It seems as though annually, the internet promotes a different trending animal to steal viewers’ hearts. These cute and cuddly creatures take over people’s social media feeds, whether through a video of them eating or playing with friends. Here is a list of some of the most recent favored animals, starting from 2019.
2019 – Turtles
The summer of 2019 saw the rise of the “VSCO girls” trend. (For those who don’t remember, VSCO was a popular aesthetic consisting of oversized clothing, scrunchies, and an overall relaxed summer vibe). One key component of being “VSCO” was owning a metal straw, which was meant to help save the turtles. As the aesthetic continued to gain traction, so did the want to save the turtles. Hundreds of people across various platforms would show themselves refusing to use plastic straws to help save sea life. A tag was even created (#savetheturtles) to promote awareness. Although this aesthetic only lasted for a summer, the movement to save the turtles made a large impact on sea life.
2020 – Frogs
The mandated quarantine allowed people to begin exploring various interests and hobbies, including aesthetics. One popular aesthetic during this time was dubbed “cottage core”. This aesthetic revolved around the want to live simple lives in the woods with oneself and nature. Frogs were often associated with this aesthetic, being deemed adorable and fitting in perfectly. The frogs were eventually correlated with mushrooms, triggering a mass-production of differing products to feature this concept. Almost every clothing brand offered at least one item of clothing containing a mushroom and frog on it, keeping in line with the latest trends.
2021-2022 – Capybaras
The hit movie Encanto was released in theaters in November of 2021. The movie displayed a wide diversity of animals, one of them being a capybara. While the capybara played a small role in the movie, its 15 seconds of fame would go on to last the rest of the year. The funny 10-second clip from the Disney film had gained attraction to this charming creature. Soon, all of TikTok was blowing up with videos of capybaras showcasing their day-to-day lives. The audio “capybara capybara,” would often be played in the background as people found themselves obsessing over the amusing species.
2023 – Wolves
During the year 2023, social media emphasized making wolves popular, following the alpha wolf meme. Beginning with those jokingly referring to themselves as alpha wolves, it eventually became a symbol of dominance. The song I’m so Sick by Flyleaf, produced in 2009, made a comeback and was often featured with the wolves. The line from the song, “you tremble at the sight,” would be played as people began to show off their “true alpha selves” proving to be the leader of their pack.
2024 – Moodeng
In a matter of weeks, a baby hippopotamus stole the hearts of thousands globally. This creature is a baby hippo named Moodeng who lives in Thailand. She blew up back in September, going viral for her cuteness; the humor of the video begins as we see her trying to bite people. Ever since then, the zoo where she lives has been flooded by visitors dying to meet and see this social media sensation. The adorable hippo has not done anything to earn the love of these people, simply eating her food in peace as more and more people fight to visit her. There are now thousands of videos posted, creating edits and spreading their love for the baby hippo.
