US mobile and digital ad spend sees modest growth despite pandemic
Digital and mobile ad spend in the US will grow modest amount in 2020, even as the pandemic cause overall ad spend to plunge $16.4bn, according to new research.
Microsoft in talks to buy TikTok (as Trump mulls US ban)
Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy controversial video sharing app TikTok, as US president Donald Trump threatens to ban the platform in the US.
Tech titans vs. US Congress: Zuckerberg, Cook, Pichai and Bezos face blockbuster grilling over digital monopoly
Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon bosses have appeared virtually together at a US hearing, grilled over having ‘too much power’.
Digital monopoly? Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple hearing delayed
A blockbuster antitrust hearing featuring CEOs from four of the biggest tech companies in the world has been postponed.
Instagram Shop goes live in US: Pinterest meets Amazon?
Instagram has launched the next stage of its on-platform ecommerce experience with a new ‘Shop’ section in the Explore tab, showcasing a range of personalised items within a single buyable feed.
US shopping trends: Ecommerce sales rise 76% on last year
Consumers continued to move more of their shopping online, with June generating a record $73.2bn in total spend, up 76.2% on last year, according to new research.
#AutopilotWhopper: Burger King turns smart car bug into ad campaign
Burger King has turned a viral video featuring a smart car ‘stopping’ at one of its restaurants into a social media ad campaign.
Top 20 Coronavirus ads in the world: Google Japan’s ‘Thank You’ tops list
A Google Japan advert is the most emotionally engaging Coronavirus campaign in the world, according to new research.
TikTok use soars in Western markets as locked-down teens turn to social media
TikTok usage has more than doubled its number of users since the COVID-19 outbreak, with one-third of 15-25-year-olds in western markets are using the social media newcomer.
Nike tweets ‘Don’t do it’ amid global BLM protests
Nike has released a new advert in response to the Black Lives Matter protests with the slogan: “Don’t Do It”.
Global 5G adoption remains positive despite pandemic
While the current health crisis and economic uncertainty will have short-term impacts on 5G adoption, the future for 5G remains bright, according new research.
Snapchat removes Donald Trump’s account from Discover page due to ‘racial violence’
Snapchat has announced it will stop “promoting” the account of US president Donald Trump on the image messaging platform, as tensions between White House and social media platforms escalates.
Twitter fail: Gin firm apologises for ‘flammable’ tweet about US riots
Bristol Gin has faced a social media backlash after it tweeted that rioters favoured its gin due to its flammability.
Microsoft ‘to replace 50 journalists with AI robots’
Microsoft is replacing up to 50 journalists and replacing them with AI robots designed to pick suitable news stories.
Twitter hides Trump tweet for ‘glorifying violence’ as social media row escalates
Twitter has flagged down one of Donald Trump’s tweets after the president wrote “When the looting starts, shooting starts” in response to violent protests over the death of a black man in Minneapolis.
Trump threatens to ‘close down’ social media firms amid Twitter row
Donald Trump has threatened to “strongly regulate” or close down social media companies after Twitter flagged two of his tweets to a fact-checking page.
Covid 19 and how brands stepped-up to help both customers and staff
The world’s biggest health crisis, became the world’s biggest economic crisis. Along the way many organisations changed the way they work. Internally they rapidly developed ways to support their staff, and externally they found new ways to help customers – often through radical changes to eiter what they normally offered or how they offered it.
Budweiser revamps iconic ‘Whassup’ ad for lockdown
Budweiser has reworked a classic commercial spot from 21 years ago, using digital technology to bring the ‘Whassup’ ad into the age of the quarantine, along with a new series of ads featuring current stars.
Case study: Adidas uses Google data insights to create targeted storytelling and more relevant product messages
In a crowded marketplace, Adidas needed a way to stand out from the competition and serve relevant messages to people at crucial points in their purchase decisions. This case study looks at how the sportswear brand used programmatic display ads to tell exactly the right stories to the right people, at the right step in the customer’s journey to maximise sales.
Global search trends: Massive growth in online grocery searches amid pandemic
The UK saw the biggest average increase of all countries, while local search volume for restaurants in the UK and similarly in France plunged to 95% below expected levels, according to new global research.