Pulse

The day in summarySynthesised 2026-08-02 03:13 UTC

Australia's mid-winter mood is split between cosy retreat (garlic soup, slower mornings, horror games under the doona) and hard hip-pocket maths, as record EV sales and a looming fuel hike show Aussies quietly rewiring how they spend.

#1 MAINSTREAM ▲ Accelerating · 1d

FNAF content resurges across YouTube and Pinterest

Five Nights at Freddy's content is resurging in AU, with Markiplier's completion video and a new Living Tombstone song both on YouTube Trending and a matching Pinterest signal.

Corroborated across

YouTubePinterest Pins

YouTubeFive Nights at Freddy's 2: 10/20 COMPLETE (no cheats) YouTubeFive Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic Song - It Doesn't Matter - The Living Tombsto Pinterest PinsFive Nights at Freddy's 2: 10/20 COMPLETE (no cheats)

High Interest: gaming, horror, PlayStation, YouTube creatorsMomentum: resurgentCultural type: TopicGeography: Both

Five Nights at Freddy's 2: 10/20 COMPLETE (no cheats) Gaming

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Part of Next FNAF Game Teasers

No connections mapped yet.

First seen 2026-08-02

Peak date 2026-08-02

Peak 99

Now 99

Date	Strength	Events	Top sources
2026-08-02	99	2	pinterest_pins, youtube_trending

#2 EMERGING ▲ Accelerating · 1d

AU food creators spike with myth-busting and winter comfort content

AU food creators Andy Cooks (steak myth-busting across Instagram and TikTok) and RecipeTin (winter comfort dishes) are seeing above-baseline engagement amid peak winter.

Corroborated across

InstagramTikTok

Instagram@andyhearnden: If it’s not blood then what is it? 🥩 TikTok@andy_cooks: If it’s not blood then what is it? 🥩 #steak #beef Instagram@recipe_tin: If, like us, you’ve been sick lately, this is the soup for you. 🧄🤧 My 50 Clov Instagram@recipe_tin: One of my signature dishes. Inspired to make it after enjoying a wonderful ra

Medium Interest: McCain, food, cooking, Andy Cooks, RecipeTinMomentum: acceleratingCultural type: FormatGeography: AU

@recipe_tin: If, like us, you’ve been sick lately, this is the soup for you. 🧄🤧 My 50 Clove Garlic Soup is comforting and just what a cold winter’s day calls for. Bon appétit! - JB 50 Clove Fr Food & Drink

▲ Accelerating · 1d

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First seen 2026-08-02

Peak date 2026-08-02

Peak 92

Now 92

Date	Strength	Events	Top sources
2026-08-02	92	1	instagram_creator_watch

#3 EMERGING ▬ Plateau · +20% 18d

Slow-living and debt-free content resonates with AU creators

Multiple AU creators are posting slow-living and financial-calm content with above-baseline engagement, matched by 'life' and 'season' trending in AU positive sentiment.

Corroborated across

TikTokAfrMeltwater

TikTok@sarahmagusara: Healing era 🤍 TikTok@lissygraham_: One of the greatest luxuries isn’t travelling to Europe it’s coming home ow AfrNine things experts wish you’d do in midlife to increase longevity Meltwaterseason

Medium Interest: Blackmores, Bankwest, wellness, slow living, financeMomentum: acceleratingCultural type: BehaviourGeography: AU

season Other

▬ Plateau · +20% 18d

Short 7d+20%

Mid 30d+7%

Long 90d+7%

First seen 2026-06-13

Peak date 2026-07-22

Peak 68

Now 64

Date	Strength	Events	Top sources
2026-08-02	64	2	meltwater_au_positive
2026-07-31	60	1	meltwater_culture_keyphrase
2026-07-30	44	2	meltwater_au_positive
2026-07-29	52	2	meltwater_culture_keyphrase
2026-07-22	68	2	meltwater_au_positive
2026-07-21	64	2	meltwater_culture_keyphrase
2026-07-18	52	2	meltwater_au_positive

#4 MACRO ▲ Accelerating · 1d

Australia records biggest-ever EV sales surge

Australia recorded its biggest-ever EV and hybrid sales surge (nearly half of new vehicles) as the Iran fuel shock bites and the temporary fuel excise cut expires; reported by ABC News and The Nightly.

Corroborated across

ABC News AuThe Nightly

ABC News AuAustralia records biggest-ever surge in EV sales The NightlyMark Butler warns fuel prices will rise as Australia’s temporary fuel excise cut ends at m

Low Interest: Uber, Bankwest, EV, cost of living, fuelMomentum: acceleratingCultural type: BehaviourGeography: AU

Mark Butler warns fuel prices will rise as Australia’s temporary fuel excise cut ends at midnight Money & Finance

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Part of Fuel Prices and Oil Market Australia 2026

No connections mapped yet.

First seen 2026-08-02

Peak date 2026-08-02

Peak 54

Now 54

Date	Strength	Events	Top sources
2026-08-02	54	1	media_the_nightly

#5 MAINSTREAM ▲ Accelerating · 1d

The Block returns for 22nd season

The Block returns for its 22nd season this week with judges teasing twists, covered across SMH and The Age (co-owned Nine mastheads).

Corroborated across

SMH CultureThe Age Culture

SMH CultureThe Block judges Darren Palmer and Shaynna Blaze tease massive twists The Age CultureThe Block judges Darren Palmer and Shaynna Blaze tease massive twists SMH CultureThink the contestants have it tough on The Block? Meet the man behind the houses

Low Interest: Roborock, Sonos, reality TV, home, renovationMomentum: acceleratingCultural type: TopicGeography: AU

The Block judges Darren Palmer and Shaynna Blaze tease massive twists Film & TV

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Part of The Block Australia 2026

No connections mapped yet.

First seen 2026-08-02

Peak date 2026-08-02

Peak 70

Now 70

Date	Strength	Events	Top sources
2026-08-02	70	2	media_smh_culture, media_the_age_culture