OpenAI adds shopping features to ChatGPT Search
This works for categories on fashion, beauty, home goods, and electronics. Plus, improved citations, WhatsApp Search and trending and autocomplete were added.
Social media to take a quarter of all ad spend, but regulatory threats loom
WARC Media forecasts that by 2026, social platforms will capture one in every four ad dollars globally, with spend topping $300bn. But looming regulatory challenges could cloud the outlook.
Online shopping surges 51% as South African consumers shift to digital, Absa reports
Amid economic uncertainty, the report highlights changing consumer habits, rising online shopping, and the resilience of South Africa’s township economy.
Netflix Q1 results top expectations as streamer stops reporting subscriber counts
Netflix Q1 revenue rose 12.5% to $10.54B, with EPS at $6.61 and a 31.7% operating margin. The streamer will no longer report subscriber counts, shifting focus to financials and engagement.
CTV campaign brand reach: Lots of room to grow
CTV now accounts for 17.9% of viewing time in 2024, but only 7.4% of total media spend, per eMarketer.
Regulatory crackdown for social media in 2025
Social media platforms across the globe may see intensified regulation in 2025, amid an anticipated shift in how governments deal with big tech.
Why South Africa’s public TV ratings have been ripped away
South Africa’s official TV ratings have been pulled from public view since 2025—a move industry insiders call a major step backwards.
‘Dead internet theory’ is back thanks to all of that artificial intelligence slop
The “dead internet theory” suggests much of today’s online content is generated by artificial intelligence agents, rapidly creating posts and images to drive engagement on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, according to the University of New South Wales
Google Ads to show ads in the top ads position, also in the bottom ads position
Google said it updated its unfair advantage policy to allow for this and says this is not considered double serving.
Higher brand equity drives in-store effectiveness
Brands with higher equity show lower price sensitivity and better in-store ad results, per a U.S. diet soda study