Mobile
After a successful pilot in Los Angeles, Tinder has expanded its Events feature to nine cities including New York and Berlin. The feature focuses on offline group activities, and data shows it is particularly popular among Gen Z users. This move is one of Match Group's strategic initiatives to address declining monthly active users and drive users toward real-world social scenarios.
According to the latest Sensor Tower report, sports brand advertising is accelerating its shift to digital channels, with spending on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok increasing by 25% year-over-year, and mobile app advertising spending growing by 116%. During the World Cup, digital advertising spending on prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket increased by 104% and 286% quarter-over-quarter, respectively.
Amid the buzz of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, YouTube for Business released a report indicating that sports creators are becoming a key bridge for brand partnerships. The report shows that 66% of Gen Z sports fans turn to YouTube for related content before and after watching live events, and it highlights creator case studies such as Haaland and Rachel DeMita, while also introducing collaboration methods like Takeovers and YouTube Select Line-ups.
An Upside survey of 3,400 consumers shows that although 86% of respondents consider loyalty rewards important, the actual frequent usage rates for grocery, fuel/convenience store, and restaurant loyalty programs are only 59%, 49%, and 38%, respectively. EY experts point out that program design needs to go beyond heavy users, focus on mid-tier consumers, and boost engagement through instant incentives and personalized experiences.
Through the "Back to the Hut" campaign, Pizza Hut allows members to participate in brand knowledge quizzes to win rewards, and introduces Dinner Service NY collaborative apparel and a Throwback Value Menu. This initiative is part of the "Hut Originals" platform, aiming to attract adult consumers with nostalgia while emphasizing value for money. Prior to the campaign's launch, Yum Brands had agreed to sell the chain for $2.7 billion.
Meta is updating disclosure labels for AI-generated content in Facebook and Instagram ads to align with recent changes to its ad disclosure list. The new labels will appear in the "About this ad" section, accessible via the three-dot menu at the top right of an ad. Meta will automatically add AI information labels to ads created using its generative AI features, such as background generation, image generation, or adding animations, as well as to ads where AI editing traces are detected through third-party tools like Photoshop and DALL-E. This move aims to increase transparency of AI content and help identify potentially misleading ads.
Chipotle announced a collaboration with golf game PGA Tour 2K25, featuring three in-game challenges where players can earn real-world rewards such as free entrées, double protein, and virtual gear based on performance. The brand also introduced a physical divot tool inspired by its black fork logo. This campaign is part of the brand's broader push into the golf space, complementing its recently relaunched member rewards program to boost in-store transaction attribution.
Reddit has unveiled its 'People are the Best' brand campaign, highlighting the insightfulness of real human conversations on the platform to distinguish itself from other apps flooded with AI-generated content. The campaign involves agency Mischief, with initial ads launching in New York and Chicago, and plans to expand to more U.S. markets.
Taco Bell announced the launch of a global marketing initiative called 'Loss Or Celebration Outcome Support' (L.O.C.O.S.), designed to tap into the emotional highs and lows of major sports events like the World Cup. Through gamified reward experiences within its mobile app and various offline events, the campaign aims to engage consumers and boost brand loyalty. The initiative runs until July 13, with plans to expand to other cultural and sporting events after the tournament.
Meta has introduced embedded appointment booking for lead ads, allowing users to be redirected directly to the advertiser's third-party booking process after submitting a form, without waiting for follow-up contact. The feature requires no coding, supports Calendly and HighLevel, with HubSpot support coming soon. It is currently available only for Facebook ads and is expected to be fully available globally in October.