today's trends: science fairs and granny core?

PowerPoint night walked so at-home science fairs could run. the emergence of PowerPoint nights started as a goofy party idea- everyone brings a PowerPoint on a silly, niche topic. think: “celebrity lookalikes” or “my friends as memes.”

the trend caught fire- something about a structured, creative, IRL communal activity struck a chord in our little chronically online hearts.

fast forward, and somehow PowerPoint nights have evolved to us hosting science fairs in our living rooms and spelling bees in our kitchens.

…yeah, I can’t make this up.

this new wave of social nostalgia is less about reliving school and more about that same, fuzzy, creative, IRL feeling PPTs gave us a few years ago. creators (and their friends) are building full-blown school day experiences for the plot: paper mâché volcanoes, fake report cards, themed snacks, the whole thing.

sooo...what’s happening here?

my fav social trend to-date.

nostalgia is having a moment.

we’re seeing it everywhere:

👉 “granny-core” content is on the rise (think: baking, knitting, gardening).

👉 the return of flip phones and digital cameras is booming

👉 we’re revisiting aesthetic diary vlogs that feel like scrapbooks from 2003.

and now the classroom is the latest muse.

it’s not really about school. it’s about structure, creativity, and community- three things the internet kind of burned out of us. spelling bees and science fairs feel like rebellion against the infinite scroll. they’re structured, collaborative, and real-life silly.

the undertone of all of this? a bigger shift is happening.

✨ the internet is pushing us offline. ✨

Pinterest searches for “digital detox” are up 72%.

“Digital detox vision boards” are up 273% this summer.

73% of Gen Z say they feel digitally exhausted.

81% of them wish they could unplug more often.

this isn’t a one-off moment- it’s a movement.

every science fair and spelling bee is part of something bigger: a collective craving to disconnect without disappearing.

to play. to pause. to be present.

I’m calling it now: digital detox is future of social.

prepare to see content online pushing you offline. and honestly? I’m here for it. 

gonna go touch some grass (and maybe host a science fair)

xx

-Mackenzie @ the cohort