As schools, colleges, and offices have closed with the rise of the coronavirus pandemic, people have taken to social media to express their creative side. Millennials and Gen Z are using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter to create hilarious videos to cope with the crisis.
Young adults are sharing pranks, voice-over parodies, reenactments, music videos, and other original content on social media to showcase how they’re spending their time during social distancing and in #quarantine. Videos using the hashtag #coronavirus have billions of views on both Instagram and TikTok. The ability for anyone to post on social media is allowing thousands of young adults to express themselves. By making fun of their current circumstances, many young adults are discussing how they feel about the numerous changes the virus has brought to their lives, including testing positive, missing school, and transitioning to online classes. Others are using their time in quarantine to learn new skills including dancing, cooking, and singing.
While some are criticizing the teens and young adults for finding humor in a serious pandemic, the viral memes and videos have brought laughter to many people who are overwhelmed and stressed during this time. Who are we to judge how someone copes with stress? Personally, I jam to it.
Celebrities have also taken to social media to express how they feel about the pandemic and how they’re coping. A “coronavirus rant” by Cardi B became a popular soundtrack for comedic videos after DJ iMarkkeyz posted a remix of her rant emphasizing her unique way of pronouncing “coronavirus.”
Here are some of the most popular #quarantine and #coronavirus videos sweeping social media, including one using the hit soundtrack.
Try watching this one and not yelling “coronavirus” in Cardi B’s voice afterward, I dare you.
This is a creative new twist on the popular animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Who knew the show had such an important hidden message? In case you didn't know, it’s “STAY INSIDE.”
This is a skit on how the other planets would react to Earth during a meeting about COVID-19.
When asked how to save Earth, Mars replies, “Hit him with a meteor.”
This video is by popular YouTube star Lilly Singh, entitled “Life During a Pandemic,” includes humor focused on how many individuals are hoarding or price gauging sanitary items and toilet paper.
This is a comedic play on a popular trust fall between significant others or friends. RIP her makeup.
With many comparing the coronavirus pandemic to zombies and video games, this is a real-life video game based on cleaning and disinfecting your home.
This video brings new meaning to the phrase, “Long hair, don’t care.” People are using their time in quarantine to be silly and creative with each other.
People are even documenting their boredom indoors as the days go by. Back to the basics it seems—sock puppets, anyone?
And let’s not forget that some parents are in on the fun too. This mom used the #PoopChallenge to prank her daughter with peanut butter. (Yes, it’s as gross as it sounds.)
Who needs television when you can watch original content daily online?
Happy Quarantine! And may the odds be ever in your favor.