Shutterstock image
December 2, 2025
Google-owned YouTube Dec. 2 released its annual top 10 lists of cultural trends in 2025, led by Netflix’s “Squid Game” in the top spot and KPop Demon Hunters at No. 3 — the latter produced by Sony Pictures Animation.
Top social media content creator “MrBeast,” a.k.a. Jimmy Donaldson, is a YouTuber and media personality who has created a $1 billion empire largely off the popularity of his YouTube videos now being shopped to mainstream subscription streaming platforms.
Top podcaster “The Joe Rogan Experience,” is a long-form conversation platform hosted by comedian, actor and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan with friends and guests that have included other comedians and actors, as well as politicians and controversial public figures.
YouTube also launched a “Recap” sizzle reel highlighting a user’s most-watched content in 2025 across 12 different content cards.
South Korea’s “Squid Game,” which remains Netflix’s most-streamed original TV content with 265.2 million global views, has spawned the reality game show “Squid Game: The Challenge,” consumer products, and related social media content. Season two, released Dec. 26, 2024, quickly generated 152.5 million views to become the third-most-watched TV season on Netflix in 2025.
KPop Demon Hunters, released on Aug. 23, has emerged as Netflix most-streamed original movie with 325.1 million views worldwide. The movie’s song track has generated several Billboard chart and YouTube hits, making stars of the movie’s three main female voice actors/singers.
Both titles generated myriad social media video skits and challenge recreations, while fans of KPop Demon Hunters reacted across social media as if the fictional girl group HUNTR/X was an actual KPop group.
The trio of EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami — the voices behind the movie’s K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey — recently performed live at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!