As we move into September, the heat is on—both literally and figuratively. Not only has the air conditioning been working overtime, but the team at Hootsling has also been hot on the heels of the coolest trends.

When it comes to knowing what’s hot and what’s not, the Hootsling team has got you covered!

Little Miss viral

As the world increasingly moves online, social media users are finding new and creative ways to express themselves. With the rise of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, users are constantly on the lookout for the latest trends and challenges to take part in.

If you've been spending any time on social media lately, you've probably seen the rise of cartoon characters with names such as "Little Miss always late" or "Little Mr never buys a round." These memes have certainly been taking the internet by storm, and it's no wonder why – they're hilarious! But where do they come from? Let's explore the origins of these viral sensations...

Original influencer

The latest trend sweeping the nation uses characters from a beloved book series by English author Roger Hargreaves, whose Mr. Men series is a timeless classic that has charmed children and adults for decades.

Now, a new generation is discovering Mr. Men on social media and falling in love with the lovable characters all over again. After their original publication in 1971, these fun books have sold over 120 million copies worldwide, making it one of the most successful children’s book series in history.

In fact, over the past decade, Roger Hargreaves became third on a list of all-time greatest UK bestsellers — topped only by Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Dan Brown, the author behind the Da Vinci Code. In a world of social media ‘influencers’, it's easy to forget the true pioneers who paved the way for the new upstarts!

Taking on a whole new personality

The Mr Men books are famous for having different characters to personify each personality trait, which children can easily understand and relate to. From Little Miss bossy (hello?) to Little Miss shy, these classics teach kids valuable lessons about the people in their lives.

After the author’s death in 1988, his son Adam continued penning the series, evolving his father’s characters to include new kids on the block such as Little Miss scary and Little Miss bad.

Children's literature has often been a playground where new ideas, thoughts and ideologies take shape and this has increasingly influenced social media content.

Authentic and true

The 50th anniversary of the original book series has heralded a whole new wave of creativity from social media users.

This time, our Mr Men and Little Miss favourites have abandoned political correctness and behaving in such a way that's more authentic and truer to themselves. A behaviour that's reflected on social networks where people are encouraged to speak more freely and where showing oneself in a more authentic light – complete with flaws – is becoming increasingly common. Here content creators regularly use humour to cope with trauma.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to coping with trauma, but for some people, humour can certainly be a helpful tool. By poking fun at their own toxic traits or difficult situations from the past, creators generate content that provides hours of entertainment. This is certainly the case with the "Mr. Men and Little Miss" posts we're all growing to love.

The ploy certainly works with many posts going viral with creators quick to share intimate aspects of their lives and poking fun at their situations. "Little Miss cries herself to sleep every night," "Little Miss house is a mess because she's depressed and "Little Miss stressed and sad thinking about her future every night" being classic examples.

Little Miss chief cook and bottle washer

Given the trend has hit nearly every social media app inexistence, it's unlikely to go away anytime soon. And while 'Little Miss chief cook and bottle-washer' may be who I am right now, I don't want this to be my lasting legacy — not when there are so many opportunities to create exciting content out there!

One thing’s for sure, it's been a crazy few years, full of highs and lows. The world seems to be in a constant state of chaos right now, and it can be tough trying to keep up with it all. Thankfully, social media users have found some light relief in fun challenges and relatable memes. Creators have stepped up to the plate, providing content that can help people use humour as a coping mechanism. Some of these trends have hit virality and provided much-needed distraction from all the negativity in the world right now.

KazD - Content Marketer in Training