Jumping Dolphins and Sad Texts.

In the fast-paced world of social media, viral trends come and go in the blink of an eye. The latest sensation? Jumping dolphins in upbeat TikToks, paired with melancholic or self-deprecating text. While this visual meme has been floating around for a while, it really took off when the 2017 song “Symphony” by Zara Larsson and Clean Bandit went viral on TikTok.

Self-deprecating humor!

The “Euphoric Dolphins” trend is a clever mix of cheerful, lighthearted images of dolphins jumping, paired with somber or self-critical texts like “My boyfriend’s cheating on me” or “I’m depressed.” This apparent contrast hits the sweet spot of the ironic, self-aware humor Gen Z loves. Dolphin visuals had been circulating online for a while, but when users paired them with Larsson’s “Symphony,” the trend truly exploded. Zara Larsson herself hopped on the bandwagon!

She posted TikToks in the same format and even adjusted her concert visuals to match — her fans showed up en masse with inflatable dolphins. Big brands like Hilton also seized the opportunity and joined in on the trend, further boosting visibility.

Key to success.

What can we learn from this? In the ever-changing landscape of social media, staying relevant is key. That’s achieved by engaging with viral content — but only when it’s done authentically. Gen Z values humor and authenticity, and those are exactly the elements that make this trend so successful. Brands that cleverly tap into this dynamic not only increase engagement but also stay top-of-mind with younger audiences.