We all spend too much time online. At some point, it becomes less of a habit and more of a constant state of craving the quick dopamine hit that each scroll brings. The for-you-page truly never ends, and most of us swipe through it without intention, jumping from one headline or viral video to the next until the whole day’s been scrolled away. This article isn’t a grand solution to that problem, but it’s a break. You are still online, reading this on the Legal Pad website, but this is still far better than doomscrolling. Here’s a short summary of what the internet has been up to lately, because a quick five-minute read is far better than hours of doomscrolling.
The Coldplay Couple
In June and July, one of the most visible storylines on TikTok was a relationship dubbed “The Coldplay Couple.” A crowd-cam clip captured what appeared to be a romantic moment between a couple—that is until they realized they were on the big screen. The man quickly attempted to escape the camera’s gaze by hiding behind a pane of glass, while the woman ducked in the opposite direction. Within days, netizens identified the man as a tech company CEO and the woman as the same company’s HR manager. Speculation turned to confirmation as both deactivated their social media accounts and the man’s wife reportedly posted about the affair online. The clip, barely ten seconds long, became a scandal with international reach, another reminder of how fast a single moment can spark a crowdsourced investigation when cameras and the internet are involved.
Love Island
Love Island aired another season, and though the show’s structure hasn’t changed, the internet response continues to evolve. The drama inside the villa, switching couples, passive-aggression, and predictable betrayals, were secondary to the conversation happening around the show. Viewers not only watched, but clipped scenes, made memes, and created reaction videos within hours of each episode airing. A Roblox reiteration of the show was even made, so now you can cheat on your talking stage too! A contestant’s offhand comment about not trusting men who use 3-in-1 body wash became one of the show’s most viral moments. It’s proof that Love Island is no longer about outcomes and forming relationships, but moments that’ll surely do well on TikTok.
Kop Demon Hunters: A Netflix Original
Netflix’s new feature KPop Demon Hunters (not a group, a movie) disrupted movie charts worldwide. It debuted atop Netflix’s top-10 most watched daily list in over 90 countries, and logged over 147 million hours watched in its first week of airing—surpassing Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on their global benchmark. The film invited a massive wave of dance covers, ships, Ao3 fanfics, and TikTok edits. Merchandise lines sold out on preorder. A sequel series is already greenlit for 2027, and music producers are talking soundtrack spin-offs, even though the existing soundtrack is just as dominant as the movie. Nine songs landed on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Your Idol” and “Golden” soaring to No. 1 and No. 2 worldwide. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, the highest for a 2025 soundtrack.
Squid Game Season 3: The Final Game?
On the topic of Netflix, the third and final season of Squid Game dropped on June 27, 2025. Netflix confirmed it’s a six-episode season centered on Gi-hun’s failed rebellion and moral descent, now battling VIPs gambling on his and his fellow players’ lives. It became Netflix’s biggest television launch of all time, with over 60 million account views and over 368 million hours streamed in the first 72 hours following its release. Returning stars Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun deliver the emotional finale to a series that was in the making for a decade. Fans around the world scrambled to screen record moments of the show, log into their TikTok editing accounts, and get to work on those sad edits. There’s no doubt that they have all the necessary source material to make these gut-wrenching edits with the amount of deaths this season.
Dubai Chocolate & Labubus: Consumerism at its Worst
Last month, seemingly harmless toys and treats transformed into symbols of over-consumption. Labubu, a collectible plush, was recalled in some countries for choking hazards, yet the price skyrocketed on resale markets. Customs delays and the energy footprint of small-batch items didn’t stop bidding wars from launching them to the #1 toy in trend charts across many countries, prompting criticism that it exemplified the horrible effects of consumerism. Dubai chocolate also became a worldwide sensation, becoming mass-produced for everyone to try. People lined up to buy overpriced, sparkly candy bars packaged like jewelry, only for some to fail German safety standards amid concerns about contaminants.
AI-Generated Videos Are Dominating the FYP
Increasingly, the viral videos you scroll past may not feature any human creator at all. A case study by Creatify and Imalent, both AI companies, across TikTok and Facebook shows that AI-generated ads get up to 8 times more organic views, 4 times more likes, and 7 times more saves than human-made content. On Instagram, a wave of AI-generated influencer accounts complete with fake faces, curated personalities, and voices has plagued Reels. This shift in what content the algorithm favors is reportedly costing real creators engagement and income. As of early 2025, traffic from bots and AI-driven accounts surpassed human-generated traffic on major streaming and video platforms, raising alarm about the diminishing space for genuine human expression.
In the end, this isn’t just meme fodder; it’s a reminder that virality doesn’t equal value. Whether it’s a moment in the spotlight, an overpriced plush, or an AI-generated ASMR video, we’re paying attention because our brain craves the short clips and quick dopamine hits, not because it’s enriching. Obviously reading this article isn’t the most enriching thing either, but if the latest trends demand your attention, remember: their pull isn’t and never will be stronger than your willpower to just put the phone down.
