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The latest report from Hub Entertainment Research shows a significant increase in consumer acceptance of streaming ads, with 69% of respondents willing to watch ads to save money, up 11 percentage points from 2021. Based on a survey of 3,000 U.S. consumers, the report reveals rising ad tolerance, differences in data trust, and divisions over AI applications.
As the second half of 2026 approaches, marketers are beginning to plan holiday promotions. Industry expert Andrew Hutchinson, in the "Sociable" column on Social Media Today, points out that given Reddit's growing weight in AI search and brand discovery, brands should reassess traditional social strategies. This article proposes five recommendations: register for free Reddit Pro to access analytics tools, use Reddit Trends to track industry keywords, deeply understand the context of community discussions, develop organic and paid strategies accordingly, and continuously monitor performance through Reddit Pro.
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.
Alphabet's Q2 earnings show Google's ad revenue up 14% year-over-year to $81.6 billion, with total revenue growing 24% to $119.8 billion. Gemini AI plays a key role in search and shopping ads, and YouTube attracted over 1.7 billion global viewers due to World Cup content. The company also raised its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to $195-205 billion.
Ugg launched its back-to-school marketing campaign on Thursday, themed around inspiring confidence and individuality through art, inviting alternative pop band Muna to participate, and collaborating with art school students in the U.S. and Canada for content co-creation. The campaign is being promoted across platforms including Meta, TikTok, Snap, and Pinterest, while also making donations to LGBTQ+ and music-related nonprofit organizations, and offering purchase-with-purchase gifts and student discounts.
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.
Hanes is shifting to a bolder marketing style through its "Get Comfortable" campaign, using four scenarios to depict wearers feeling confident in awkward situations because of their comfort. The campaign was crafted by agency Special U.S. and comes with a brand identity update, marking the first major creative move since its parent company was acquired by Gildan.
American Eagle launched its back-to-school marketing campaign on Wednesday, spanning social media, experiential events, and brand advertising. Spanish star Lamine Yamal has become the centerpiece of the campaign after winning the World Cup, and the brand will also leverage the mall recovery and college campus trends to reach Gen Z.
Zevia announced a collaboration with Cardi B to launch its largest national marketing campaign to date, 'Real Talk Interpreter.' The campaign merges Cardi B's straightforward style with the brand's natural ingredient positioning through humorous advertisements, social media interactions, and retail displays, encouraging consumers to share complex conversations for her take.
Liberty Mutual introduced a new brand character, Liberty Biberty, on Monday, derived from a verbal slip in a 2019 advertisement and developed in collaboration with Jim Henson's Creature Shop. The brand hopes to stand out in the insurance category and plans to promote it through multi-channel campaigns.