#viral-media-impact
#viral-media-impact

13 hours ago

Social Media Trends and the Popularity of NeeDoh Toys

Social media trends significantly influence the popularity of NeeDoh toys, which serve as stress relief tools for teens.

Hot Take: YouTube Shouldn't Rely On Creators To Convince Brands It's TV | AdExchanger

YouTube aims to position itself as a television alternative to attract larger advertising budgets.

Privacy technologies

YouTube now lets you hide Shorts

Online marketing

fromgizmodo.com

YouTube Will Stop Showing Ads If You Just Engage Hard Enough

YouTube introduces a feature that reduces ads during livestreams based on viewer engagement in chat.

YouTube livestreams will now hold back ads during peak engagement to protect the vibe | TechCrunch

YouTube will hold back ads during peak chat engagement to enhance viewer experience and reward supporters with ad-free moments.

fromAdExchanger

Hot Take: YouTube Shouldn't Rely On Creators To Convince Brands It's TV | AdExchanger

YouTube aims to position itself as a television alternative to attract larger advertising budgets.

Privacy technologies

YouTube now lets you hide Shorts

Online marketing

fromgizmodo.com

YouTube Will Stop Showing Ads If You Just Engage Hard Enough

YouTube introduces a feature that reduces ads during livestreams based on viewer engagement in chat.

YouTube livestreams will now hold back ads during peak engagement to protect the vibe | TechCrunch

YouTube will hold back ads during peak chat engagement to enhance viewer experience and reward supporters with ad-free moments.

Fashion & style

Meet the AI influencers taking over Coachella and killing off the real thing

fromThe Atlantic

1 week ago

How Fake People Became Real Influencers

AI influencers are flooding social media, creating a new kind of fatigue where authenticity may no longer matter.

AI Creators Can Go Viral. They Just Can't Close The Sale

AI-generated influencers like Baddie Betty are reshaping marketing with full control, lower costs, and projected market growth to $45.8 billion by 2030.

Fashion & style

fromThe Independent

2 hours ago

Meet the AI influencers taking over Coachella and killing off the real thing

Aitana Lopez is an AI-generated influencer created by The Clueless, earning up to $10,000 monthly through brand deals.

fromThe Atlantic

1 week ago

How Fake People Became Real Influencers

AI influencers are flooding social media, creating a new kind of fatigue where authenticity may no longer matter.

AI Creators Can Go Viral. They Just Can't Close The Sale

AI-generated influencers like Baddie Betty are reshaping marketing with full control, lower costs, and projected market growth to $45.8 billion by 2030.

more#ai-influencers

The State Of Influencer Marketing In Gaming

The gaming industry is rapidly growing, with revenues expected to reach $503.14 billion by 2025, driven by mobile gaming and influencer marketing.

fromThe Drum

1 hour ago

Agency leaders debate: Does marketing call for narrower expertise than ever before?

The debate between generalism and specialism in agencies continues, with leaders questioning which approach is more beneficial for success.

Philosophy

13 hours ago

AI and the Meaningless Gap

The comparison between AI and human intelligence may be fundamentally flawed as they occupy different spaces of cognition.

SF LGBT

fromWIRED

The Influencers Normalizing Not Having Sex

Abstinence from sex is rising among both genders, with young women experiencing a significant increase in celibacy.

#friendship

Relationships

fromwww.theguardian.com

My friend keeps sending me unsettling social media videos. How do I tell her to stop? | Leading questions

Friendship dynamics can shift when communication preferences are not respected, leading to feelings of disconnect.

fromBustle

Inject Whimsy Into Your Friendships With The "First Follower Theory"

An audacious friend is essential for embracing whimsical ideas and creating exciting, supportive friendships.

Relationships

fromwww.theguardian.com

My friend keeps sending me unsettling social media videos. How do I tell her to stop? | Leading questions

Friendship dynamics can shift when communication preferences are not respected, leading to feelings of disconnect.

fromBustle

Inject Whimsy Into Your Friendships With The "First Follower Theory"

An audacious friend is essential for embracing whimsical ideas and creating exciting, supportive friendships.

The Stack: Advertising's Next Phase - ExchangeWire.com

Advertising, streaming, and regulation are converging as platforms focus on monetization amid increasing scrutiny and evolving industry standards.

Everything we like is a psyop | TechCrunch

Geese's rise in popularity is attributed to strategic marketing efforts rather than purely musical merit.

Music

fromAV Club

Congratulations, you discovered digital marketing

Geese's Coachella performance included a cover of Justin Bieber's 'Baby', highlighting their connection through the marketing agency Chaotic Good.

Music production

Everything we like is a psyop | TechCrunch

Geese's rise in popularity is attributed to strategic marketing efforts rather than purely musical merit.

Music

fromAV Club

Congratulations, you discovered digital marketing

Geese's Coachella performance included a cover of Justin Bieber's 'Baby', highlighting their connection through the marketing agency Chaotic Good.

As Online Ads Lose Impact, These Throwback Marketing Strategies Are Quietly Winning Attention

Old-school marketing tactics like direct mail and long-form content are resurging as effective strategies in a saturated digital landscape.

Television

The TV And Movie Content That Drove Social Media In 2025

Younger generations prefer social media recommendations for TV and movies over traditional streaming platform suggestions.

Growth hacking

fromEntrepreneur

How to Turn a Product Into Something People Actually Talk About

Distribution should be integral to product development from the start, focusing on one channel before expanding.

#social-media

Digital life

Social media has positive benefits for teens

SaySo is a new short-form video app that aims to restore users' trust in news | TechCrunch

SaySo is a new app that curates news from vetted creators to combat misinformation and enhance user trust.

The Verdict on Social Media Addiction

Recent verdicts against Meta and YouTube indicate social media harm is linked to platform design, particularly affecting adolescents' mental health.

Digital life

Shocking: Parents think their teens spend too much time on TikTok, a new study reveals

Why Are We So Dependent on Social Media?

Social media's addictive design and users' need for identity and community contribute to deep dependence on these platforms.

Most US teens say TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat aren't hurting (or helping) their mental health

Most teens report social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat do not harm their mental health, but some experience negative effects on sleep and productivity.

Social media has positive benefits for teens

Teens prefer TikTok for entertainment and product information, while Snapchat is favored for connecting with friends and private conversations.

SaySo is a new short-form video app that aims to restore users' trust in news | TechCrunch

SaySo is a new app that curates news from vetted creators to combat misinformation and enhance user trust.

The Verdict on Social Media Addiction

Recent verdicts against Meta and YouTube indicate social media harm is linked to platform design, particularly affecting adolescents' mental health.

Shocking: Parents think their teens spend too much time on TikTok, a new study reveals

Parents are more concerned about teens' TikTok usage than teens themselves, with 44% of parents worried compared to 28% of teens.

Why Are We So Dependent on Social Media?

Social media's addictive design and users' need for identity and community contribute to deep dependence on these platforms.

Online Community Development

Most US teens say TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat aren't hurting (or helping) their mental health

Most teens report social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat do not harm their mental health, but some experience negative effects on sleep and productivity.

more#social-media

fromEntrepreneur

The Right Way to Build an Online Community Around Your Brand

Businesses must control their online spaces to mitigate legal, ethical, and reputational risks associated with unmoderated communities.

Pets

fromDoggodigest

Pets Make Better Social Media Influencers Than People, Study Finds - Doggodigest

Pets, especially dogs, are more trusted social media influencers than humans, according to recent research.

Psychology

fromBustle

The Viral "Chair Theory" Will Help You Find Your People

Chair theory helps identify where you belong socially by recognizing who invites you to their table and who does not.

Silicon Valley food

6 days ago

This TikTok vigilante is calling out what he says are obnoxious influencers and getting legal threats

Jay became a prominent influencer critic after mocking entitled influencers, helping to grow his family's snack brand on TikTok.

#influencer-marketing

fromHer Campus

FOLLOWERS DON'T EQUAL SALES: WHY INFLUENCER BRANDS ARE MISSING THE MARK

Influencer marketing is losing effectiveness as consumers demand more than just a large following; they seek product differentiation and value.

Podcast

fromThe Drum

Creators everywhere: the rise of influencers and creative collaboration

Influencer marketing requires transparent disclosures, long-term relationship building, and centralized strategies to navigate evolving regulations and maximize social media impact.

6 days ago

Finding The Right Influencers For Your Brand

Brands should combine intuition with data analytics to select the right creators for collaborations.

AI influencer discovery tools are changing how agencies cast creators

AI is increasingly used for influencer selection in marketing campaigns, enhancing brand engagement and measurable impacts.

fromThe Business of Fashion

The Other Side: How Influencers Choose Brands!

Influencers prioritize brand partnerships that align with their audience interests, maintain audience trust, and support their long-term creator goals and values.

Social media marketing

The New Rules for Influencer Marketing | The Debrief

fromHer Campus

FOLLOWERS DON'T EQUAL SALES: WHY INFLUENCER BRANDS ARE MISSING THE MARK

Influencer marketing is losing effectiveness as consumers demand more than just a large following; they seek product differentiation and value.

Podcast

fromThe Drum

Creators everywhere: the rise of influencers and creative collaboration

Influencer marketing requires transparent disclosures, long-term relationship building, and centralized strategies to navigate evolving regulations and maximize social media impact.

6 days ago

Finding The Right Influencers For Your Brand

Brands should combine intuition with data analytics to select the right creators for collaborations.

AI influencer discovery tools are changing how agencies cast creators

AI is increasingly used for influencer selection in marketing campaigns, enhancing brand engagement and measurable impacts.

fromThe Business of Fashion

The Other Side: How Influencers Choose Brands!

Influencers prioritize brand partnerships that align with their audience interests, maintain audience trust, and support their long-term creator goals and values.

more#influencer-marketing

Social media marketing

The New Rules for Influencer Marketing | The Debrief

Artificial intelligence

fromDigital Trends

7 hours ago

AI is entering the Skynet debate moment in the social media hype circles

AI doom influencers are reshaping public and policymaker perceptions of artificial intelligence, emphasizing potential risks and worst-case scenarios.

Meta simplifies ad performance elements

Meta updates its Pixel and Conversions API to simplify data gathering and improve ad targeting for businesses, especially smaller ones.

fromObserver

Facing A.I. Slop and Shifting Algorithms, Brands Bet on Streamers to Stay Real

MrBeast exemplifies success in the creator economy, leveraging YouTube and livestreams while expanding into various media ventures.

Future of Marketing Briefing: Why brand builders are back in fashion

CPG companies are shifting focus from performance marketers to brand builders in their hiring practices.

frommarginalia.nu

Artificial intelligence

AI makes you boring

AI-aided development leads to less original thinking and boring projects, diminishing the quality of programming discussions.

fromInc

Meta Is On Track to Beat Google as the World's Top Ad Platform-Because It Mastered 3 Digital Media Principles

Meta is projected to surpass Google in global digital advertising revenue by 2026, marking a significant shift in the industry.

Go play this secret game in your TikTok DMs | TechCrunch

TikTok has introduced a secret emoji game in DMs where users bounce across alligators to compete for high scores.

TikTok Is Designed to Get Users Hooked

TikTok's algorithm effectively transforms casual users into heavy users by continuously adapting to their viewing preferences.

TikTok ads are about to get a tad more disruptive | TechCrunch

TikTok introduces new ad formats to enhance brand visibility and engagement, including Logo Takeover, Prime Time, and Top Reach.

fromWWD

Beauty Brands Are Heavily Reliant on Paid Content for TikTok Growth, Data Shows

Paid content significantly drives TikTok views growth for beauty brands, with most top brands relying heavily on sponsored content.

fromAdExchanger

TikTok On Why Brands Can't Buy Its New Ad Formats Programmatically | AdExchanger

TikTok's NewFronts presentation showcased a shift towards optimism with new features and ad formats under the TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC.

fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

How much TikTok likes should you get to go viral? - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

TikTok virality depends on engagement, retention, and audience match rather than a specific number of likes.

Games

Go play this secret game in your TikTok DMs | TechCrunch

TikTok has introduced a secret emoji game in DMs where users bounce across alligators to compete for high scores.

TikTok Is Designed to Get Users Hooked

TikTok's algorithm effectively transforms casual users into heavy users by continuously adapting to their viewing preferences.

TikTok ads are about to get a tad more disruptive | TechCrunch

TikTok introduces new ad formats to enhance brand visibility and engagement, including Logo Takeover, Prime Time, and Top Reach.

fromWWD

Beauty Brands Are Heavily Reliant on Paid Content for TikTok Growth, Data Shows

Paid content significantly drives TikTok views growth for beauty brands, with most top brands relying heavily on sponsored content.

fromAdExchanger

TikTok On Why Brands Can't Buy Its New Ad Formats Programmatically | AdExchanger

TikTok's NewFronts presentation showcased a shift towards optimism with new features and ad formats under the TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC.

fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

How much TikTok likes should you get to go viral? - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

TikTok virality depends on engagement, retention, and audience match rather than a specific number of likes.

How We Maxxed Maxxing

Looksmaxxing is a trend where young men pursue attractiveness through various means, including self-harm and humor.

fromHer Campus

How Declining Attention Spans Are Changing Our Media

Second Screen Viewing influences writers to simplify storylines and dialogue for audiences distracted by their phones.

Why brands can't stop acting like reply guys and jumping into viral comment threads on social media

Brands are increasingly engaging in social media replies to drive interaction and remain culturally relevant.

Creator content has become critical for retail media networks

Retail media and the creator economy are increasingly interconnected, enhancing advertising effectiveness through data-driven creator partnerships.

Creator content has become critical for retail media networks

Retail media and the creator economy are increasingly interconnected, enhancing advertising effectiveness through data-driven creator partnerships.

Creator content has become critical for retail media networks

Retail media and the creator economy are increasingly interconnected, enhancing advertising effectiveness through data-driven creator partnerships.

Creator content has become critical for retail media networks

Retail media and the creator economy are increasingly interconnected, enhancing advertising effectiveness through data-driven creator partnerships.

How To Move From Paid Social Reach To Owned 1P-Data-Driven Connections

Brands are shifting focus from paid social ads to building direct relationships with customers through first-party data and owned channels.

Alix Earle and Alex Cooper are feuding, and the internet has a favorite

Alex Cooper and Alix Earle are feuding, with social sentiment showing more negativity towards Cooper.

Instagram expands Your Algorithm tool to Explore

Instagram expands its Your Algorithm feature, allowing users to control content recommendations in Explore and Reels.

fromRAIN News

Spotify's "Wrapped" Branding Influence ... Wrapped

Annual 'Wrapped' branding has inspired various companies to summarize user engagement and performance in a personalized format.

fromAV Club

Netflix is adding a vertical video feed to compete with YouTube

Netflix will launch a redesigned mobile app featuring a TikTok-like vertical video feed focused on promoting its shows and movies.

fromPew Research Center

Teens' Experiences on TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat | Pew Research Center

Teens' experiences and views on social media vary significantly across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.

fromWIRED

There's Something Very Dark About a Lot of Those Viral AI Fruit Videos

"I've spent a lot of time looking at the comment sections on these videos actually, and it does not seem like bots. I clicked on people's profiles, these are real profiles, thousands of followers, no signs of inorganic activity. People just like it."

Television

fromSocial Media Examiner

Facebook's 2026 Rules for Reach & Relevance : Social Media Examiner

Facebook is prioritizing original content and Reels, impacting reach for creators and marketers.

Creator Marketing's $500 Billion Blind Spot In Video Advertising

Brands treat creator marketing as sponsorships rather than media investments, limiting its growth potential despite significant market opportunities.

Pinterest's latest ad campaign encourages people to get off social media

Pinterest's new ad campaign positions it as an anti-social media platform, encouraging users to engage in offline activities.

fromColumbus Ledger-Enquirer

Generation Z marketing strategies for small businesses

Gen Z prioritizes sustainability, transparency, and social responsibility in their purchasing decisions.

BeReal is on a charm offensive to bring creators onto its platform and connect them with advertisers

BeReal is actively engaging US influencers to enhance user engagement and regain momentum after a decline in downloads.

fromThe Hollywood Reporter

1 week ago

Top Influencers' Secret Weapon for Engagement Might Be Replaced by AI

Evan Stanfield's marketing agency Clipping Culture utilizes freelancers to create shortform videos, while AI technology is increasingly used in video editing and production.

Social media marketing

5 Tips to Amplify your Social Strategy

Social media is essential for brands to engage audiences and grow their business through a multichannel approach and consistent content delivery.

fromInman

The 'Carl's a mess' trend shows conversation outperforms

Earning attention requires participation and relatability, as cultural trends reflect real behaviors and invite audience engagement.

US news

fromVogue

What Does an Americanized TikTok Mean for Brands and Creators?

TikTok US will operate as a majority American-owned joint venture, ensuring continued availability in the US under national-security safeguards and data protections.

fromTheWrap

Clipping Viral Social Videos Has Become Big Business

Clavicular's rise exemplifies the effectiveness of clipping shortform videos for creators in gaining viral fame.

Online marketing

fromMarTech

What TikTok gets right about attention and what email overlooks | MarTech

Email marketing remains highly effective and profitable but often uses outdated, linear designs that don't match modern attention behaviors shaped by short-form social media.

fromEMARKETER

TikTok advertisers are rapidly shifting to automated campaigns

42% of US TikTok performance ad campaigns use Tinuiti's Smart+ automated solution, up from 9% at the start of 2025.

fromSocial Media Today

TikTok Launches New Ad Options for Streaming Providers

Personalized Streaming and New Title Launch Ads convert viewers into subscribers while platforms spotlight festivals and films frontload action and repeat plot beats.

fromPhys

Social media influencers increase the toxicity and power of misinformation, research shows

Social media influencers perpetuate misinformation more effectively than regular users due to parasocial relationships with followers and financial incentives tied to engagement.

Four Ways Influencer Marketing on TikTok Will Evolve in 2023

Creator-led TikTok campaigns surged 300% year-over-year in 2022, with brands increasingly centering creators in marketing strategies rather than treating them as secondary promotional tools.

How TikTok is redefining the way we search

Young people increasingly use TikTok and Instagram instead of Google to search for businesses and places, with 40% of US teens aged 18-24 preferring social platforms for restaurant discovery.

Why your social content should make people curious

It's our job to be translators of science so people understand what's happening and why it's so important. It's a global ocean. Just because something's happening in one place, doesn't mean it's not going to have an effect elsewhere in the world.

Social media marketing

fromEntrepreneur

Why the Era of Viral Marketing Is Over

Disciplined, incremental optimization through operational efficiency now outperforms splashy campaigns and major reinventions in volatile markets with reduced failure margins.

Why more brands are rethinking influencer marketing with gamified micro-creator programs

Major retailers are replacing traditional affiliate marketing with gamified, always-on creator programs that reward micro-creators for consistent content and build long-term brand relationships.

9 Ways To Stand Out In A Social Media World Full Of Slop

AI-generated slop floods social media, making quality content visibility harder; success requires committing to meaningful, audience-focused content over quantity.

Stories: The Ultimate Social Media Algorithm Hack

While the main feed is built for discovery and curated content, stories are built for connection. For local businesses like bakeries, cafes and restaurants, this distinction isn't just a technicality; it is a direct line to the consumer's daily routine.

Social media marketing

fromNeil Patel

3 months ago

The Future of Social Media Trends in 2026 | Neil Patel

Brands must prioritize valuable content, community building, and intent-aligned strategies as social platforms become search-driven and AI reshapes discovery and visibility.

SOCIAL 2020 FACTS AND FORECASTS

Space & Time is a growth marketing agency, enabling clients to secure optimal value from every part of the customer experience and their marketing investment.

Social media marketing

fromPR Daily

Social media updates and new features to know this week - PR Daily

LinkedIn adds verified AI skill badges; X's Brand Ranx tracks Super Bowl ad engagement live; Meta enables creator content to be promoted as ads.

fromBusiness Matters