UMM 2025: A Year Gone In A Flash.
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And just like that, it seems we turn our out-of-office on, start proposing “circling back” in January, and say goodbye to another year.
From every billionaire taking a space trip to an infamous Coldplay concert cheating slip, 2025 was a year of pop culture circuses, technological acceleration, and total political absurdity.
Let’s recap UMM’s most memorable (and often unbelievable) moments of the year.
1. The Summer We All Turned Pretty… Obsessed With Teenage Drama.
The third (and final) season of the ever-addictive drama saw millennials and Gen Z grown-ups unite to revert to their teenage selves, as they pined and plotted over who deserves the heart of our dearly beloved Isabel Conklin.
@kristinagrixti Girlies screaming for Belly and Conrad finally being together!!!😮💨🫶🏻 #tsitp #thesummeriturnedpretty #conradfisher #belly #fyp ♬ tsitp intro – ashyrami
The UMM office—following the lead of the entire TikTok FYP—proudly pledged our unwavering allegiance to Team Conrad. Each week, we moaned and moped about Belly’s inability to clearly choose the correct Fisher brother (as we secretly wished she never did, so it would never end).
@cbgbx @the summer i turned pretty @Jenny Han Dad thinks maybe you should sent Connie baby to Australia… what do you guys think? #dadsoftiktok #thesummeriturnedpretty #teamconrad #trending #dad ♬ original sound – camryn
Long live Bonrad. ✊
2. Wicked Changed Our Brain Chemistry: For Good.
The highly anticipated sequel delivered more than just a blockbuster; it was a monsoon of memes and soundbites that kept us entertained far beyond the credit scenes. Despite securing over 400 brand partnerships, we were more captivated by the entrancing enigma that was “the concept of” and Michelle Yeoh’s revelation-turned-catchphrase “Madam Morrible turn it around Wicked Witch.
@anotherdisneypage Made in honour of Wicked: For Good 😉💕 #elphaba #arianagrande #wicked #viral #fyp ♬ Chopin’s Nocturne No. 2 Original Song(813987) – East Valley Music
We’ll be sad to see the series wrap up, but even sadder to wave goodbye to the never-ending meme machine that was the Wicked press tours.
@average.flop “MM flipped is the Wicked Witch” 😭😭😖😅😍😈😝 #wicked #floptok #relateable #fyp #repost ♬ original sound – megaflop😻
3. AI Sloppily Took Over
Ahhhh! The panic-inducing boogeyman of 2025. AI was the name on everyone’s lips and the attentive responder at all of our fingertips. With AI influencing everything from the Pope’s choice of name to the advancement of deepfakes, the terrifying trajectory has exploded, seemingly reaching further and further out of our grasp.
However, 2025 also marked the year of the AI re-correct. The internet united in backlash against lazy, error-filled, shoddily made content, affectionately coining the descriptive moniker “AI Slop,” which eventually went on to be crowned Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of the Year.
@_caileng Here’s the template of the baby reaction #fryingbabymeme #baby #meme #aibaby ♬ original sound – Yuwes – Buhok sa tewup
We saw AI content hilariously laughed out—and in some cases, actually thrown out due to backlash. From a McDonald’s ad in the Netherlands to much closer to home for UMM in our local Redfern Station, people aren’t happy to see computers and clankers take full reign on creativity.
@thetodayshow The ‘AI slop’ has raised some eyebrows, with Transport NSW saying the mural will be removed. #9Today #sydney #AIslop ♬ original sound – The Today Show
Something is telling us this story won’t be wrapping up anytime soon.
4. Winner Winner Chicken Jockey
Not so long ago (though it already feels like eons), our feeds were overtaken by a battle cry no one saw coming: “Chicken Jockey!”
@exposed.cut.copper.slab bro who opened fire? ref DO something they’re sliming the whole audience 💔😭 #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #exposedcutcopperslab #chickenjockey #minecraft #minecraftmovie #aminecraftmovie #minecraftmemes #minecraftmeme ♬ original sound – exposed cut copper slab
Shrieking like an unhinged war call, those two words from Jack Black unleashed chaos. Popcorn flew. A live chicken took flight. Cinemas descended into glorious anarchy. It was the kind of spectacle you had to see to believe.
@allanthedoll Now clean it up #chickenjockey #minecraft #minecraftmovie ♬ original sound – Allan
While we never heard the call of the chicken jockey siren, it’s reassuring to know people are still turning up at their local cinema… I guess?
5. Nothing Beats a Jet2holiday
Getting slapped by a fish. The brick wall sights of Galway. Mice scurrying around suitcases. We were all glued to the holiday fail videos taking over TikTok.
@wsggyumii ang tawa ko #thoughts #makeitvirаl ♬ Jet2 Advert – ✈️A7-BBH | MAN 🇬🇧
Soundtracked by Jess Glynne’s unmistakable vocals and a signature voiceover, the airline jingle became a symbol of everyone’s mishaps, faux pas and travel chaos.
The airline ended up confirming that the accidental brand campaign, which amassed over 80 billion global views across social platforms, was actually instrumental in driving a record surge in passengers and pushing revenue to an all-time high.
@bben9450 Appreciating those views😮💨 #jet2holidays #fyp #travel #galway #ireland ♬ Jet2 Advert – ✈️A7-BBH | MAN 🇬🇧
I guess nothing truly beats a Jet2holiday.
6. 7
While the year was 25, there were two numbers that really defined it. Still blissfully unaware of 67’s significance? Consider yourself lucky. Please do yourself a favour and Google it. You won’t be disappointed.
@iyaadarshaq.rblxOn youTube:MY OVERPOWERED AAU TEAM HAS FINALLY RETURNED #67 #sixtyseven #sixseven #fyp #viral♬ original sound – ️Serial Designation N! – usernothere
It would be lame for us to explain the trend, but basically, you either get it or you don’t. Gen Alpha gets it; the rest of us are officially out of the loop.
@fallontonight @Kim Kardashian can bring any trend back. #FallonTonight #TonightShow #KimKardashian #SKIMS #JimmyFallon ♬ original sound – FallonTonight
7. UMM Pushed Brands Beyond. Duh.
This year was busy in the way good years often are: full, fast, and at times a little frantic. Campaigns, projects, workshops, press releases, TikToks, designed assets, and a handful of new UMMers later, we did it all.
From launching Logitech’s MX Master 4 at the Sydney Opera House, taking over cafés for Fairy Bread Day, chatting AI stocks with Wealth Within, grilling across the ditch at Meatstock, gaming with Logitech G in Melbourne, breezing through projects with TCL, to shoots with Raw C and Pistachio Papi at a literal mansion— it’s safe to say we pushed our brands (and ourselves beyond).
Bring on 2026.
Wanna have a brand story that’s remembered in 2026? UMM’s got you covered. Click here to get in touch with our team.
