From stay-at-home dance challenges to challenges at home we can all relate to, quarantine social media trends offer no shortage of distractions (and commiseration) to help you get through self-isolation.
Watch many movies and TV shows about conquering aliens and all-powerful supernatural entities and one theme emerges as a common thread: the resilience of the human race. Apparently we are the cockroaches of the galaxy. One of the many ways that we have elected to demonstrate this resilience during this global pandemic is with humor. Right from the beginning, funny memes and videos have intermingled with the panic about the virus’ spread and the dearth of soap and hand sanitizer.
Along with the Tiny Desk Home concerts and Instagram live DJ sessions, people have been finding ways to entertain themselves and connect with others. Here are a few quarantine social media trends I found amusing.
TikTok dance challenges
If they weren’t before, TikTok dance challenges are an insanely hot trend now that everyone has a bunch of extra time on their hands. You’ve probably seen videos popping up all over social media in the last few weeks. And everyone from your cousin to your favorite celebrity has recreated the challenge. There’s the #SavageChallenge, #FlipTheSwitch, #JLoChallenge, #HitEveryBeat, and more. Even if you might never hit the “publish” button on your piece of performance art, teaching yourself these complicated routines is a great way to pass the time.
@keke.janajahNEW DANCE ALERT! 🚨 if u use my dance tag me so i can see🤗 @theestallion ##writethelyrics ##PlayWithLife ##foyou ##fyp ##foryoupage ##newdance ##savage♬ Savage - Megan Thee Stallion
Mood because @JLo posted my dance cover on her IG stories 😍 #JLo #JenniferLopez #JLoTikTokChallenge pic.twitter.com/juCuql9Tz9
— K ∆ R E L (@callmekarel) February 10, 2020
View this post on Instagram
I’ve been getting a kick out of reading tweets by Millennials and Gen Xers about the high energy of these dance challenges and new dance moves in general, compared to, say, the Soulja Boy “Crank That” from 2007. Said Millennials have now infiltrated TikTok with some of their old favorites. Those were simpler times.
@aaron_dodgeWhere my Millenials at? ##over30 ##dance ##crankthat ##college♬ original sound - bmotheprince
@yogirlgloSunday Funday Vibes! ##shecandoit ##checkthisout ##fyp ##foryou ##viral ##trend ##dougie ##teachmehowtodougie♬ Teach Me How To Dougie - Cali Swag District
@iam_beatrizmichelle##stankyleg ##snapyofingers ##walkitout ##souljaboychallenge ##souljaboy ##jerk ##catdaddy ##dance ##fyp ##xyzbca ❤️♬ Early 2000s Dance Challenge - kingdavid8888
Couples challenge
On the Twitter front, married couples were the most entertaining at the beginning of the lockdown, with spouses taking to the platform to air their grievances about disturbing behavior their significant others were displaying. The question “who did I marry?” has been on many lips with people discovering the office side of their better halves.
A funny thing about quarantining is hearing your partner in full work mode for the first time. Like, I’m married to a “let’s circle back” guy — who knew?
— Laura Norkin (@inLaurasWords) March 19, 2020
Hearing my wife in meetings--especially with subordinates--and it dawns on me that she uses personnel management techniques on me all the time.
— Clancy, Use the Remote (@RemoteClancy) March 19, 2020
It turns out that wanting to be with someone for the rest of your life doesn’t mean you literally want to spend every second with them. Without a break, tempers rise and things eventually reach a tipping point.
This pic.twitter.com/WZN3mRWODq
— Life is short LIVE IT Smith&Co ⚖ ™ (@Justica4all) April 5, 2020
Wife: If we're both going to be stuck in the house together for the next month, you really need to stop doing that.
Me: Stop doing what?
Wife [gesturing to me, in general]: that.
— Rodney Lacroix (@RodLacroix) April 2, 2020
My husband wants to know why our microwave is suddenly filthy like the break room microwave back at his office. I only see one common denominator here.
— Ousa ᴹᵉᵈᵘˢᵃ (@OusaMedousa) April 20, 2020
Feeding the beast, er, family
In the other corner, many parents are weeping because their children who are now home 24/7 have taken to eating them house and home. Imagine trying to be proactive by cooking a week’s worth of food only to have the fruit of your loins gobble it all up in three days. How is that fair?
11yo ate nearly an entire loaf of italian bread that my husband got yesterday in our weekly shopping trip.
In case anyone wonders why bread baking is actually a legit survival skill over here.
— Chaos Chaplain (@suesswassersee) April 14, 2020
This 6ft tall child in my house ate a box of cereal for breakfast. The whole box. Then ate the fruit. He needs prayer & a new home
— ❄Mikki Kendall❄ (@Karnythia) April 14, 2020
My TINY 14 year old daughter eats as much as my grown ass 43 year old man. IDGI!!!
— Teddy Riley helped Carole Baskin kill her huband (@cindasmommy) April 19, 2020
Homeschooling is not for everyone
The task of homeschooling has also been a major struggle for most, and many parents are realizing just how valuable teachers are and just how much patience it takes to be one.
Anyone working from home with kids still think teachers are paid appropriately? pic.twitter.com/vqA0fsRp9s
— James DeVaney (@DeVaneyGoBlue) March 17, 2020
The forced working from home week has had great benefits such as more quality times with my kids... pic.twitter.com/Ml5sC4QKRh
— François Tardif (@FtardifUofG) March 20, 2020
My kid is going to fail 6th grade English...I mean I'm going to fail 6th grade English.
— MississippiBlues (@jpmommawilliams) April 3, 2020
Home art challenge
The Getty Museum tried to keep people engaged and help with keeping boredom at bay by challenging them to recreate famous works of art at home.
We challenge you to recreate a work of art with objects (and people) in your home.
🥇 Choose your favorite artwork
🥈 Find three things lying around your house⠀
🥉 Recreate the artwork with those items
And share with us. pic.twitter.com/9BNq35HY2V
— Getty (@GettyMuseum) March 25, 2020
There have been some pretty creative responses from folks involving pets, children, and all manner of household items. My favorite is “Dog With(out) a Pearl Earring” by Blair Braverman of BraverMountain Mushing, featuring Flame, one of the more popular sled dogs.
Here is Dog With(out) a Pearl Earring pic.twitter.com/Sti43F3c9v
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) April 4, 2020
There are also these masterpieces.
Meanwhile, in Iceland... pic.twitter.com/KKwbcIv1is
— RustyBertrand (@RustyBertrand) March 28, 2020
Yeah my family’s doing great in isolation thanks for checking in. Nothing strange happening here at all. #gettymuseumchallenge @GettyMuseum pic.twitter.com/9x48gWsbuJ
— Maggie Ginoza (@MaggieGinoza) April 4, 2020
Quarantine hashtags
Hashtags have become another way to engage and share important information on social media platforms. #quarantinepup gives you an opportunity to show off your fur babies, #ImDoingFineBecause helps you see the brighter side of things, #quarantineinfivewords sometimes brings us the nihilistic Millennial humor we have come to know and love, and tags like #stayhome are a reminder of how important it is to stay safe right now.
Show me your #quarantinepup 🥺❤️🙏🐕 🐶
Here are my rescues named Toby & Lolo #AdoptDontShop pic.twitter.com/dM518Ws6Mp
— Jennifer Chung ✨✌️ (@JenniferJChung) April 3, 2020
And do your best. #stayhome pic.twitter.com/PQicIA4nIm
— 𝑳𝒖𝒃𝒂 𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒕𝒖𝒌 (@LubaMushtuk) April 19, 2020
It's time for a giveaway!
All you have to do is comment below and tell us what quarantine social media trends, memes, and challenges you've found entertaining during this time, or if you have any funny stories about working from home!
The first 25 commenters will receive a coupon code for a free Mediheal N.M.F Intensive Hydrating Mask (10ea)* in your next order!
*U.S. orders only.
Loading...