While the start of the year might have been an endless haze of bitter cold and dreary weather, this spring has certainly shaken up the internet and social media scene. It’s during this exact timeframe of the marking period that nearly every EHS student is “locking in” for exams while daydreaming about a summer that feels just out of reach. While the earlier months may have been all about the romantic aesthetics and cozy vibes, we have now entered the part of the year when the realities of high school life in 2026 truly set in.

The energy began with an inescapable anthem. Although the single “Lighter” by Jelly Roll & Carín León debuted as part of the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album on March 20, the entire month of April has seen this song transform itself into the quintessential soundtrack of our digital world. It’s the music of the student parking lot, mixing deep country soul with its regional Mexican beat. From the music used during gym montage scenes on TikTok to merely being the background track of all spring break vlogs, “Lighter” has turned into the anthem of the month, signifying that the vast journey to Summer 2026 has officially begun. However, many fans feel that the country-influenced, Americanized track lacks the high-energy, celebratory “pulse” of traditional World Cup anthems.

Next up is something that no one could have ever imagined: the “Sea Lion” dance. This rather absurd, unusual trend has been sweeping the internet for some time now, serving as the ultimate expression of taking yourself less seriously than any other. Borrowing its name from a song called “Sea Lion Rap,” sung by rapper Yuno Miles, the movement itself consists of lying down on your belly, bending your legs in such a way that you grab onto your ankles from behind your back, and barking out like a sea lion.

If your shorts feed has been looking a little bit more “Galactic Underworld” recently, there’s a reason why. On April 6, Star Wars: Maul—Shadow Lord was released on Disney Plus, and fans have been breathing a sigh of relief that this series has finally seen the light of day.

This show is definitely not your typical hero’s journey. Rather than viewing his full story, we are presented with a menacing version of Maul who seeks to establish himself as a crime lord on the planet Janix. Voiced by veteran actor Sam Witwer, the show possesses a serious tone despite its animated nature.

But the real reason why you need to watch this show is to see the character of Devon Izara. This disillusioned Twi’lek Padawan is a fugitive from Order 66, and watching her encounter Maul is the dark side equivalent of the teacher-student trope that we never knew we needed. Perfect for an all-nighter AP exam study session, this show is the coolest thing in Star Wars right now.

In order to balance out the high-stakes space drama, the “Headphone Swap” meme has been turning feeds into low-stakes social experiments. All you have to do is sit down with a friend, exchange an earbud or headphone, and capture their pure response to what they’re listening to.

The fun lies in the complete absence of content; for example, learning that the most reserved classmate of your AP class is actually blasting heavy metal, or that your best friend is secretly obsessed with Bollywood classics.

Let’s end off with a recurring trend that we haven’t really talked about in previous trends reports—the spread of “AI Anxiety.” As we approach the final months of the school year, we simply cannot neglect how much artificial intelligence has evolved. Easily differentiating between two-headed humans (or aliens) versus natural art and content has become a relic of the past.

We have entered an era where it’s hard to recognize if even the simplest of drawings is AI-generated or not. The whole situation becomes particularly ironic as we resort to using the most advanced tech in history, just to collectively agree that we miss the days when things were a bit more analog and a lot less predictable and more genuine.

In a world where many processes have become automated or generated by robots, it’s no wonder that people desperately crave genuine, natural content. From meaningful music to authentic art, to compelling TV shows, to impactful writing, as we move beyond 2026, we cannot let artificial intelligence take over what it means to be “human.”

If these trends have shown us anything, it’s that even as the digital world moves faster and becomes more complex, our instinct is to search for what’s real. Whether you’re counting down the days to summer break or just trying to find a moment of authenticity in an algorithmic feed, remember that the most viral thing right now that you can be is yourself. Carry on, Edison High—we’re almost there.