2026 M&E trends: simplicity, authenticity, and the rise of experiences

: Global meme culture, such as the surreal "Brainrot" aesthetic and Indonesian-inspired AI characters, is driving millions of views through local remixing on YouTube Shorts and TikTok. Platform Usage & Habits

: A major shift toward "soothing" content has taken hold. Teens are watching long-form "day-in-the-life" videos that focus on ordinary tasks like cleaning, reading, or gardening, often set to low-fi music, as an antidote to digital burnout.