Court Urged To Reconsider Meta Liability Over Recommendations
Attorneys for Myanmar refugees have asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear a case that could limit Meta's Section 230 immunity. A three‑judge panel previously ruled that the law shields Facebook’s recommendation algorithms from liability for hate speech that allegedly fueled the Rohingya genocide. The plaintiffs argue the court “unduly expanded” Section 230 and seek an en banc hearing before all 11 judges. The request forces the court to reconsider whether platforms that push dangerous third‑party content can claim blanket protection.
Upfront Focus: Linear Unchanged, Shift To Social Video, CTV
The latest iSpot survey of over 200 brand and agency executives shows that 45.5% of marketers now prioritize business outcomes above all else when allocating TV upfront spend. While 47.5% expect budgets to stay flat year‑over‑year, the composition is shifting...
Lovesac Channels Malevolent 4-Year-Old In New Campaign
Lovesac unveiled its first brand‑wide campaign, “Here for Life,” starring a chaotic four‑year‑old named Megann. The ads, produced by agency Gus, run on connected TV, YouTube, MLB broadcasts and digital out‑of‑home, emphasizing real‑life messes over polished interiors. The push reflects...
Pinterest Recommendation Engine Update Aims For Enhanced Ad Relevance
Pinterest unveiled a Contextual Sequential Two‑Tower Model that injects real‑time browsing signals into its ad candidate generator, delivering a 3‑10× lift in per‑user ad relevance and boosting median relevance by roughly 275‑300%. The upgrade addresses a prior shortfall where less...
Mom Community Touts AI Chatbot With A Dig At AI Powerhouses
Peanut, a seven‑year‑old community app for mothers, introduced an AI‑powered chatbot called Ask Peanut alongside an anti‑AI Instagram campaign that lampoons ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. The campaign stresses that AI lacks the lived experience of pregnancy, sleep regressions and 3 a.m....
Thirst Trap: Hint Water's Campaign Uses Seduction To Sell Hydration
Hint Water launched the "MMMMM Water" campaign, using sensual imagery to make plain water feel irresistible. The 30‑second "Lured into Hydration" spot features an attractive couple at a luxury pool, linking desire to drinking water. The campaign runs across streaming,...
Texas Sues Netflix Over 'Surveillance,' 'Addictive' Design
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit accusing Netflix of violating state consumer‑protection law by secretly collecting user data and employing addictive design features such as autoplay. The complaint references a 2024 Dutch regulator fine of roughly $5 million for...
Hyundai Motor Sponsors CNN Series
Hyundai Motor is the exclusive sponsor of CNN International’s four‑part series “K‑Everything,” which premiered on May 9 on CNN International, HBO Max and the network’s streaming platform. Hosted by Oscar‑nominated actor Daniel Dae Kim, the series examines the global rise of Korean...
Target Launches 2-Tier Creator Program: One For Superfans, One For Pros
Target unveiled a two‑tier creator initiative aimed at boosting social commerce. Club Target rewards everyday creators and superfans with weekly challenges and gift‑card incentives, while Target Ambassadors, built on the LTK platform, courts professional creators with higher commissions and deeper...
Schlotzsky's Taps TikTok's 'King of Sandwiches' To Launch Sub Lineup
Schlotzsky’s Deli has teamed up with TikTok influencer Owen Han, known as the “King of Sandwiches,” to launch its new Stacked Subs menu. The lineup includes a Turkey Avocado BLT, Honey Mustard Club and Zesty Italian, offered on Artisan White or Harvest Wheat rolls. Han stars...
RingoFire Ups Franklin To President, Agency Joins RareOne
RingoFire, a social‑first ecommerce agency, promoted Marne Franklin to president to broaden its social content and retail marketing capabilities. Franklin brings five years as SVP marketing and strategy at RingoFire and prior CEO experience at uncommn, along with senior roles...
Leo Chicago Corrals Aldi's Supermarket Savings
Leo Chicago, a Publicis Groupe agency, unveiled a new Aldi advertising series featuring a cowboy narrator in two 30‑second spots titled “Bread Sage” and “Cart Coral Cowboy.” The campaign runs on TV, connected TV, online video and social platforms, emphasizing...
Meet Stan, Caitlin Clark's New Teammate
State Farm has transformed its long‑standing stanchion‑pad logo into a animated robot mascot named Stan, pairing him with WNBA star Caitlin Clark in a new advertising campaign. The spots debut with the opening night of the WNBA season and will...
Huggies Heads To NICU With 'Natural Born Fighters'
Kimberly‑Clark’s Huggies has launched the "Natural Born Fighters" campaign, spotlighting newborns who survived extreme prematurity and went on to achieve greatness. The initiative invites parents to share stories on social media, with Huggies donating $1 per eligible post up to...
The AI Media Arena: Journalism Is The Biggest Source For Query Answers
A Muck Rack study of over 25 million AI‑generated links finds that 99% of citations come from non‑paid sources, with journalism leading at 27% of all references. Corporate blogs follow at 24%, while aggregators, owned media and government sites make up...
Genesis Launches First-Ever Hispanic Campaign
Genesis Motor America is rolling out its first culturally centered campaign aimed at Hispanic consumers, titled “El Lujo Está en Ti” (“Your Purpose is the Ultimate Luxury”). The campaign spotlights the GV70 SUV and will run 30‑ and 15‑second bilingual...
'Playing With Heart': Behind Merck's Baseball Tie-In For Bad Cholesterol Awareness
Merck has launched “Playing With Heart,” an LDL‑cholesterol awareness campaign with nine top‑market MLB teams, former players and the WomenHeart nonprofit. The initiative features in‑stadium takeover days, social‑media storytelling, and a dedicated website to educate fans about bad cholesterol risks....
Molecule Names Digital Natives U.S. Strategic-Creative AOR
Digital Natives has been appointed the U.S. strategic and creative agency of record for Molecule, a cooling‑technology mattress brand, after winning a competitive pitch. The agency will launch its first work this quarter, focusing on brand‑awareness campaigns that combine social...
Google AI Search Turns To Social Media Posts For 'Experts'
Google announced five AI Search updates that now surface quotes from Reddit, forums and other social‑media discussions within AI Overviews. The changes add direct links and creator handles next to AI‑generated bullet points, letting users jump straight to the source...
Bosch Gets Its Kicks With Route 66 Activation
Bosch’s automotive‑aftermarket division is using the Route 66 100th anniversary to launch its first windshield wiper blade products. Agency Bailey Lauerman created the “Bosch Impressive Innovation Centennial Road Trip,” a nine‑day road trip from Chicago to Santa Monica featuring YouTube influencer Jason Fenske, Gears and Gasoline...
LinkedIn Certification Program Aims To Link Marketers With Experienced Agencies
LinkedIn has introduced an “Agency Certification” program that flags agencies with proven expertise in LinkedIn Ads. The certification requires a Business Manager account and completion of LinkedIn Marketing Academy courses, after which agencies earn a badge and promotional toolkit. Harmelin...
AI Promises Creative Scale. Marketers Discover They Now Need 10 Times More Ads
Marketers are confronting an unprecedented demand for creative assets as AI platforms enable rapid production at scale. A joint Ipsos‑Smartly study finds brands are now creating roughly ten times more ads to stay competitive, yet effectiveness hinges on combining high...
David North America Casts Jessica Alba In Luna Bar Campaign
Actress Jessica Alba has been signed as the inaugural ambassador for Luna Bar’s new “Easy to Love” campaign, created by David North America and media‑planned by VaynerMedia. The campaign, Luna Bar’s first major creative push in seven years, features four...
Co-Viewing For The Big Screen: How Big A Deal Is This Now?
Nielsen’s latest co‑viewing pilot, using wearable devices, recorded a 4.2% lift in total viewers for February—a month packed with marquee live TV events such as the Super Bowl, Olympics ceremonies, and the NBA All‑Star Game. The wearables provide a more...
Search Is Alive: Traditional Engines, Especially Google, Persist Despite Flattening
The Datos "State of Search Q1 2026" report shows traditional desktop search remains dominated by Google, which reclaimed a 94.3% U.S. market share in March, up from 92.1% in December 2025. Overall search activity is flat to slightly declining, yet user...
Consumers Want Everything Everywhere All At Once, Expect Brands To Pay For It
Dentsu’s latest Consumer Navigator shows U.S. adults are juggling live concerts, streaming shows, podcasts, sports, and social video simultaneously, demanding a truly omnichannel experience. The report finds 68% of consumers expect brands to be present across every touchpoint, and 55%...
Ogilvy Invests In NIL Specialist, Taps Segar To Lead Global Sports/Entertainment Practice
Ogilvy, backed by WPP, has invested in Chapel Hill‑based Article 41, a specialist agency in name, image and likeness (NIL) marketing. The deal appoints Article 41 co‑founder Vickie Segar as Ogilvy’s Global Chief Sports & Entertainment Officer to lead a new practice...
'Taste' Sensation: GSD&M Promotes Mateo's Salsa As Farm Fresh
GSD&M unveiled the “Farmer’s Market Fresh Taste” campaign for Texas‑based Mateo’s Salsa, featuring two 15‑second television spots and six‑second social cutdowns. The integrated effort runs across OLV, CTV, social platforms and retail media networks, targeting millennials and Gen X. The creative...
Digital Video Ad Spend To Climb 11% To $82B In 2026: IAB
The Interactive Advertising Bureau projects U.S. digital video ad spending to reach $81.9 billion in 2026, an 11% year‑over‑year increase that outpaces the overall advertising market by 20%. Social‑media video is set to grow 13% to $31.9 billion, overtaking connected TV (CTV)...
In FIFA-Tied Corporate Campaign, Bristol Myers Squibb 'Won't Lose'
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) launched the "Won’t Lose" campaign, its biggest corporate image push in six years, timed with the FIFA World Cup. The 30‑second TV spot, voiced by two‑time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Ali Krieger, runs on connected‑TV platforms,...
Virginia AG Renews Bid To Enforce Time Limits For Social Media
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones is pressing the state to enforce SB 854, a law that would require social‑media platforms to verify users' ages and limit anyone under 16 to one hour of daily access without parental consent. In March, U.S....
News Industry At Odds With Free Speech Advocates Over Amazon's Perplexity Ban
A federal judge granted Amazon a preliminary injunction blocking Perplexity's AI‑driven shopping agent from accessing Amazon accounts, citing likely violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Perplexity is appealing the order to the 9th Circuit, while free‑speech groups argue...
Amtrak, Mekanism 'Build' NextGen Acela As Premier Train Travel
Amtrak, with agency Mekanism, launched “The Build,” a multi‑platform ad campaign promoting its NextGen Acela high‑speed service between Washington, D.C., and Boston. The spot highlights speed, luxury amenities, and positions rail as a faster alternative to congested I‑95 traffic, running...
Skittles Reclaims Its Weird With New Gummies Work
Skittles has rolled out a surreal advertising campaign for its Skittles Gummies, featuring odd visuals like a kangaroo‑costumed man and jellyfish massages to emphasize the product’s softness. The ads target Gen Z and run across TV, CTV, online video and social...
'NYT' Ad Seeks Higher Prenatal Nutrition Standards
Women’s health supplement startup Needed placed a full‑page ad in the April 26 New York Times demanding modernized U.S. prenatal nutrition standards. The company argues that the current guidelines, set in 1941 and based on data from a largely male population, leave...
Cultural Trust As Currency: Why Black Consumers Shift Spending Due To Brand Values
Black consumers are increasingly tying their purchasing power to brands that demonstrate authentic cultural understanding. Nielsen’s 2025 Attitudes on Representation Study shows over half consider a brand’s social stance a major factor, and 70% will abandon brands they feel devalue...
Valvoline Drives Fans To World Cup
Valvoline has launched its first FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, "The Original Motor Oil. For the Driven," leveraging a 160‑year brand heritage to connect with soccer fans traveling to host cities. A ParkMobile survey shows 18% of Americans plan road...
Long John Silver's Renews Alliance With Baldwin& As Creative AOR
Long John Silver’s, the 485‑location U.S. seafood chain, has renewed its creative agency of record agreement with Baldwin &, the firm that first handled its branding in 2017. The partnership returns to a full‑service model after a project‑based stint from 2020,...
Digital Ads Hit $294 Billion While Everyone Pretends This Is Normal
U.S. internet advertising revenue surged 13.9% in 2025, reaching a record $294.6 billion, according to the IAB/PwC report. The growth underscores digital’s dominance despite industry chatter that ad budgets remain under pressure. Mobile video and programmatic buying were the primary engines...
Infiniti, Nissan Trade Marketing Leads
Infiniti USA and Nissan USA have swapped senior marketing executives. Shelley Pratt, who led Infiniti’s marketing communications since 2022, is now Nissan’s director of brand and retail demand media reporting to CMO Allyson Witherspoon. Rob Martin, previously Nissan’s head of media,...
Teremana Tequila Aims To 'Share the Mana' For Good Vibes IRL
Teremana’s new “Share the Table, Share the Mana” campaign turns the brand’s mantra of good energy into real‑world experiences. It debuted with a pop‑up table on Venice Beach that revealed a bartender and cocktails, followed by a series of out‑of‑home...
Shortcut To Popularity: Grubhub's Loyalty Program
Grubhub is launching a month‑long Gold Days promotion for its Grubhub+ loyalty program, running May 1‑31. New members can sign up for six months at a 99‑cent monthly rate, a 90% discount off the regular $9.99 fee. During the campaign, members...
Court Won't Revive Lawsuit Against Meta Over Rohingya Genocide
A three‑judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to revive a class‑action lawsuit that accused Meta’s Facebook platform of fueling the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar. The appellate court dismissed the case on the basis that Section 230 of the...
Influencers Aren't Optional Anymore - They Are Critical to Any Good Media Plan
Influencer marketing has shifted from a peripheral add‑on to the backbone of modern social media plans. With 61% of consumers trusting creator recommendations more than brands, algorithms now favor influencer content, making it the most effective tool for reach, persuasion,...
Poke The Bear Promotes Mellow Mushroom's 'Sandwich'
Poke The Bear has rolled out “The Sandwich Reimagined,” a multi‑channel campaign promoting Mellow Mushroom’s new sandwich line, debuting at 10 locations on April 28 with a nationwide rollout slated for later 2026. The integrated effort spans digital, social, print,...
The Hot Inbox: Email Is Becoming More Like A Social Feed
Google's AI‑enhanced search now ranks email by relevance, turning inboxes into social‑feed‑like streams. About 40% of Gmail messages are being deprioritized by AI filters, forcing marketers to focus on list hygiene and true engagement. At the same time, Tempo Mails...
Utah Tourism Office Debuts Immersive Digital Experience To Match Night Skies
Utah’s Office of Tourism has transformed its VisitUtah.com site into an immersive "Dark Skies" experience that shifts from daylight to night in sync with the state’s actual sunset, complete with ambient wildlife sounds. The rollout coincides with the state‑wide designation...
Musk Appeals Dismissal Of Ad Boycott Suit Against WFA, Others
Elon Musk's X Corp. is appealing a federal judge's dismissal of its antitrust lawsuit accusing the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and ten major brands of orchestrating an ad‑boycott that allegedly cost X billions in revenue. The suit, filed in...
Day One Agency Debuts Side Projects To Aid Brands' Cultural Impact
Day One Agency has launched Side Projects, a new studio that treats critical thinking, writing and editorial point‑of‑view as competitive advantages for brands in an AI‑driven market. Led by strategy director Eli Williams and editorial director Clara Malley, the unit offers newsletters,...
Johannes Leonardo Serves Up On The Rocks
On The Rocks has expanded its “Make it a Cocktail” campaign with two new ready‑to‑drink margaritas—Passion Fruit Margarita and Sparkling Watermelon Margarita—both made with Hornitos tequila. The creative, developed by Johannes Leonardo, will run on OLV and paid‑social channels, emphasizing...