A landmark California ruling and Australia’s under‑16 social media ban have forced the ad industry to confront funding addictive platforms. But will the industry lead the shift to healthier digital spaces?
True
social media
The $200 billion moral dilemma: Should the ad industry fund healthier social media?
ethical marketing
google
instagram
meta
social media
social media ad spend
tiktok
youtube
Australian company fined for telling influencers to conceal paid posts
influencer
influencer marketing
influencers
regulation
regulations
social media
In a first-of-its-kind case, Australian authorities have slapped a US$27,608 penalty over undisclosed influencer gifting.
Australia’s under-16 ban could be the domino that reshapes online governance globally
social media
Brands must make online safety and wellbeing central to how they engage with youths, opines Burson's Douglas Dew. Winning over young audiences now means leading with compliance and purpose.
Ogilvy unifies social media offering in 16 APAC markets
ogilvy
ogilvy social
social media
In a major overhaul, Ogilvy has consolidated its expertise across 16 markets with 550 specialists to streamline social marketing. Jeremy Webb will lead the offering.
Reddit: The social-media dark horse gaining momentum with advertisers
media spend
reddit
reddit ads
social media
Once overlooked by advertisers, Reddit is rapidly emerging as a powerful and authentic platform that's challenging brands to rethink how they connect with audiences in an increasingly crowded social-media landscape.
Southeast Asia boom markets: How Indonesia is redefining social commerce
ecommerce
live commerce
live shopping
livestreaming
sea boom markets
shoppertainment
social commerce
social media
southeast asia boom markets
TikTok Shop and YouTube run the show in Indonesia, where brands and creators are turning live streams into must-watch cultural events—and a $22 billion growth opportunity by 2028.
How Selena Gomez’s album release is a masterclass in TikTok strategy
music advertising
selena gomez
social media
tik tok
Gomez's recent album release provides a blueprint of what a disruptive social marketing campaign looks like in the age of TikTok and short-form video.
Zuckerberg says AI could ‘redefine’ Meta’s ad business
ad spend
advertising
ai
meta
social media
Meta’s goal is to move towards a system where businesses only need to state their objective and bank account—AI will handle the rest.
Did marketing create the manosphere?
manosphere
marketing
social media
A new report reveals how marketing’s obsession with success and status has fuelled a toxic ideology in young men.
Why it’s time we took Singaporean content creators more seriously
content creation
influencer marketing
influencers
serious media
social media
Hazel Yap, co-founder of influencer marketing agency Serious Media, unpacks the business behind the buzz—arguing that content creation isn’t just Gen Z’s latest phase, but a viable career reshaping Asia’s marketing economy.
As Bluesky grows, opportunities abound for pharma brands
bluesky
pharma
social media
The likes of Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca have Bluesky accounts, though none are posting.
How YouTube turbocharges brand-creator partnerships
creator
creator economy
entertainment
google
media
social media
youtube
From long-form to Shorts, YouTube offers a powerful ecosystem where creators and brands can co-create stories that resonate—and drive real impact. Here’s how marketers can harness that full potential.
Out-of-phone: What happens when creator content leaves the feed?
loreal
ooh
outdoor
outofphone
social media
social media marketing
tiktok
TikTok’s Dan Page and L’Oréal’s Abhishek Grover share insights from a Southeast Asia-first campaign that tested the power of creator storytelling across screens and cities.
The power—and problem—of ‘girl words’ in 2025
dei
free speech
gender equality
social media
tik tok
Brands need to understand that women can feel alienated due to the ‘broligarchy’ and the corresponding rise in hate speech.
Brands are addicted to data and it’s killing creativity
algorithms
branding
opinion
social media
In an era where algorithms dominate every decision, brand consultancy founder Upasna Dash argues that true brand power comes not from digital footprints—but from instinct, identity, and a deep understanding of what brings true joy to consumers.
Why Snap’s creative chief is doubling down on ephemeral content
colleen decourcy
snap
snapchat
social media
EXCLUSIVE: Veteran creative and former W+K leader Colleen DeCourcy on Snapchat’s new brand positioning, why the company is ‘anti-social media’, the benefits of in-housing, and more.
Nearly 70% of ‘parents’ targeted by ads don’t have kids
ad targeting
social media
The accuracy of socio-demographic targeting in digital advertising has been called into question, with a report revealing a disconnect between targeting assumptions and actual audience composition.
Unilever CEO: 'Spend on social will jump from 30% to 50%'
fernando fernandez
influencers
marketing budgets
marketing spend
social media
unilever
Fixing geographical issues in China and Indonesia and accelerating India are among Fernandez’s key priorities.
Adland has the power to influence social media but who can tame it?
adland
marketing
social media
As governments worldwide enforce stricter social media laws, advertisers find themselves at a crossroads—use their influence to hold platforms accountable or risk increased criticism for staying silent?