HBO Max’s Euphoria Season 2 Takes Over the Gen Z Social Space
The second season of HBO's hit show Euphoria has taken the Gen Z social media landscape by storm. With each week's episode release comes a slew of memes, trending TikTok sounds, TikTok videos and more. It is no question that Euphoria has made its mark on Gen Z internet culture.
The raw-nature of the show is most likely what attracts a large Gen Z audience, but I think that the influence this show has had on internet culture is worth looking into. The show is getting crazy amounts of organic exposure across various social media channels through social media users, and in this blog article I will outline the extent of it.
Gen Z 🤝 Euphoria Twitter Memes
I remember the days when the Kardashians used to live tweet every time a new episode would premiere, but those tweets are nothing compared to the premiere entertainment being provided after each Euphoria episode premieres. Search #Euphoria and #EuphoriaHBO on Twitter, and you will be greeted with a bunch of GENIUS Euphoria memes. Check out some of my favorite below that had me LITERALLY laughing out loud.
A TikTok Takeover
TikTok is Gen Z’s playground, so it makes sense that Euphoria has been big-time trending on the app ever since season 2 began. From TikTok users reviewing each episode to inspiring trends, Euphoria has taken over TikTok.
Lines Become Trending Sounds
HBO Max posted some of the scenes from the episodes on their TikTok account and left it to Gen Z to use the sounds for their content.
The dialogue between two of the characters, Fez and Cal Jacobs, became a trending TikTok sound used by creators and users alike to talk about something that confuses them.
Cassie’s monologue in the bathroom of her imagining coming clean to Maddy about being with Nate has become a viral sound on TikTok that users use to talk about something that they don’t care they are being judged for.
A TikTok User Committed to Satirically Recreating Each Episode
TikTok user @rachhlauren re-created the first episode of the second season in a satirical fashion with a group of friends and it went viral. Now, TikTok users have commented asking if she can do it for every episode, and she has gained a following from doing so.
Brands Joining the Euphoria Bandwagon
Recently, more and more brands have been taking advantage of pop culture trends and attempt to join the conversation in hopes of swooning their Gen Z audience. I will say time and time again that Gen Z is not the easiest to market to. This generation values authenticity and hates when brands are trying too hard. That being said, some brands took the risk and made content surrounding Euphoria.
Steve Madden gets my stamp of approval on these Instagram story posts depicting which shoes each character would wear - only because they are so on point! Click through to check it out.
Key Takeaway
If I have learned anything from watching Euphoria take over social is that social media can serve as a place to extend the story-telling beyond the cinematic screen. Social media has also allowed the viewer to have a place in the story, and I think that’s beautiful.
I also want to emphasize the importance of tv/movie brands like HBO Max making sure that their audience has the ability to be part of the story by having a TikTok presence of their own and adding clips from the show so that users can use the sound to create their own content.
