AI-generated art.. He called the ethics behind AI media "an insult to life itself." His quote went viral, too. - Brent Ervin-Eickhoff
9.Marcus the Worm VRChat Memes
Occasionally, a niche gaming meme breaks through to the mainstream. World of Warcraft's Leeroy Jenkins did it first, but 2025 gave us Marcus the Worm—a surreal VRChat character created by streamer Jouffa and popularized by Roflgator, whose TikToks of the tan, bipedal worm racked up millions of views.
Marcus's appeal lies in his bizarre appearance, absurd "Jimbo James" rants, and oddball lore. After months of slow growth, the character hit critical mass. One Instagrammer valued Marcus at $5 million, while Etsy is flooded with Marcus calendars, slippers, shirts, and crocheted plushies. - Brent Ervin-Eickhoff
8.Aura Farming Kid
The aura farming dance resurged in 2025 thanks to Rayyan Arkan Dikha, aka the "Aura Farming Kid." A clip of Dikha dancing on a boat during a traditional race went viral on TikTok and Instagram, with celebrities like Travis Kelce joining in.
The trend peaked when Dikha was invited to perform on stage with Melly Mike, the rapper behind "Young Black & Rich"—the song featured in countless aura-farming videos. - Brent Ervin-Eickhoff
7.Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show
Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX halftime show delivered on the hype. Fresh off his Drake feud, K. Dot transformed the performance into a cultural moment, blending powerful symbolism—Samuel L. Jackson as "Uncle Sam," dancers forming an American flag—with undeniable showmanship. So much so that the show generated countless memess, such as the "Say Drake" walk and the "Not Like Us" shuffle that went diamond on TikTok.
The numbers speak for themselves: with 133.5 million live viewers, it's the most-watched halftime show ever, surpassing even Michael Jackson's 1993 performance. Months later, the YouTube upload has 151 million views, with fans still celebrating the epic spectacle. -Brent Ervin-Eickhoff
6.Baby Head JD Vance
The Trump Era has produced countless viral memes, but Baby Head JD Vance stands out. The chubby-cheeked caricature of the vice president, originated in late 2024 but exploded after Vance demanded Ukrainian President Zelensky thank the U.S. for its support during a contentious February 2025 meeting.
What's weird about the meme is that it has rare bipartisan appeal. The left uses it to mock Vance's demands, while the right embraces it ironically as a badge of online culture. In recent days, the meme has been used by both sides to ridicule the Trump administration for its handling of the contentious Jeffrey Epstein files. Now, like all great Photoshop memes, it's taken on a life of its own. -Brent Ervin-Eickhoff
5.Katy Perry Goes to Space
Sometimes a moment goes viral purely for cringe. Case in point: the star-studdenBlue Origin space trip. At a time when inflation has everyday people struggling with groceries and bills, a celebrity joyride to space was ripe for ridicule.
But it wasn't just the trip itself—it was Katy Perry's over-the-top response. She kissed the ground upon returning and called it life-changing, sparking debate about celebrity privilege and the economic and environmental costs of space tourism.
The social media account for Wendy's captured the public mood with a pointed tweet: "Can we send her back?" -Brent Ervin-Eickhoff
4.The Sydney Sweeney Jeans/Genes Debate
The Sydney Sweeney "great jeans/great genes" debate nearly broke the internet, sparking fierce arguments about white supremacy, eugenics, and cancel culture. The discourse became so chaotic that it was hard to tell who stood where or what damage control could have satisfied critics.
Meanwhile, Sweeney's fans defended the Euphoria actor's decision to take the American Eagle campaign, noting that even famous actors actually earn very little.
-Brent Ervin-Eickhoff
3.Coldplay Kiss Cam
The most viral moments don't just spark conversation—they often become part of our vocabulary. Coldplay's infamous kiss cam delivered on both fronts. During a July 2025 concert, the camera captured a dancing couple who quickly separated and hid their faces. Chris Martin quipped from the stage: "Either they're having an affair or they're very shy." It was the former.
Internet sleuths quickly identified the couple, and the fallout led to CEO Andy Byron's resignation—making it arguably Coldplay's most impactful moment since 2008's "Viva la Vida."
-Brent Ervin-Eickhoff
2.“6 7”
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 that's been tied to NBA player LaMelo Ball and spawned its own hand gesture. The phrase reached its peak when Dictionary.com named it Word of the Year, cementing its mainstream status.
Its nonsensical nature and generational appeal give it real staying power—proof that the best memes don't need to make sense to cause a cultural shift.
1.Labubu
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 once BLACKPINK's Lisa was spotted wearing a Labubu keychain in 2024. From there, they were everywhere.
The Labubu craze echoes other collectible cultural phenomena, like Beanie Babies and Tamagotchi. Still, the perfect storm of celebrity clout, blindbox scarcity, and TikTok unboxing videos made it one of the year's most viral moments. Long lines at Pop Marts around the world, counterfeit fakes ("Lafufus"), a massive presence at Comic Con, and an upcoming Labubu movie from Sony illustrate just how much the Labubu craze has been a defining part of 2025. Still think they're ugly? You just need to find the Labubu for you, bubu. -Brent Ervin-Eickhoff