Trending Sounds on TikTok and Instagram
In the expansive world of social media, audio has taken on a life of its own.
As heavy rain wreaks havoc on Burning Man 2023, transforming the iconic festival into a muddy quagmire, the internet has responded with an outpouring of unsympathetic humor.
The event, held annually in the remote Nevada desert at Black Rock City, has left more than 70,000 attendees stranded in the dry lake bed of the Black Rock Desert due to the closure of almost all festival entrances and exits.
Some individuals have resorted to leaving the festival site on foot.
With organizers urging attendees to shelter in place and conserve essential resources like food, water, and fuel, storms that began on Friday have continued unabated through the weekend, unleashing months' worth of rain in a matter of days.
Tragically, at least one death has been reported by the Pershing County, Nevada, Sheriff’s Office.
The festival's unexpected tribulations quickly became a top trending topic on social media platforms, with many expressing disdain for those who could afford to spend thousands of dollars for a week in the desert.
One viral post on the platform formerly known as Twitter read, "Burning Man is the perfect example of how many rich white people recreationally manufacture hardship because they are immune from it systematically."
Another post questioned, "You're laughing? Influencers at Burning Man are unable to fulfill sponsored content agreements, and you're laughing?"
Social media consultant Lia Haberman suggests that much of this humor stems from the perception that attendees are privileged and entitled individuals. She notes, "These are incredibly wealthy people who are able to go sit up in the desert for a week, have fun and party, and then go back to their very comfortable lives. So the idea that they’ve been inconvenienced is, in some way, sort of humorous."
While the situation, as of now, has led to online jests, Haberman highlights that if more injuries or deaths were to surface, the tone could quickly shift depending on the gravity of the situation.
On TikTok, some festivalgoers have documented their experiences, highlighting the community's resilience and support amid the turmoil.
However, others are using the situation as an opportunity to critique the ethics of hosting an event like Burning Man, particularly after police removed climate protesters blocking the festival's entrance last week.
As memes and commentary continue to circulate on platforms like Instagram, it's evident that the internet's response to adversity, even in the face of a festival turned muddy quagmire, takes on various forms, from dark humor to social commentary.
This phenomenon is reminiscent of the internet's penchant for morbid jokes in times of tragedy, as some experts have noted.
In the expansive world of social media, audio has taken on a life of its own.
Brands are constantly under the social media microscope. Whether you're directly tagged or not, conversations about your brand persist.
For businesses just starting out, it can be extremely overwhelming to know what to post on TikTok. The platform is new and constantly changing, so if...