1. It was only a matter of time before Snapchat realized that BeReal's key value proposition - being able to record and share videos together in real-time - is more of a function than it is a solo app or network. And functions can be copied, and broadcast out to much bigger audiences in the established apps.
Snapchat's new 'Dual' recording feature lets two people record video together, in real-time,
regardless of where they are in the world. The video is then automatically synced and played back in unison, ensuring that both people are always in sync with each other. So say hello to Snapchat's new 'Dual' recording feature!
2. Hyundai Motor Company teamed up with Netflix to provide various retro models from the 1980s and a location for a car chase in new film “Seoul Vibe,” per a company
release. The automaker will also reveal the silhouette of its new Grandeur (Azera) model in a digital spot themed to the film, which Netflix released Aug. 26.
In addition, Hyundai recreated the garage shown in the film on metaverse platform Second Life, which launched Aug. 23. Users can explore the garage, check out the cars and even participate in a virtual car chase.
"By digitally launching our new Grandeur in 'Seoul Vibe' on Second Life before it hits showrooms, we are
providing an immersive experience that gives a taste of owning this vehicle," Wonhong Cho, chief marketing officer at Hyundai Motor Company, said in the release.
3.According to a recent survey, inflation has caused many American households to downgrade or cancel their subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and/or pay TV services. In fact, almost one in five respondents reported reducing or canceling an SVOD service, and 16% reported
doing the same with a pay TV service. The survey also found that the majority of respondents who downgraded or canceled their service did so because they felt that the price was too high. This is not surprising, given that the cost of living has been rising steadily in recent years. However, it is worth noting that the price of entertainment services has also been on the rise. For example, the average monthly entertaiment in the United States now exceeds $100. As a result, it is no wonder that
many people are reevaluating their spending on entertainment services. While it may be painful in the short term, it appears that inflation is causing many people to reassess their priorities and make some tough choices about where to spend their money.
4. The Federal Trade Commission on Monday sued mobile analytics company Kochava for allegedly selling information about people's locations, including information that could reveal visits to
abortion clinics. The suit alleges that Kochava collected detailed location data from more than 100 million devices without consumers' knowledge or consent. The FTC alleges that Kochava sold this data to at least 20 third-party buyers, including one that used the data to target ads to people who had visited abortion clinics. Kochava denied the allegations, saying that it took "great care" to protect people's privacy. The case is likely to increase scrutiny of the way mobile apps collect
and use location data.
5. Microsoft is urging marketers to migrate from Expanded Text Ads to Responsive Search Ads (RSA). They’ve extended the deadline to February 1st 2023. If you’re still in the migration process, Microsoft recommends including at least one RSA in all your ad groups for better performance. So what’s the big deal with RSA? And why should you listen to Microsoft? Well, RSA allows you to create multiple versions
of your ad, which are then shown to users based on factors like search history and location. This means that your ad is more likely to be relevant to the user, which can lead to higher click-through rates. In addition, RSA gives you more control over the display of your ad, allowing you to choose which parts of your ad are shown and in what order. As a result, RSA can be a powerful tool for driving traffic to your website. So if you’re still in the process of migrating to RSA, make sure to
include at least one RSA in all your ad groups. It could make a world of difference for your campaign.
6. Google is on a mission to make ads better. In October, the company is rolling out a policy that requires ad experiences on destinations—like websites and landing pages—to conform to Coalition for Better Ads standards. Google Play is also cracking down on "unexpected" ads to improve "experiences for users." As a result, Google is making it
easier for users to have a better experience with ads. Here are four ways Google is making ads better:
1.ads must meet Coalition for Better Ads standards: Starting in October, all ads on destinations must meet the standards set by the Coalition for Better Ads. The Coalition for Better Ads is an industry group that includes companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. The group's standards are designed to improve the ad experience for users.
2.Google Play is cracking
down on "unexpected" ads: On September 30, Google Play will begin cracking down on "unexpected" ads. These are ads that are not clearly labeled as ads, or that are disguised as other content. This change will improve the user experience by reducing the number of "surprise" ads.
3."In-app"ads will be more targeted: In-app ads are those that appear in apps, like games or social media apps. Starting in October, these ads will be more targeted to users, based on their interests. This change
will result in more relevant and useful ads for users.
4.Ads must be "family friendly": In order to be eligible for Google's ad network, advertisers must show that their ads are "family friendly." This means that they cannot contain profanity, violence, or other adult content. This change will make it easier for families to use Google's ad network without having to worry about inappropriate content.
Overall, Google is making changes to make sure that users have a better
experience with its advertising products. These changes will make it easier for users to find relevant and useful information through its ad products while also reducing the chances of seeing "surprise" or offensive ads.
7. In a major setback for Google, a federal appellate court has ruled that the company must face antitrust claims brought by the online ad tech company Inform, Inc. The ruling, issued Friday, reverses a decision by U.S.
District Court Judge J.P. Boulee, who had ruled that Inform's complaint was too light on concrete allegations to proceed.
The appellate court's decision is a significant victory for Inform, which has accused Google of using its dominant position in the online advertising market to stifle competition. In particular, Inform has claimed that Google is engaged in "tying" tactics, whereby it requires advertisers to use its AdWords platform in order to reach a wider audience. If
successful, Inform's suit couldresult in a major shake-up of the online advertising market.
For its part, Google has denied any wrongdoing, and has vowed to fight the claims vigorously. It remains to be seen how this case will ultimately play out, but it is clear that Google now faces an uphill battle in defending itself against these antitrust allegations.
8. As the pandemic has pushed mobile gaming further into the mainstream, the
trend could be due for a resurgence on apps like TikTok and Facebook’s Instagram. TikTok recently launched a gaming pilot with partners Vodoo, Nitro Games, FRVR, Aim Lab and Lotum. According to TechCrunch, which confirmed the pilot, the new mini-games are found inside the TikTok app while creating a video. When a link to play the game appears in the editing interface, users can challenge friends to beat their high score. The games will also appear on users’ profiles as permanent clips.
It’s not clear how long the pilot will run or if TikTok plans to make the games available to all users. But given the popularity of Instagram’s similar “IG Stories” feature, it wouldn’t be surprising to see TikTok eventually roll out mini-games more broadly. Facebook is also reportedly working on a “secret” project that would add gaming features to Instagram. The social networking giant has been on a hiring spree for its “playable ads team,” which is responsible for developing ad formats that
let users “play” a game without downloading it first. According to Business Insider, Facebook is also testing a new “gamification” feature for Pages that would let businesses add quizzes, polls and other interactive elements to their posts. With more people spending time on their phones than ever before, it’s no surprise that apps are looking for ways to keep users engaged. And given the success of past efforts like Snapchat’s Lenses and Facebook’s filters, it seems likely that mini-games could
be the next big thing in mobile gaming.
9. Just nine months ago, Instagram was getting nearly 100 times more downloads than BeReal. But BeReal got 6.5M new downloads between July and August—nearly 2M more downloads than Instagram! Pics or it didn’t happen: Not surprisingly, Instagram is prototyping its own version of a feature that asks users to take candid photos at specific times… you know, like BeReal. Why we care: While BeReal
hasn’t fully caught up to Instagram just yet, it’s well on its way to becoming the next big thing in social media.
10. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is the US’s most sweeping state-level consumer data protection law. It went into effect in January of 2020, and last week, the state’s attorney general Rob Bonta announced the first enforcement action under the CCPA. Sephora, a beauty retailer, has agreed to pay a $1.2m
settlement over alleged violations of the CCPA.
This is a significant development, as it signals that the state of California is serious about enforcing the CCPA. The settlement also provides some guidance on what types of activities will violate the CCPA. For example, Sephora allegedly collected consumers’ personal information without their knowledge or consent, failed to provide a mechanism for consumers to opt out of the collection of their personal information, and failed to
adequately secure consumers’ personal information.
While the CCPA is still relatively new, this enforcement action demonstrates that companies need to take it seriously and ensure they are in compliance with its provisions. Otherwise, they risk facing significant fines and penalties.