Social Media Trends for UGC Creators in July 2025: Build Trust. Attract Brands. Grow an Audience That Stays.

Summer is in full swing, and July is the ideal time for content creators to produce fresh content and tap into trending topics. As the midpoint of the year, July offers a chance to reset, refocus, and reconnect with your audience. 

The secret to standing out? Share your unique voice and authentic story. 

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For UGC creators, focus on trust-building content by highlighting your experience, sharing relatable stories, and showing what makes you special to audiences and brands. These social media trends are based on E-E-A-T principles: Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust.They guide you to create not only viral videos but also valuable content that brands will notice. Explore these simple, effective, and viral-worthy content ideas for TikTok and Instagram to boost your creator game in July and August 2025.

These strategies will continue to be important as we move into August. Whether you're a new or seasoned UGC creator, these July and August 2025 social media trends for TikTok and Instagram offer valuable insights to help you produce viral content and grow your online presence.

Table of Contents

• Instagram Trends to Try This Month
• TikTok Trends to Lean Into This Month
• What to Expect for August 2025
• Why These Trends Work (and How to Make Them Yours)
• FAQs for UGC Creators in July & August 2025

📸 Instagram Trends to Try This Month

Instagram is leaning more “emotional" this month. People want connection, softness, and sincerity - not polished perfection. These are Instagram trends for UGC creators to leverage for genuine emotional engagement.

1. "You look happy" / "Thanks, I..."

This format is heartfelt and personal. Start with the comment “You look happy”, and respond with “Thanks, I…” Use this to share something you've done recently that improved your life. It could be an action like: moving cities, setting boundaries, going outside more, or changing careers. Real connection equals viral potential. 

Inspo: @kristenrunstheworld

Why it works: It turns a casual compliment into an open door for storytelling. High emotional engagement means more saves, DMs, and shares, which are strong signals for AI. It shows transformation, growth, and self-awareness, building trust and authority.

How to use it: Start with the phrase “You look happy.” Add text overlay. Follow with “Thanks, I…” and your truth. Use clean, close-up footage, soft lighting, and subtle audio to keep the focus on your story, enhancing the emotional connection on Instagram Reels. 

Sample ideas:

• “Thanks, I stopped working for people who don’t respect me.”
• “Thanks, I started creating full time.”

2. “You, me and _____________” Cinematic Reels 

If you’re a vibe-forward creator, this trend is made for you. It allows UGC creators to build a visual portfolio that resonates. For those specializing in travel, adventure, or outdoor content, this is a prime opportunity!

Why it works: It combines storytelling with aesthetic, creating an immersive Instagram Reels experience. It's easy to personalize with your location or lifestyle. It's great for UGC creators who build visual portfolios, attracting brands seeking specific vibes.

How to use it: Start with a phrase: “You, me and ___________.” Create a montage of clips from a recent adventure or outing. Film in cinematic or slow-mo: walking, laughter, travel, stillness. Let visuals carry the emotion, and you don’t have to over explain. Get inspired by compelling short-form videos in our latest guide on Top Travel Video Creators for Brands in 2025.

Great for: Travel content, slow living creators, outdoor product storytelling. 

Inspo: @ourfulltimeadventure

3. “What a privilege it is… ” Carousel Post

This one’s perfect for a thoughtful carousel. It's one of the most saved post formats this summer because it’s honest, reflective, and quiet. These carousel post formats for trust building on Instagram are ideal for UGC creators aiming for reflective content.

Inspo: @teetravels

Why it works: It highlights emotional intelligence, a key aspect of authentic content strategies UGC 2025. It promotes mental wellness, gratitude, and humility. Audiences screenshot and share this kind of content like crazy, boosting visibility.

Carousel structure:

• Slide 1: “What a privilege it is…”
• Slides 2–5: Share moments you’re grateful for. This could be as simple as “to move my body,” “to call my parents,” or “to work on what I love.”

Pro tip: Keep it clean and simple. Use a white background, simple font, and 2–5 words per slide. This minimalist approach enhances the message and makes it digestible for quick consumption.

4. Summer Reels Without Trending Audio

This anti-trend trend is about real summer moments, winning hearts by keeping it original and keeping it real. This is a powerful strategy for UGC creators focusing on authenticity.

Inspo: @juliaonroute

Why it works: It strips away noise in favor of authenticity, a key factor for UGC creator growth strategy 2025. It taps into natural sounds and unfiltered moments. It feels refreshing, especially in a noisy feed, offering a unique user experience.

What to post: Clips of laughter, nature sounds, BBQs, road trip sing-alongs, kids yelling in the background …anything that feels raw and real. Your own audio works best. For recording high-quality ambient audio, consider guides on basic UGC recording for audio.

How to stand out: No trending sound. Let the ambient audio do the emotional work. Add a thoughtful caption like: “Summer moments I’ll actually remember.”

🎵 TikTok Trends to Lean Into this Month

TikTok users are favoring soft escapism, low-pressure vibes, and reflective solo content this month. These trends give you space to show your creative perspective and your emotional range, making them perfect for UGC creators wanting to expand their reach and attract awesome brand partnerships in 2025.

1. “Taking the edge off” Trend

This trend is your chance to slow down and romanticize the small joys. This is a top TikTok soft escapism trend for July 2025.

What to include: Showcase your go-to comfort activity. This could be lighting a candle, journaling outside, a skincare routine or bath ritual, your hands making coffee or baking, yoga, long drives, hot coffee, or even walking barefoot on the grass.

Why it works: It encourages presence and mindfulness, proving deeply relatable to stressed-out viewers. It's especially powerful for creators in wellness, lifestyle, or cozy content niches, demonstrating expertise in these areas.

Pro tip: Use original sound or captions to narrate why that moment matters to you personally, building trust and connection.

Inspo: @paige_desorbo

2. “My dream date” Sound

TikTok users love a dreamy escape, and this trend gives you a cinematic way to frame your everyday life. This can highlight your aesthetic and personal branding for UGC creators 2025. 

Inspo: @kalina_wolf 

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Why it works: It allows you to highlight your aesthetic and express independence or joy. It's a strong example of UGC pitch ideas TikTok mood-driven, perfect for pitching brands through mood-driven UGC (think food, fashion, outdoor, beverage, or beauty). 

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How to use it: Post a montage of a recent outing or something you love doing solo (or with someone). Could be a hike, paddleboarding, a picnic, watching the sunset, a solo date to a bookstore or café, a quiet drive with music, or cooking dinner while barefoot. Use the "my dream date" sound to bring it to life. It’s trendy and cheeky.

3. “This and no cell service” Overlay Trend

The ultimate digital detox aesthetic. This one performs because it offers the calm people are craving. It's a prime example of low-pressure TikTok content ideas for UGC. This trend is particularly relevant for UGC creators focusing on outdoor and travel niches. Find out how to break into outdoor UGC with resources on Popfly. 

How to use it: Post a montage of your time off-grid; think backpacking, camping, or just stepping away from notifications. Pair serene footage with overlay text like “This and no cell service.” Keep it minimalist: don’t over-edit or over-narrate. Let nature and silence lead.

Strong examples: Hammock naps, campsite content, disconnecting in the mountains or forest.

Pro Tip: Even a screen-free day in your neighborhood park works. It's about the feeling, not the destination. This helps foster a digital detox aesthetic on TikTok Reels. For more on the benefits of digital detox for creators, explore resources on mindfulness and digital well-being.

Optional captions:

• “This and no cell service.”
• “This and not answering my texts.”

It’s the ultimate escapism content… and it rips on TikTok.

Inspo: @rachelblynnn

What to Expect for Reel Trends in August 2025

While specific trending sounds and challenges are hard to predict far in advance, we can anticipate broader trends continuing and evolving into August.

• Peak Summer Vibes and "Last Hurrah" Content: August is often the peak of summer vacations. Expect themes around road trips, final beach days, end-of-summer gatherings, and continued focus on outdoor activities like hiking and water sports.
• Continued Emphasis on Authenticity: The demand for real, relatable, and vulnerable content isn't a fleeting trend; it's a sustained shift. Content that feels genuine and unpolished will continue to outperform overly curated feeds.
• Digital Detox & Wellness Continuation: As summer winds down and the pace of life might pick up for many, the desire for mindfulness and slowing down will likely persist or even intensify.
• Subtle Transition to Autumn (Late August): For some creators, especially in fashion, home, or lifestyle niches, late August might see subtle teasers for fall content, like cozy aesthetics or back-to-school/work preparation.

Why These Social Media Trends Work (and How to Make Them Yours)

These social media trends work because they prioritize emotional resonance over pure entertainment. They let your experience lead, not just your editing skills. That’s the kind of content that:

• Attracts followers who stay (essential for UGC content that attracts loyal followers 2025).
• Encourages genuine engagement.
• Builds a strong case for brands to work with you, directly aligning with E-E-A-T principles for UGC creators. 

Remember, every trend is a prompt—not a rule. Use these formats to show:

• What you’ve learned
• What you care about
• What you’ve built
• What kind of content you want to be known for, enhancing your personal branding for UGC creators 2025.

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About the Author: Siena Juhlin& the Popfly crew are dedicated to empowering UGC creators with actionable insights and cutting-edge strategies. With decades of experience analyzing social media trends and working with creators, our team understands what it takes to build a thriving online presence and attract valuable brand collaborations. Follow @popflyco for more UGC creator growth strategy 2025 tips, and signup now for a free creator account on Popfly.