CoinDesk Podcast Network BITCOIN SEASON 2: We're in a Recession on TikTok, But Not in the Market
Aug 16, 2025
Despite soaring stocks, social media is buzzing with recession fears. The hosts dig into TikTok's viral recession indicators versus hard economic data. They highlight the alarming drop in job numbers and contrasting S&P 500 earnings. Cultural phenomena like 'recession pop' music reveal generational divides in economic sentiment. As the gig economy faces challenges and a potential Fed rate cut looms, they analyze how these factors intertwine, questioning if anxiety is merely amplified by social media vibes.
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Markets And Social Vibes Are Diverging
- Markets are rallying while public sentiment and TikTok recession chatter are increasingly negative.
- Colin Harper and Charlie Spears highlight a split between asset performance and everyday financial vibes.
Don’t Rely Solely On TikTok Signals
- Look beyond viral TikTok signs and check hard economic data like jobs, earnings, and PMI.
- Use multiple indicators rather than social vibes to assess recession risk.
Recession Pop Returns As Nostalgia
- Charlie and Colin describe "recession pop" as party-forward music tied to past downturns.
- They say listeners project economic feelings onto music, reviving that nostalgic sound now.