TrendWatch February 2025

In this month’s edition of TrendWatch we focus on the OMODA Car, Waffle Wands, Strawpage and many more interesting trends. Join us in discovering these trends and their backgrounds.

Huzz

Trend graph showing a strong increase in search volume for "Huzz".
Trend graph for “Huzz” (UK)

The term “huzz” emerged as a slang expression on TikTok, representing an informal way of referring to women. It’s short form for “hoes”, Gen Z might say something like “impressing the huzz” or “doing things for the huzz,” the term reflects their tendency to create concise, social media-tailored language. 

Think of it as language parkour – youth taking verbal gymnastics to new levels of wtf-ery. While it might sound like total nonsense (spoiler: it kind of is), it is a part of a creative linguistic innovation. It’s part of a broader “-uzz” slang trend, which includes terms like:

Bruzz: Bro/Brother
Gruzz: Grandma
Fuzz: Freshman
Chuzz: Chopped (unattractive)
Tuzz: Teacher
Muzz: Mom
Duzz: Dad

These terms are categorised as “brain rot language,” using these terms means that you’re deeply immersed in online culture. 

The emergence of “huzz” demonstrates how youth continuously repurpose language to fit evolving social dynamics and communication styles. Congratulations, you’ve now leveled up in the weird world of online linguistics! Next stop: total communication anarchy. 

Source: Dexterto

Strawpage

Trend graph showing a strong increase in search volume for "Strawpage".
Trend graph for “Strawpage” (UK)

Who here remembers MySpace? The once-dominant social networking platform that allowed users to express their creativity through customisable profiles and music sharing has become a nostalgic relic of the early internet. 

One of the hallmarks of MySpace was that you could break any and all design conventions. Pink text with an orange background? Who cares if no one can read it?! 

Straw.Page is a website builder whose creations remind me of MySpace. It’s not a social media platform; it allows users to create unique, interactive web pages directly from their phone without any coding knowledge. It embraces a nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of the late 90s and early 2000s, featuring built-in GIF stickers and an easy-to-use interface. 

Here are a few sites to check out:
https://xxblakkmatterxx.straw.page (very weird)
https://thisisthecinema.straw.page (weird)

Here are a few that are serious (?) but still creative sites:
Someone created a website for their festival
An artist used it to build out their site
S
omeone’s personal website

Links via Boing Boing

Afghan Hound

Trend graph showing a strong increase in search volume for "Afghan Hound".
Trend graph for “Afghan Hound” (UK)

In 2024, the Afghan Hound gained significant attention due to its appearances in two major events: The Masked Singer and the Westminster Dog Show. In March last year, during the eleventh season of The Masked Singer, Savannah Chrisley was revealed as the celebrity behind the glamorous Afghan Hound costume during “The Wizard of Oz” night. Her unmasking captivated fans, as her performance was like that of a dog trying to sing. Listen at your own risk. 

Around the same time, at the 2024 Westminster Dog Show, an Afghan Hound named Louis became a finalist in the Hound Group, showcasing the breed’s grace and competitive spirit on one of the world’s most prestigious stages.

I’d like to think it was the more cultural Dog Show that kicked things off, but who doesn’t love to watch a good train wreck!