September is just round the corner and with it, the new academic year.
Whether you’re a student, or just a disillusioned adult, there’s no better feeling than a fresh start. That's why this issue includes content ideas inspired by the Back to School trend, fresh music collections and 5 creators killing it right now. We also look at YouTube's latest AI slip up... so stick around, you won't want to miss this one.
Back to School trends take over the feed
As the leaves start to turn, so do our feeds. ‘Sardine Girl Summer’ and ‘Wedding Tok’ feel like a distant memory, replaced by stationary hauls, study inspo and… pens?
What’s going on? → Back to School content has been a staple in the YouTube playbook since, well, the dawn of YouTube. But in recent years it's taken off on short form content too.
Over 130k Instagram posts and 58k TikToks have been made this year under the tag #BackToSchool2025. Brands have taken notice too, partnering with ‘mumfluencers’ like @sophiena_official and @lifewiththetomkins for family-centred content.
But Back to School content isn’t reserved for school children and parents. There are plenty of ways creators are using the seasonal boom to their advantage…
Hop on the bus with these 3 content ideas →
- Challenge yourself: The turn of a season is the perfect time to re-evaluate goals and set new ones. Turn over a new leaf by getting fit and healthy like @ezeyduru, or commit to thirty days of content like @keomokgatle_.
- Build an ‘Emergency Kit’: This trend (basically a re-brand of ‘what’s in my bag’) is hot on TikTok right now. Notebooks, sanitizer, San Pelligrino… tell your followers what’s essential for you to stay on top of any situation.
- Time stamp your day: Daily routines like college or work might seem boring, but are actually great sources of content. Share how your day looks hour to hour like @Onlyjp, or just your morning like @olaaxdiary.
YouTube in hot water over AI use
YouTube has admitted to using AI to tweak creators’ Shorts without their knowledge. Understandably, the internet isn’t happy - but how did we get here?
The Shorts scandal timeline →
- 27 June → Viewers took to Reddit to question why Shorts looked “oily”.
- 15 August → Music creator Rhett Shull exposed the platform for editing his videos without consent. He said the tweaks made his videos look “AI-generated”, misrepresenting him and eroding the trust his audience have in his content.
- 20 August → YouTube confirmed using “machine learning” to improve video clarity of “select” Shorts, comparing it to using a smartphone to edit footage.
- 26 August → Mass outrage caused YouTube to backtrack further. They’re now “working on an opt-out” function.
This isn’t the first time that YouTube has faced backlash over its use of AI. Its recent Age Verification tool (that uses AI to “estimate” whether users are under 18) sparked concern that users will be incorrectly labelled as under-18, that YouTube is ‘data mining’ and that ad revenue will tank for creators.
The issue isn’t AI, it’s consent. Creators want full control over their content, where it’s shared and how people see it. Recent YouTube updates have used “machine learning technology” (a branch of AI) to alter creator’s content without their knowledge, but also without any human input from YouTube. This blurs the line between consent and control, leaving it up to AI to make the distinction - and that has the potential to be a big problem.
What are we watching?
We asked our Content Coordinator Sandy Beeson what creator he’s been loving recently and why.
What’s your favorite channel right now? “I find myself watching delicious-looking videos by @FallowLondon every time they pop up, whether it’s for inspo or simply to see great chefs at work.”
3 words to describe? “Salivate. Inspiring. Nom.”
Why do you love it? “Fallow have given food a viral makeover. Their videos take a leaf out of Mr. Beast’s book, with thumbnails, video titles and content ideas designed to capture attention and keep it - like their video, Cooking Chicken in 3 Levels of Difficulty.”
We think Fallow would love… “Lo-fi beats from Uppbeat artist Mountaineer. They’re the perfect accompaniment to tasty B-roll footage.”
Elsewhere on the web
“The summer I…” jumped on the back of this trending TikTok sound.
Hank Green’s new focus app surpasses ChatGPT on the app store.
A fan of American football? YouTube will be hosting four creator-led streams of the NFL.
TikTok to lay off hundreds of UK moderators and replace them with AI.
“Really hot… and a little dusty.” Burning Man influencers caught in dust storms.
Mark Goldbridge becomes the first creator to get streaming rights to live football.
Latest updates
That Back to School feeling has captured the Uppbeat team too. Inspired by your feedback, we’ve refreshed our homepage to make it even easier to find music for your next project - like this Back to School collection packed with the perfect blend of B-roll beats. And if you’re looking for some inspiration yourself, don’t miss Uppbeat Partner Kevin E’s latest blog where he shares 5 creators that helped him kick the self-doubt and get creating.
