In a time when climate anxiety and fear of large-scale societal changes are at an all-time high, Hopecore is a rare dose of social media medicine that is eagerly welcomed this year. Not only is this something we all look forward to seeing on our own feeds, but it also demonstrates the power of communication and storytelling in mobilising communities and movements across the globe. 

What is Hopecore?

Hopecore is a social media movement that initially began in 2024 on TikTok, used to highlight happy moments of everyday life, whether it be a shelter animal getting their very first bed, an underdog win for a rising-star athlete, or students surprising a retiring professor. It initially started as something small and simple to help us ward away the negativity that we regularly see in our algorithms. However, it quickly developed into something much more meaningful – a symbol of resilience and a signal to continue moving forward with the hope that we’ll all see a brighter tomorrow.  

Here are some standout moments from the year that had Hopecore written all over them and that show how the movement became a conduit between social media content and real-world action in 2025, empowering us to look forward in 2026:

Live-streamed humanitarianism

In June 2025, the world watched in awe across social platforms as activists, including Greta Thunberg, sailed on the Gaza-bound Madleen to deliver humanitarian aid. Although the ship was intercepted and the crew was deported by Israeli officials, this didn’t stop their determination to provide aid and support Palestinians in their resistance to the Israeli occupation and genocide. Even in times of turbulence, the activists continued to post on Instagram and TikTok to spread their hope and ambition for a free Palestine. This content truly moved audiences, empowering them to continue their online and real-world defiance to colonial powers and demonstrating the emotive impact of being able to follow along on your phone. That’s part of the power of Hopecore – it makes millions of people around the world feel like they’re a part of something bigger and less alone in their very real feelings about such issues. 

Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayoral election

As a New Yorker, 2025 was off to a rough start with Donald Trump beginning his second term, the increase in ICE raids and the severe decrease in climate protections across the U.S. That’s why when Zohran Mamdani ran for and won the mayoral race in NYC, it was like a match that had been struck in the cold. Zohran Mamdani is not only the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor of New York City, but he’s the first U.S. politician in years to truly embody the ideals of empathy, equity and collective action. His entire campaign was focused on meeting New Yorkers where they are: subway commutes, diverse cultural spaces, and social media. He and his supporters used Hopecore in the online movement that helped New York (and subsequently the world) envision a future where everyone has enough, not just the small percentage of people who hold wealth and power. This win ignited communities to dig a little deeper, get involved, and most importantly, vote. 

Conservation and climate wins

While the climate crisis continues to impact communities around the world, there were still significant climate wins that were worthy of attention. In a historic first, renewable energy sources surpassed coal as the global leading source of electricity, and renewable power capacity is expected to double from the current levels by 2030. We also saw some remarkable turnarounds for endangered and vulnerable species across the globe thanks to dedicated conservation efforts including tigers, whose population in India have officially doubled, two species of birds, native to Mauritius near extinction 60 years ago that are now listed under ‘least concern’, and green sea turtles, who have rebounded and moved from ‘endangered’ to ‘least concern’. Lastly, 2025 was full of historic legislative wins for the climate, from the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the fundamental right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, to significant rulings against fossil fuel companies regarding greenwashing and wrongful death, both brought forth in novel cases that are setting a new legal standard. These wins, and more, proudly used the Hopecore hashtag as good news infographics, emotionally charged TikTok edits, and informational videos about how we can continue these positive steps in the right direction. 

Gen Z on the rise 

Lastly, Hopecore was heard around the world in the form of protest as Gen Z took to the streets to fight corruption and make big changes in over 11 countries. Young activists across the globe rallied to protest their own governments. Despite the governments having little to do with each other, the demonstrators all had a common goal: to uproot systems and policies that don’t speak for them. Online, protesters and supporters shared memes, edits and humourous content, while offline, they gathered and stood in the face of armed forces. One led to another throughout the year and eventually, the internet was abuzz with the amazing power of sharing hope virtually and turning it into real-world action that has the power to change our futures for the better.  

So, what can we learn from this?

Hopecore is a chain reaction – when we see it online, we’re inspired to take action, which in turn inspires others to do the same. And it isn’t just something that the algorithm happens to place on our feed: it’s built on a foundation of transparency, resilience and perseverance from groups that express their aspirations for a better world. While nowadays, social media is often how we unite these communities, find new information and share our experiences with a broader group of people, it’s important that we don’t only keep it there. 

How we tell our own stories of hope impacts the start of someone else’s. The importance of social media and online storytelling isn’t just about virtual engagement, but inspiring communities to take real world action, bringing their passion into offline spaces so that our shared hope makes a real difference.