Google Debuts New Ad Formats and AI-Powered Bidding Tools for iOS App Marketers

Two new ad formats and target ROAS-linked bidding capabilities will now be available to iOS app advertisers, Google announced today.

​Two new ad formats and target ROAS-linked bidding capabilities will now be available to iOS app advertisers, Google announced today.  Read More

MSQ Partners Rebuffs Any Potential Merger Talks With S4 Capital

MSQ Partners believes there may have been discussions between its largest shareholder and S4 Capital.

​MSQ Partners believes there may have been discussions between its largest shareholder and S4 Capital.  Read More

Who’s In and Who’s Out at MSNBC as Versant Spin-Off Looms (Updated)

The Versant split means that journalists and executives that have previously worked for both networks now have to choose one.

​The Versant split means that journalists and executives that have previously worked for both networks now have to choose one.  Read More

CBS Atlanta to Soft Launch This Weekend. Assures Viewers On-Air Folk Will Know Atlanta

“We aren’t just hiring a team – we are building one from the community,” said Jennifer Mitchell, president of CBS Stations.

​“We aren’t just hiring a team – we are building one from the community,” said Jennifer Mitchell, president of CBS Stations.  Read More

Jenny Huh Leaving KGET in Bakersfield for Sacramento

She’ll cover politics in Sacramento

​She’ll cover politics in Sacramento  Read More

Social Media Fatigue and the Shift Toward Digital Minimalism

Users are overwhelmed. In 2025, many are curating their feeds, muting brands, and seeking digital detoxes.

Key Trends:

• Quiet Branding: Brands are adopting softer tones, muted visuals, and less frequent posting.
• Value-Driven Content: Educational, calming, or purpose-led posts outperform promotional blasts.
• Platform Rotation: Users switch between apps to avoid burnout—Instagram for visuals, Reddit for depth, BeReal for authenticity.

Actionable Tip:
Audit your content calendar. Reduce frequency, increase value. Try “slow content” like carousel explainers or long-form reels.

Threads, Noplace, and the Rise of Niche Platforms

While TikTok and Instagram still dominate, niche platforms like Threads and Noplace are carving out loyal communities.

Key Trends:

• Text-Based Revival: Threads is bringing back the Twitter-style microblogging with a friendlier vibe.
• Gen Z Hangouts: Noplace is a customizable social space where users express identity through profile aesthetics.
• Community-First Design: These platforms prioritize conversation over virality.

Actionable Tip:
Experiment with Threads for thought leadership and Noplace for brand storytelling. Don’t chase scale—chase depth.

Social Commerce 2.0: From Browsing to Buying in One Swipe

Social platforms are now full-fledged marketplaces. In 2025, users expect to discover, evaluate, and purchase—all without leaving the app.

Key Trends:

Live Shopping Events: TikTok Shop and Instagram Live Sales are driving impulse buys.
Integrated Reviews & UGC: Peer reviews and user-generated content are embedded directly into product posts.
• One-Click Checkout: Platforms are streamlining payment gateways for frictionless purchases.

Actionable Tip:
Use influencer partnerships to demo products live. Add “Buy Now” buttons to reels and stories with limited-time offers.

Authenticity Over Aesthetics: Gen Z’s New Rules for Social Media

Gen Z has flipped the script. Perfect grids and polished branding are out. Raw, real, and relatable are in.

Key Trends:

• Unfiltered Stories: Behind-the-scenes content and bloopers outperform curated posts.
Micro-Influencers & Niche Creators: Gen Z trusts creators with 5K followers more than celebrities.
Values-Driven Engagement: Activism, mental health, and identity are central to Gen Z’s digital presence.

Actionable Tip:
Ditch the overly produced content. Try “day-in-the-life” reels or candid team intros to build trust and relatability.

DM Shares Are the New Social Currency: Why Private Sharing Is Exploding

Likes and comments are no longer the most telling metrics. In 2025, the real engagement happens in the DMs.

Key Trends:

• Private Virality: Users increasingly share posts via direct messages, WhatsApp, or Telegram instead of public reposts.
• Dark Social Analytics: Brands are investing in tools to track these hidden shares and optimize content for “shareability.”
Trust & Intimacy: Private sharing signals deeper trust—users only share what resonates personally.

Actionable Tip:
Design your content with “DM-worthy” hooks—emotional, funny, or surprising. Add subtle CTAs like “Send this to someone who needs it.”