NFTs, The Legend Betty White and Instagram in 2022| Bolt Trend Report

January 2, 2022

Happy New Year, and welcome back to the Bolt Blog! We’re jumping into a year of fresh trending topics to bring you the latest must-know information. Whether your Christmas tree is still up or you’ve packed up every last morsel of red and green, 2022 is here, and we’re ready for it.

Upcoming Holidays & Observances

  • National Trivia Day – Jan. 3
  • National Take Down the Christmas Tree Day – Jan. 6
  • National Dress up your Pet Day – Jan. 14
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Jan. 17

Must-Know Trends:

Antonio Brown’s Dramatic NFL Exit

In a new example of ‘rage quitting,’ Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown stormed off the field in a dramatic midgame exit. During their game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Brown took off his jersey, shoulder pads, undershirt and glove as he walked off the field. In one last display of his departure, he threw a peace sign to the crowd as he left MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said that Brown was “no longer a Buc,” in a post-game interview. At the time when Brown exited the field, the Jets were leading 24-10. After he quit, Bucs quarterback Tom Brady brought the team to victory in a 27-24 comeback. The reason for Brown’s sudden departure is still unknown, but what we do know is that Brown is no longer a part of the team.

Betty White: A Legend Remembered

“I always find the positive,” Betty White said in an interview with PEOPLE just a few weeks before her death at age 99. “I’m so lucky to be in such good health and feel so good at this age,” White continued in the feature that was to share her secrets to a happy life at 100. With more than eight decades in show business, Betty White has graced the screen as an award-winning actor. Her iconic roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls introduced her charming wit to the world, bringing smiles and laughter to millions of homes. Not only was she beloved for her performances, but White was the first woman to produce a national TV show. In addition, she was a well-known supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and HIV/AIDS awareness and research. She paved the way for females as a single woman who focused on a career where she called the shots. The cultural icon was remembered by fans and celebrities alike with heartfelt Tweets and messages, all sharing the deep love for her larger-than-life legacy, love and kindness.

Instagram Areas of Focus in 2022

New year, new focus. At least that’s what Instagram has to say. In a recent video post, Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri explains a few key features users can expect to see on Instagram in 2022. Mosseri shares that the two main focus areas of 2022 will be “Video and Control.” As expected from the recent engagement metrics and reports, Reels will remain a top video focus for the platform. In fact, all video features will soon be consolidated around Reels. With the popularity of video format, Instagram is giving the people what they want. If you’ve started to see Reels in your main feed, then you’ve already witnessed the push for a video-centered Instagram. The Control aspect will touch on transparency, giving users more insight into how Instagram works. The soon-to-launch chronological feed toggle could play a role in transparency, as it allows users to organize their main feed with the option to view in time order. We expect 2022 to hold many surprises, but we’re counting on more exciting social updates and features like this one!

NFTs

Brands like Under Armour, Twitter, Taco Bell and Campbell’s are making headlines for stepping into the NFT market. But, before we dig into how these companies are breaking into the buzzworthy space, let’s talk about the basics. What are NFTs? They are non-fungible tokens, the latest cryptocurrency phenomenon. NFTs are the transformation of digital works of art and collectibles into unique verifiable assets that can be traded on the blockchain. Basically, investors are spending millions to own NFT versions of digital work by artists, musicians and influencers. Since NFTs are not mutually interchangeable, no two NFTs are the same, which make them similar to popular collectibles like Pokémon cards or rare coins. In recent news, Under Armour announced the first “wearable” cross-platform NFTs in celebration of NBA player Steph Curry’s three-point record. With only 2,974 copies of the virtual shoe, each is priced at $333 with proceeds benefiting youth sports charities. We can’t wait to see how brands will continue joining the metaverse in 2022.

Thanks for kicking off the new year with us on the Bolt Blog. We hope your first week of 2022 is full of growth, goals and success. Let’s meet here next week for another round of trending topics.

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