Platform watch: TikTok tests new messaging tool as X bans the ad hashtag

PMW rounds up the top headlines and updates from big tech platforms including TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube, Amazon, and X.

One minute in Cannes Lions with... Jorge Ruiz, TikTok

"The two time-tested things you can learn from Cannes are inspiration and accountability," TikTok'' Global Head of Marketing Science tells PMW on location at the festival.

An AI would never design Cannes Lions – and that should give us all some comfort

Miles from an airport, sprawling venues and blast furnace temperatures – the hot mess of the world’s biggest marketing festival betrays a deeper human truth… and a more practical role for AI in our future.

UK adults spend more time on mobile phones than watching TV

IPA’s TouchPoints report highlights that younger people are driving this shift, however experts warn that comparing total time spent on devices overlooks quality and impact.

WhatsApp monetisation is overdue, but will users tolerate it?

Following Meta’s announcement that it will introduce ads on WhatsApp, industry experts share their insights on what the tech giant needs to consider so it doesn’t lose user loyalty.

‘What ban?’: Trump extends TikTok deadline for another 90 days

The move marks the third delay since Trump took office, contradicting a law passed by Congress and former US President Biden forcing a ban or a sale of TikTok over national security concerns.

Why are social media platforms at Cannes Lions?

Hear exactly what drives the likes Snapchat, TikTok and Reddit to the south of France each and every year.

WPP to integrate TikTok’s Symphony AI tools into its platform

Expanding its long-standing partnership with TikTok, this move will enable WPP to give clients early access to gen AI innovations.

Meta to introduce ads on WhatsApp

More than 10 years after acquiring the platform for $19bn, Meta is now looking to monetise the app through the status and channels features.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: The Trade Desk, Scope3, Amperity, Kantar and Seedtag

From monitoring ad deal performance to neuro-contextual advertising, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Cannes Lions predictions 2025: Can AI and creativity work together?

As you prepare for a week on the French Riviera, dive into expert predictions from PMW’s panel of experts on all things Cannes Lions 2025.

TikTok doubles down on AI, creators, and search-powered discovery

At TikTok World 2025, the platform positioned itself as a full-funnel marketing partner by launching new tools to help brands move users from awareness to action.

LinkedIn rolls out new ‘attention grabbing’ video advertising solutions

With the many marketers looking to increase investment in video and influencer marketing, the new tools from LinkedIn make it easier to execute creative strategies.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Charlie Oscar, Loopme, Infolinks, Clevertouch and Infosum

From Martech ‘IQ tests’ to tackling the 80:20 marketing ‘data imbalance’, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Keen, Superside, Audion, Endlss and DoubleVerify

From influencer workflow platforms to programmatic podcast monetisation tools, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Moss, Zilch, British Gas, Toyota, and Beats: Top 5 performance marketing campaigns

From Moss' new social push to Beats by Dre’s partnership with Lamine Yamal, here are this week’s top five performance marketing campaigns.

Snap builds on Q1 success with release of several upgrades for advertisers

Sponsored Snaps and Snapchat Smart Campaign Solutions are among the tools getting a boost, as Snap bills itself as the ‘new frontier of performance media’.

Steven Bartlett, Allie K Miller and Gary V among industry voices available via LinkedIn’s Brandlink

The expansion and rebrand of LinkedIn's Wire Programme offers advertisers the opportunity to sponsor video content from leading creators and ensure contextually relevant ad placements.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: PubMatic, OpenX, Asda’s LS Eleven, Azerion and Amperity

From fixing fragmented data sets to biddable CTV ads, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

The PMW International Powerlist: final winners revealed

‘The Script Flipper’, ‘The Prime Time’ and ‘The Beautiful PPC Mind’’ are among the final winners, but who has been crowned the most influential person in performance marketing in the world in 2025? All is revealed below…

The PMW International Powerlist 2025: Winners 61-80 revealed

‘The ‘Adtech Erin Brockovich’, the ‘Shoptimus Prime’ and the ‘Choreographer’, all join the PMW International Powerlist – but who are they? PMW continues its countdown of the most influential people in the global performance marketing sector this year.

Omnicom Media Group unifies global influencer marketing under Creo

The move streamlines OMG’s influencer marketing operations across more than 40 markets and equips teams with new proprietary tools and global data partnerships.

Meta antitrust trial: A break-up of the social media platform could set a precedent

With the antitrust trial starting in the US, PMW outlines everything marketers need to know about the case.

Gogglebox cast react to Sure’s deodorant ad as part of new campaign

Backed by CTV, YouTube, and social media, the ad is featured during a Gogglebox ad break in a media-first for the deodorant category.

Desperados wins best digital and social at Kantar’s Creative Effectiveness Awards 2025

Winners identified by Kantar reflect wider creative trends in the industry that engage with audiences and lead to improved sales and ROI.

Majority of performance marketers see diminishing returns on social media adspend

A survey by Taboola and Qualtrics finds that scaling paid social ads isn’t scaling on results, with ad fatigue and overexposure the likely reasons.

Trump extends TikTok’s deadline another 75 days

With Chinese regulators pushing back on Trump’s new tariffs on imports, TikTok has been given more time to separate from ByteDance before being banned in the US.

Amazon places last-minute bid for TikTok as US ban looms

The tech giant is the latest alongside Microsoft, Blackstone and Mr Beast to place a bid to buy the Chinese-owned social platform, but some creators have already started to move to rivals.

Reddit enhances Ads Manager to give smaller businesses a boost

The new features include options to import Meta ads, simplified ad quality assurance and a streamlined Google Tag Manager (GTM) integration.

Consumers are 94% more likely to purchase when exposed to ads in a positive environment

Research from Pinterest reveals that positivity is a key driver of engagement, trust, and brand favourability among social media users.

Elon Musk’s xAI acquires X for $33bn

The acquisition marks a further alignment of the two companies, holding a combined value of $113bn.

Meta announces suite of new AI-powered advertising tools

Integration of Meta’s omnichannel tools saw Boden increase ROAS 23% in the UK.

TikTok Shop expands into France, Germany and Italy

According to Neilson IQ, TikTok Shop was the fastest growing online retailer in 2024.

Meta’s data privacy court case could set a legal precedent against targeted ads

After a woman sued Meta in 2022 for violating her rights under UK data laws, the tech giant is now looking at introducing its ad-free subscription model in the region.

Meta to mandate the disclosure of AI-use in political ads ahead of Canada elections

In a bid to halt the spread of misinformation on its platforms, Meta has updated its AI policies for political advertising.

Social media platforms could face hefty fines for failing to protect users online

New UK digital safety laws, overseen by Ofcom, could see tech giants fined f up to £18m or 10% of global revenue if they do not implement safeguard measures

Meta to begin testing Community Notes feature across Facebook, Instagram and Threads

Following its move away from third-party fact-checking, Meta’s Community Notes feature is intended to be less biased and more scalable.

DOJ pushes Chrome sale, shoppers’ habits are changing, and TikTok’s CPMs down 80%: last week’s must reads

From the US DOJ’s attempts to force Google to sell Chrome to advertisers rethinking their investments in TikTok, here’s our essential reading from last week.

TikTok’s CPM drops 80% YoY as advertisers rethink investments – report

Pinterest and Meta are among the social media platforms appearing to benefit from TikTok’s troubles, with the platform’s future in the US still uncertain.

TikTok expands in-app safeguards to win over concerned parents

Additional Family Pairing controls allow parents to monitor who their teens follow on TikTok, as well as who follows them and any accounts they have blocked.

New Unilever CEO to hire ‘20 times more influencers’ in major marketing boost

The FMCG giant’s ambitious new boss will increase social media investment from 30% to 50% of its total marketing spend.

Meta CMO to publish new book for performance marketers

Recognised by Forbes as one of the world’s most influential CMOs in 2024, Alex Schultz is set to release CLICK HERE this October, outlining the new rules of marketing.

More than three quarters of baby boomers are active on social media

Big-name brands including Adidas have lost revenue due to an over-reliance on generational targeting rather than consumer behavioural targeting.

Lidl’s TikTok shop sells out in under 20 minutes after making its debut

3,000 exclusive high protein bundles sold out in just 18 minutes as the discounter became the first supermarket in the UK to sell through TikTok shop.

Sky Sports puts social in pole position for new Formula 1 season campaign

The broadcaster has revamped its marketing with a digital focus to attract a younger audience to the motorsport.

Dr Grace Kite Q&A, social commerce neglect, and AppleTV+'s global growth: last week’s must reads

From an expert’s take on the future of brand building to a breakdown of 2024’s streaming growth, here’s our essential reading from last week.

Amazon to shutdown its TikTok-esque shoppable feed Inspire

Just 14 months after launching the feature, Amazon has decided to shut down Inspire and pursue alternative social commerce opportunities.

Apple reinvests in advertising on X as the platform’s pool of advertisers grows

After suffering a decline in adspend following Elon Musk’s purchase of the platform in 2022, X appears to be slowly recouping some of its lost adspend.

Channel 4’s social channels ‘outperform BBC and ITV’

With a 5.5% year on year increase in social views, the broadcaster plans to launch exclusive content on TikTok and Instagram on the back of its YouTube success.

BuzzFeed to launch new social media platform in beta this year

The new platform will reposition BuzzFeed from a news and entertainment business to a tech and social media company.

Giffgaff and TikTok launch ‘end-to-end’ sustainable ad campaign with Ad Net Zero

The ‘first of its kind’ campaign features creators demonstrating the value of choosing refurbished devices through a series of TopView ads visible when users open the app.

X partners with Magnite to boost programmatic ad sales

Magnite joins Google and PubMatic as official third-party sellers of X’s ad inventory which can help fill unsold inventory and attract more advertisers.

Meta to fire ‘lowest performing’ staff starting today

Notices to be sent out from 5am local time to employees in most countries as Meta prepares to cut approximately 5% of its workforce based on performance.

Social media’s measurement crisis, businesses' CX dilemma, and Musk’s latest lawsuit: last week’s must reads

From social media’s future in advertising to Musk’s lawsuit against brands for boycotting adspend on X, here’s our essential reading from last week.

Meta revamps Advantage+ with AI-boosted prompts, scores and lead gen tools

A streamlined set up means that advertisers will get AI-powered tools by default, with the option to switch back to manual controls if needed.

WHISKAS, Goodfellas, Visit Britain, Sky Media, and NERDS: top 5 performance marketing campaigns

From Goodfella’s brand refresh to Sky Media and Cancer Research UK’s new campaign for World Cancer Day, here are this week’s standout performance marketing campaigns.

Meta CEO aligns policies with Trump saying it’s a ‘productive partnership’

During a company Q&A, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that Meta will be dismantling its fact-checking policies and diversity programmes to align with the Trump administration.

Elon Musk sues Lego, Nestlé, Pinterest, and other brands over alleged X advertiser boycott

X broadened its existing lawsuit which initially included the WFA, CVS, Unilever, and Twitch, after losing 50 of its top 100 advertisers following Musk’s takeover.

US TikTok saga’s ‘ripple effect’, marketers prioritising performance, and the EU AI Act is here: last week’s must reads

From unpacking the potential trickle down effects of the TikTok drama in the US to the incoming enforcement of the EU AI Act, here’s our essential reading from last week.

Channel 4 CEO calls for industry action against misinformation online

Alex Mahon proposes solutions to combat misinformation and lies across platforms like social media to protect gen Z, including a trustmark for verified content.

Why the TikTok saga in the US could cause a ‘ripple effect’ globally

From uncertainty to brand safety concerns, the current state of social media is in flux and advertisers must avoid any ‘knee-jerk’ reactions.

Meta incentivises content creators to join its platform with $5,000 bonus scheme

With cross-posting not allowed as part of the bonus programme, participating creators must prioritise original content across Instagram and Facebook.

Three-quarters of young men in the UK worry about social media’s impact on mental health

There is a desire among young men to engage with more positive male role models online, and many believe there is a role for brands to play in facilitating this

TikTok back online in US after Trump vows delay on ban

Just hours after going dark in the US, the social media platform has said it will return to US users.

TikTok officially banned in the US: What next if it doesn’t sell by Sunday?

Supreme Court rejects TikTok's claim that it violates free speech, but the question remains whether law will ‘achieve its ends’.

‘No platform is guaranteed’: Why the TikTok ban is a wake up call for the digital ad industry

With a decision on TikTok's US ban looming, experts discuss its implications for the wider advertising ecosystem.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Amazon Ads, Chatmeter, parcelLab, Storyblok and Button

From AI powered Amazon marketing insights to using AI to drive more customer reviews, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Elon Musk to add more defendants in GARM lawsuit

X will reportedly file a second amended complaint by 25 January with more defendants, just months after Unilever was dropped from the case.

TikTok denies Musk sale rumours in US as ‘pure fiction’

The US Supreme Court is due to decide on either banning TikTok in the country, or forcing its parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US assets.

TikTok ban: US Supreme Court shows scepticism as creators move to other platforms

Donald Trump requests court to delay the TikTok ban while investor Kevin O’Leary looks to purchase US shares of the app if it goes ahead.

The Trump 2.0 era of Meta: What does 'getting rid of fact-checkers' mean for advertisers?

Zuckerberg’s decision to switch to a Community Notes system similar to X sparks controversy - but is brand safety due a major overhaul in the age of AI?

Trump asks US Supreme Court to hit pause on TikTok ban

With only weeks to go until Trump’s inauguration, the US elected president argues that his incoming administration should have time to negotiate a political resolution.

Former UK deputy PM Sir Nick Clegg leaves Meta ahead of Trump’s return

Republican and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joel Kaplan to take over as Meta’s President of Global Affairs after nearly seven years.

Only 11% of UK consumers rely on influencers for travel purchases

Brands need to prioritise realistic travel options, reaching consumers across multiple channels, and creating personalised experiences, according to research from Epsilon.

Industry moves: Buzzfeed sells Hot Ones studio as H&M buys stake in retail platform

The latest mergers, expansions, partnerships, and acquisitions in the performance marketing sector, including a renewed partnership between LG and Magnite, while eBay and Klarna expand BNPL payments in new markets.

Experts react to Omnicon-IPG takeover, editorial reflections from 2024, and the PMW Media Spend Index 2024 launch: this week’s must reads

From expert reactions to the Omnicon-IPG $13bn takeover news to the latest PMW Unlocked podcast episode reflecting on 2024 with the editorial team, here’s PMW’s essential reading from this week.

ITV brings programming to YouTube as part of new partnership

Brands will be able to advertise across popular ITV and ITV Studios shows on YouTube, including full episodes of including I'm A Celebrity, The Masked Singer, and more.

Will Trump save TikTok? Company files for emergency pause on impending US ban

ByteDance-owned company argues the ban would have ‘devastating effects’ on its operations, leading to significant loss of revenue for creators.

Reddit launches own version of AI Overviews using discussions on its platform

Currently in beta mode to a limited group of users in the US, Reddit plans to expand this feature to be available in more locations and languages in the future.

TikTok faces US ban by the new year if it doesn’t sever ties with ByteDance

Several influencers face the threat of losing their livelihood on the social media platform.

Ad disclosure and measurement standards among new additions to latest IMTB and ISBA code of conduct

Code of conduct aims to set the best practices for brands, agencies, and influencers, by emphasising transparency, collaboration, and ethical standards.

Boots becomes first UK brand to invest in sponsored Snaps

Snapchat’s new ad format hit UK users' inboxes for the first time over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend.

O2 launches AI-generated ‘granny scambaiter’ designed to waste scammers’ time

The scambaiter named Daisy convincingly interacts with scammers in real-time and can keep them on the line for over 40 minutes to reduce their time spent targeting real victims.

Influencer marketing projected to reach £25bn by end of 2024

Despite growth in influencer marketing, over half of consumers feel sceptical due to excessive paid content, according to new research from Somebody Digital.

Australia bans under 16s from using social media

The law, passed by Australian senators today, will make platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and X, liable for fines of up to AU$50m for failing to enforce age restrictions.

X signs partnership with PubMatic to boost ad revenue

By leveraging PubMatic’s expertise, X seeks to access a broader pool of advertisers having struggled with retaining users and attracting advertisers since Musk’s acquisition.

X’s ad revenue continues to plummet since Musk takeover

According to new research from WARC, the social media platform’s ad revenue is expected to continue to drop due to minimal content moderation.

Visa now recognises digital creators as small businesses

In a move to support the burgeoning creator economy, the payment provider is hoping to remove the financial hassle from being a creator online.

X to rival ChatGPT by testing a free version of its AI chatbot

Several app researchers and users report seeing the free version of X’s AI chatbot, Grok, being made available to people across certain regions.

TikTok ordered to shut down offices in Canada

Although users will still be able to use the app, experts say the government decision could harm creators by limiting their ability to monetise content and hold TikTok’s owners accountable for actions.

YouTube tests new AI tools with creators

New AI-powered video summaries may be a risk for creators that monetise their video content through ads on the video platform.

SiriusXM’s data clean room, latest AA/WARC report, and Linkedin hit with record fine: last week’s must reads

From the UK’s H1 adspend figures to Linkedin’s €310m data privacy law infringement, here’s our essential reading from last week.

Nearly three-quarters of shoppers prefer Amazon for holiday shopping inspiration

AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot as well as social media platforms are also becoming popular search tools amongst shoppers for holiday shopping.

Channel 4’s digital streaming investment pays off for 2024

By tripling its YouTube views in the UK and seeing significant growth across social channels like TikTok and Instagram, the broadcaster will continue to grow its digital offerings.

Instagram confesses that it lowers quality of underperforming videos

Smaller creators worry that they will be disadvantaged by this feature which can harm their content’s reach and visibility.

LinkedIn hit with record-breaking €310m fine for breaking data privacy law

Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) says LinkedIn violated GDPR rules by improperly processing user data for behavioural analysis and targeted advertising without valid consent.

New Meta tool automatically optimises campaign performance without the need to notify advertisers

New opt-in feature ‘automatic adjustments’ is designed to increase efficiency by identify underperforming ads and make real-time corrections, without the need to notify the user each time.

Instagram tests feedback feature for Reels creators

The new tool provides creators with actionable insights, based on its algorithm, to increase Reels’ reach and engagement.

Can brands afford to be culturally insensitive?

As long as brands fail to make their workplaces inclusive, they will continue to make ‘mistakes’, and consumers are no longer willing to tolerate it.

Agency vs in-house vs AI, B2B marketers are struggling, and X excluded from DMA: last week’s must reads

From our latest podcast episode to the EC’s recent rulings regarding Elon Musk’s X, here’s our essential reading from last week.

X evades EU’s digital law as bloc rules it's not an ‘important gateway’ for users

The social media platform will avoid having to adhere to the DMA’s rules and regulations as it is not considered a core platform service under the act.

X drops Unilever from advertising boycott lawsuit

New ad partnership leads to worries about powerful companies giving into Elon Musk’s ‘bullying’ tactics under pressure and potentially setting a troubling precedent.

The Sidemen star in new Visa and LADbible ad campaign

Working together to promote young entrepreneurs and side hustle businesses, the campaign will feature a number of activations including vodcasts and a TikTok shop showcase.

TikTok launches new measurement and retail solutions for advertisers

As the social media giant continues to expand its advertising capabilities, new automated solutions from TikTok help brands target the right audiences at the right time.

Burger King’s controversial post-birth meal: Do ‘shock factor’ ads boost sales?

As Burger King UK’s new ad campaign continues to stir online controversy, here’s what brands can learn from it to inform their future strategies.

Pinterest launches new suite of AI-powered performance tools

Attempting to bring upper-funnel and lower-funnel advertising solutions together, Pinterest is turning to AI to bridge the gap.

CMA's Google concerns, consumers' CX expectations and Netflix joins Barb’s roster: last week’s must reads

From the CMA’s response to Google’s ‘user choice’ cookie option to Barb landing adding big streamers to its campaign planning tool, here’s our essential reading from last week.

Netflix and discovery+ join Barb’s pre-campaign planning tool

Barb’s Advanced Campaign Hub allows media agencies to plan campaigns on streaming services and now includes Netflix and discovery+, with Disney+ likely the next domino to fall.

Top 10 ad channels for e-commerce brands: Meta leads ahead of PMax and TikTok

Meta comprises almost half of online retail marketers’ budgets and the second lowest customer acquisition costs of all the major channels, according to Fospha data.

Brands ‘spending more on awareness’ on top 4 social platforms

Brands are increasingly going full funnel when it comes to paid social spend, particularly on Snapchat, Fospha data finds.

Snap introduces in-house OS to encourage AR investment

Creators and Snap Stars can now choose to share their engagement and demographic data with advertisers.

‘Is this for real?’: Old Jamaica ‘retires’ drinks brand with social media blowout

The social-first campaign “will be a bold celebration of the brand's life” – but fans are already asking if it is a publicity stunt.

Female-founded agency BECONTENT launches to connect brands with high value influencers

Social media and influencer marketing agency aims to bridge the transparency gap between advertisers and creators.

Marketers are twice as likely to want brands to feel ‘young’ than consumers

New research shows that most ad campaigns are more likely to reflect the preferences of marketers, who are 67% more likely to feel represented than the average consumer.

Google vs. the DOJ day one: what we know so far

‘Let’s not break what’s working’, Google attempts to defend itself against the DOJ in the antitrust trial.

Amazon, TikTok, Netflix and YouTube crowned advertising’s golden childs

Netflix’s ad platform has also joined the list with a bang, achieving a top five position for both marketers’ and consumers’ preferences in its first time of recording.

Gen Z consumers most likely to be influenced by ads in sporting events

Of all age groups, gen Z is most likely to purchase a product after repeated exposure to an ad during a sporting event – according to research.

Waste not want not: Creators respond to personalisation when it comes to gifting

For brands looking to build stronger and more personal relationships with creators, influencer gifting can be a make or break moment.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Snap, Nexxen, Spotify, Taboola and ROI Hunter

From turning old podcast segments into new ad inventory to augmented reality breaking free of camera apps, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

TikTok partners with the IPC to bring exclusive Paralympic Games content to global audiences

As the official partner of Paralympics GB, TikTok will spend the Games helping athletes and fans alike grow Paralympic sport’s global profile.

Linkedin launches Sponsored Newsletters

For advertisers looking to promote authentic long-form content, Linkedin’s Sponsored Newsletters has the potential to open doors to new audiences, build relationships with thought leaders, and drive brand engagement.

YouTube expands partnership with Shopify to onboard more brands into its affiliate programme

Hoping to enhance its competition with TikTok Shop, the expansion makes it easier for shopping creators to tag brands on videos for fans.

On the hunt: Rockstar designs limited-edition trainers for Creamfield attendees to find

With only two custom-made trainers hidden at the festival, fans will have to keep an eye on Instagram to find the exact locations to hunt them down.

Sky Broadband creates bespoke gaming environment on Fortnite

The new immersive brand campaign seamlessly integrates with the players’ gaming experience, creating authentic connections with consumers.

Amazon expands in-app shopping partnership to include TikTok and Pinterest

Having been available on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat since late 2023, US-based Amazon customers can now purchase products directly through ads on TikTok and Pinterest.

GARM to shut down following Musk's X antitrust lawsuit

WFA said it plans to contest the allegations in court, and it is confident in its compliance, but it is disbanding its not-for-profit GARM operations due to limited resources.

LinkedIn sees 78% rise in sports content engagement as B2B brands jump on Olympics buzz

Major brands including Visa and Allianz are using iconic sporting moments such as the Olympics, the UEFA Champions League, F1, and Rugby to amplify their campaigns.

Sky Sports enlists Danny Dyer and Josh Widdicombe to celebrate true football fandom at start of new season

Running on TikTok and YouTube alongside TV, the latest video campaign promotes the start of the new EFL season and puts fans of football clubs at the centre to showcase club pride across the country.

‘It’s war’: Musk’s X sues Unilever, Mars and CVS over alleged ‘advertiser boycott’

CEO Linda Yaccario posts video on X claiming the advertisers colluded in a way that violates US antitrust laws, causing it to miss out on ‘billions of dollars’ in revenue.

NatWest quizzes former Team GB athletes on their business ventures in latest social campaign

TV personality and entrepreneur, Daniel Ashville, hosts the new social-first video content series which aims to show the parallels between business owners and athletes.

Samsung sees spike in sales with Olympics sponsored winners’ selfie moments

With social media amplification of the 'victory selfies' on the podium, the phone maker has seen positive consideration for its new foldable phone.

Grace Beverley’s Retrograde launches AI Autopilot for content creators

Hoping to provide creators with an alternative to talent management, AI AutoPilot stands to simplify the process and negotiate personalised brand deals on their behalf.

Latest AA/WARC report, social media ad fatigue and an ‘AI bloodbath’: last week’s must reads

From performance dominating UK adspend to shopper’s annoyance at social media ads, here’s our essential reading from last week.

From grey pound to golden opportunity: Why brands must rethink their approach to over-55s

Failure to advertise inclusively to the older generations is a massive loss for brands, losing out on the spending power and loyalty from shoppers aged over 55.

IPA Bellwether: Marketing budgets revised up at strongest rate in over a decade

Main media spend bounced-back in Q2 after a contraction in Q1, with online and video driving increased investment while events continued to surge.

Pizza Hut becomes ‘official sponsor’ of Dominoes in cheeky social and DOOH campaign

Celebrating healthy competition during the summer of sport, this social-first campaign showcases the new tone of voice of the brand as it launches its rebrand.

EU vs Musk: Lack of ad transparency among X’s alleged breaches of the DSA

The EC has found X to be in breach of the DSA on three counts, covering user verification, advertising transparency and researchers' lack of access to its public data.

Creator economy trade associations form the European Influencer Marketing Alliance

The EIMA, which aims to offer guidance and local expertise to improve the influencer marketing industry, joins the European Advertising Standards Alliance as an Associate Industry Member.

Meta’s advertising model found to breach EU digital law

The Facebook and Instagram owner could face a potential fine of up to 10% of its global revenue.

Elon Musk on artistic ads, 'foolish' posts and telling advertisers to go fuck themselves

The chief technology officer at X told WPP's Mark Read advertisers were 'insisting on censorship' at the time that he unleashed an expletive-led response to them.

Meta is ‘disappointed’ to pause its AI plans in the EU

By not having access to users’ public data in the EU, Meta said that it would only be able to provide a ‘second-rate experience’ and has therefore delayed the launch of Meta AI in the region.

New AI features on Pinterest improve ad performance and measurement

New AI-powered features for advertisers allow for better personalisation across campaigns on the social media platform.

The PMW 100 Powerlist 2024: winners 100-81 revealed

The ‘Bootstrapper’, the ‘App-thlete’ and the ‘Unsung Hero’ have all made the PMW 100 Powerlist – but who are they? The unveiling of the most influential people in the UK performance marketing industry starts today.

‘Where we’re going, we don’t need cookies’: PMW launches The Performance Marketing Roadmap

A new four-part series combines exclusive research, interactive data and expert panels to help marketers navigate a year like no other; with features including a month-by-month timeline, in-depth global adspend tips, future skills charts and huge industry-wide tech stack survey.

TikTok ads get a gen AI upgrade with new performance and 'Symphony' creative tools

The social network will predict and automate pairing brands with the right creative assets and audiences based on their budgets and goals.

ChatGPT uses Reddit data to remain relevant

The language learning model will learn how to stay up-to-date with relevant topics by accessing Reddit’s Data API as part of the partnership.

The rise and fall of remote working

Latest research from SplitMetrics reveals slowdown in download growth across productivity and business apps in 2023 compared to the year prior.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Prescient AI, Awin, Veridooh, System1 and Amplified Intelligence

From matching paid media spend with Amazon performance to innovation testing tools, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

BBC, ITV and Channel 4 to implement TikTok’s new ad solution

TikTok Pulse allows brands to control the content their ads appear next to on the platform’s ‘For You’ feed.

Don’t let poor ad placements undermine your creative excellence

Merely securing space in well-known publications is not enough: poor placement can undermine your ad’s effectiveness. Here’s how contextual technology and a little creative magic can ensure your messaging stands out on first viewing.

TikTok is becoming the go-to platform for Hollywood

With blockbuster hits like Oppenhiemer and Dune: Part Two reinvigorating people’s appetite for cinema, the film industry is turning to TikTok to capitalise on this growth… and being rewarded.

Meta’s new AI tools, all the PMW 100 Powerlist 2024 judges, Pinterest reinvents performance: last week’s must reads

From PMW’s full Powerlist judging panel to Pinterest’s new performance package for advertisers, here’s our essential reading from last week.

Industry moves: Ex-Mediaworks guru launches The Digital Lighthouse and Tangent gets £5m AI boost

The latest mergers, expansions, partnerships and acquisitions in the performance marketing sector, including news on Fuse’s expansion of its sports and media agency to Brazil and Socially Powerful's expanded influencer consultancy.

Last week to enter the PMW 100 Powerlist 2024: final judges announced

Performance Marketing World has unveiled its final external judges for its upcoming UK-based PMW 100 Powerlist, with the entry deadline of 16th May fast approaching.

Snapchat brings AI-powered augmented reality tools to advertisers

New gen AI and machine learning tools promise to help advertisers reduce the time it takes to turn 2D product catalogues into 3D ‘try-on’ assets on the platform.

Meta reinvigorates AI offering with launch of new ad creativity tools

Advertisers on Meta will soon have access to a suite of new gen AI features available across Instagram and Facebook to help them automate parts of the ad creation process.

‘P is for Performance’: Pinterest reinvents the B2B pitch process with ‘Pinvision’

To further establish itself as a full-funnel social media advertising platform solution for brands, Pinterest recently hosted an interactive ad conference to highlight its upgraded suite of performance marketing tools.

Roblox makes video ads available to all advertisers

By partnering with Integral Ad Science and Kantar, the game platform also now offers measurement solutions for advertisers on Roblox.

Social overtakes search for adspend in landmark global shift: WARC Media

Meta alone is on track to surpass all global linear TV in advertising revenue by 2025, driven by investment in AI tools such as Advantage+, according to a new worldwide report.

Short-term response measurement is underestimating the true power of radio

Latest report from Radiocentre proves to advertisers that radio can be an essential tool in performance-led marketing campaigns.

PMW 100 Powerlist 2024: first six judges announced

With under three weeks left to submit a free entry, senior leaders from the DMA, WARC, Coca Cola, Kantar, Microsoft and The Influencer Marketing Trade Body assemble to determine the 100 people making the biggest waves in the industry this year.

Snapchat triples-down on influencer marketing with three new UK partnerships

Billion Dollar Boy, Influencer and The Goat Agency join forces withSnap as it reaffirms its commitment to being the platform for authentic content and real moments.

Third cookie delay sparks advertisers' ire, performance dominates UK adspend in AA/WARC, TikTok Shop surges: last week’s must reads

From yet another delay to Google’s third party cookie deprecation timeline to the latest UK adspend news from AA/WARC, here’s PMW’s essential reading from last week.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Billion Dollar Boy, Multilocal, Ogilvy, Adludio and Yahoo

From creator community hubs to AI-powered ad design, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

TikTok Shop boosts interest in social media marketing among UK businesses

With searches for TikTok Shop and TikTok ads up 519.76% and 149.92% respectively, more UK brands are evaluating social media marketing as a potential strategy to reach new audiences and improve their online presence.

US internet ad growth ‘slowest in five years’ despite record revenues of $225bn

Latest IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report indicates 7.3% year on year increase and highlights three main key growth areas of privacy regulation, social media innovation, and generative AI.

Heinz and Mattel launch a limited edition pink Barbiecue sauce

The new product, created in celebration of Barbie’s 65th anniversary, will be available to purchase in Tesco stores from 17 April.

PMW 100 Powerlist returns in search of the UK’s performance marketing champions

The blockbuster sequel to last year’s superhero-themed awards seeks out the 100 most influential people in the performance marketing industry – and this year features an interactive (and sporting) twist.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: BuytoGive, LinkedIn, Emplifi, Lunio and Acxiom

From charitable online shopping to live event ads, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Diary of a CEO host Steven Barlett launches global podcast media and tech firm

The UK’s second-most popular podcaster is working with the co-founders of performance-led podcast media agency, Telling Media, on monetisation opportunities for podcasts.

Hootsuite to acquire Talkwalker and create 'first-ever social media performance engine'

Through the integration, the social media management and social listening platforms hope to raise brand awareness, explore AI and gain global listeners.

Discord rolls out ‘sponsored quests’ on its platform in an effort to increase revenue

Social media community explores in-app ads for the first time, despite company’s CEO repeatedly stating that the platform will not rely on advertisers.

Snapchat’s revenue expected to reach over $5bn this year, WARC Media forecasts

After facing quarterly revenue declines and flat advertising revenue in 2022 and 2023, WARC Media predicts a 13.7% year-on-year increase in ad revenue for Snapchat.

Reddit’s first day of IPO ends on a high, but will better monetisation equal tougher moderation?

The ‘Front Page of the Internet’ successfully goes public - but can it keep its communities engaged with a greater obligation to ensure brand safety?

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From the implications of the EU’s AI Act to Netflix’s SVOD dominance, here's three things you might have missed from last week.

WARC’s 2024 Media 100: performance drives campaign, brand and advertiser success

From Dove and Unilver’s dominance, to Skinny’s investment in UGC and radio ads to take the crown as 2023’s best campaign for media, here’s our breakdown of everything you need to know from WARC’s 2024 Media 100 rankings.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From rumours of TikTok launching a direct Instagram competitor to news that hundreds of major brands ‘continue to have ads served on MFA websites’, here's three things you might have missed from last week.

Havas acquires social media agency

The acquisition is the second Havas has announced this year.

‘There could be signs of app fatigue’: TikTok allegedly launching direct Instagram rival

The introduction of ‘TikTok Photos’ is rumoured to be on the horizon, but will it gain any still-photo market share from Instagram? And how should advertisers prepare if it does?

Major e-sports merger opens up billion strong global gaming audience to brands

The almost $16m merger of GameSquare and FaZe Clan will create more advertising and influencer marketing opportunities for brands.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From PMW’s Super Bowl LVIII review to how Micheldever Group increased website conversions by 98%, here’s three things you might have missed from last week.

Snap partners with Fospha to enhance full-funnel campaign measurement

Snap is the latest social media platform to invest in enhanced measurement technology and this collaboration is expected to create more accurate impression-led data insights for e-commerce advertisers.

What happened at Super Bowl LVIII? 7 things performance marketers missed

From bossy owls and ‘Mayo Cats’ to Taylor Swift and Beyoncé internet frenzies, PMW gives you a quick recap into the stand out marketing moments from the biggest day in the advertising calendar.

Performance Marketing People: Brand Metrics expands CTV offering with new hire

In our latest round-up of industry moves, Wavemaker UK brings on a former OMD staffer in a Managing Director role and Seedtag hires a new CTO.

Super Bowl LVIII ad leaderboard: the top 10 early-bird ads so far

The keys to scoring with audiences at this year’s Super Bowl are the four c’s: characters, celebrities, cultural references and comedy

Top 5 adtech tools this week: dentsu, Reddit, PrimeAudience, ChannelMix and Brand Metrics

From ethical analysis of campaigns to gen AI in ad targeting, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Reels ‘outperforms TikTok for conversion rates’ as Meta’s full funnel resurgence continues

Peak season saw consumers adopt a more intentional purchase mindset and brands that focused on building awareness on Meta throughout the year reaped the benefits in Q4.

Doritos, Major League Rugby, Kraken, Miller Lite and the NBA: top 5 performance marketing campaigns this week

From Kraken entrusting The Goat Agency with its influencer marketing to Miller Lite’s bold real-time Super Bowl ad play, we pick this week’s standout performance marketing campaigns.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From PMW’s interview with Moloco’s Ben Jeger to the data behind Google’s CPC growth, here’s three things you might have missed from last week.

PMW People Awards: last chance to enter this week

Brands, agencies, platforms and technology vendors have until this Thursday to showcase their world class marketers, high performing teams and inspirational workplaces to the entire industry.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From Meta removing some of its detailed targeting options to the latest IPA Bellwether report and research revealing that Martech is dominating marketing budgets, here’s three things you might have missed last week.

Meta discontinues detailed targeting options related to “sensitive” topics

Advertisers using affected targeting options have until 18 March to make their campaigns compliant or risk their ad sets being paused.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From Rishi Sunak’s controversial UK Government data capture plan to an interview with ITV CMO Jane Stiller, here’s everything the PMW editorial team think you might have missed from last week.

Snapchat+’s AI features see subscribers skyrocket but advertisers remain cautious

With seven million paying users, are brands being too quick to ‘overlook Snapchat’s strengths’ when it comes to advertising?

TikTok crowns Fospha as measurement partner to return attribution confidence

Paid social has caused measurement issues for impression-led advertising. The new partnership marks TikTok’s aim to return marketer’s confidence in attribution.

Rishi phishing: the UK government’s data capture plan

Ahead of a big election year, the Conservative Party turns to performance marketing to gather data and target potential voters.

Three things you might have missed this week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From Google beginning its cookie shutdown and the global trust crisis of 2023, here’s everything the PMW editorial team think you might have missed from last week.

The X factor: Musk’s Twitter is now only worth a third of what he paid for it

Billionaire’s on-stage tirade against advertisers prompts a negative reaction from investors, but traffic stats tell a different story.

Performance Marketing people: OMG promotes two into C-suite roles

In our latest round-up of industry moves, TikTok promotes Simon Hofmeister, while OMG creates two new C-suite roles at the group level.

Consumers are falling victim to dark website patterns, harming brand revenue

More than half of online shoppers reported losing trust in a website or social media platform because of its dark website patterns.

X/Twitter one year on: site traffic is up 22.3%

X/Twitter is a sinking ship, with some putting a six month countdown on Linda Yaccarino’s job. But what does controversy actually do for its popularity?

Performance Marketing People: Pinterest appoints new Director of Business Marketing, EMEA and APAC

In our latest round-up of industry moves, OMG has launched a location in Newcastle, to be managed by Pete Coates, and Spark Foundry has promoted two key players to the joint role of Managing Director.

Havas acquires German performance marketing agency EPROFESSIONAL

The agency, which has worked with brands including Vodafone and L’Oreal, will operate under the Havas Media network.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: LTK, IAS, Mynewsdesk, Usable and Splitmetrics

From AI influencer to brand matchmaking to YouTube ad fraud protection, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From Domino’s joining the latest Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast to Google launching its ‘most advanced AI tool yet’, here’s everything the editorial team think you might have missed from last week.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From PMW’s Black Friday review to uncovering exactly why music marketing needs a revamp, here’s everything the editorial team think you might have missed from last week.

PMW Global Awards 2024: easyJet’s Chloe Wong named Chair of Judges

The PPC manager of one of the UK’s largest commercial airlines will lead a stellar judging panel to celebrate the global performance marketing industry.

Is Snoop Dogg a performance marketer?

With a clickbait strategy, Snoop Dogg takes influencer marketing to the next level. But what does it do to consumer trust?

Amazon continues to bolster its social commerce standing with Snap collaboration

As Amazon’s competition with TikTok heats up following the launch of TikTok Shop in the US, the e-commerce giant has further strengthened its social commerce offering, now partnering with both Snap and Meta’s social platforms.

YouTube to require creators to flag synthetic content

With looming elections, ongoing military conflicts and public health crises, YouTube’s pre-emptive crackdown on misleading AI content means advertisers have a new set of pitfalls to avoid in terms of brand safety and content strategy.

John Lewis’ Christmas ad is back, but not quite top 10, says System1

The Christmas ad race is heating up, with Morrisons joining Aldi and M&S Food in System1’s top charts, and John Lewis posting its best score since 2020.

Meta partners with Amazon to let shoppers buy directly from Facebook and Instagram ads

Upon linking their Meta accounts with Amazon, users will be able to shop selected ads directly from the platforms and check-out using their Amazon accounts without having to change apps.

TikTok will only pay creators for videos over one minute long – a potential for in-video ad placement?

TikTok is closing its $2bn Creator Fund in December, after criticism over its revenue sharing, replacing it with a new ‘Creativity Program’.

Performance Marketing People: Claxon continues succession plan with new GM

In our latest round-up of industry moves, Superson launches a new EMEA hub and Initiative bolsters its planning offering with two new hires.

Meta to offer ad-free subscriptions for Facebook and Instagram in Europe

EU, EEA and Switzerland users will be able to choose between paying a monthly subscription to use Facebook and Instagram without ads, or continue using the platforms for free with ads.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From Amazon leap-frogging TikTok and Microsoft for global ecommerce ad-spend to 12 experts on why a recession shouldn’t be marketers’ main concern, here’s everything PMW’s editorial team think you might have missed from this week.

LADbible’s owner buys female media brand Betches for $24m

Purchase gives the social-first publisher a foothold in the US market, offering advertisers a chance to connect with an engaged audience of 250 million users.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Amazon Ads, Azerion, News UK, IAS and Kepler

From Made for Advertising site detection to News UK’s big first-party ad push, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From the industry reaction to MFAs’ new definition to the top 20 media agencies revealed, here’s everything PMW’s editorial team think you might have missed from this week.

Meta releases brand safety controls for Facebook and Instagram Reels

Ongoing partnership with Zefr unlocks measurement and brand suitability on Meta’s short-form video apps.

Meta enjoys three-year ad performance high in welcome news for e-commerce retailers

With the holiday season approaching, a litany of advertising opportunities have opened up for e-commerce retailers as Instagram Reels’ ad costs decline while performance increases and TikTok remains a worthwhile investment.

Meta and TikTok test ad free subscription tiers outside of the US

Potentially due to the EU’s new DSA privacy act leaving organisations hamstrung on the personalisation-front, as well as diminishing ad spend, Meta and TikTok have become the latest platforms to trial ad-free paid subscription tiers.

SocialChain launches new proposition following £7.7m sale to Brave Bison

Boasting a new creator-led model that rejects traditional hierarchies and “solves the rapid evolution of social and the marketing innovations”, the agency has already added big-name clients to its roster including John Lewis, Holland and Barrett and the British Army.

‘The second worst ad campaign in the world’ highlights how only 8% of social ads are relevant to users

Bango buys the world’s least viewed print ads to protest poor social media targeting, including pages on avian farming magazine ‘Emu Today and Tomorrow’.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Expandi, Outbrain, Magnite, Theorem and Good-Loop

From resurrected ABM tool Jabmo to reducing ad CO2 emissions via ‘Smart-Throttling’, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Will brand safety decide who wins the Threads vs Twitter war?

Musk and Zuckerberg go head to head in a platform war, with neither app looking overly appealing to brands. Mindshare reveals more.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

From Elon Musk suggesting subscription fees for Twitter/X to finding out if ‘brandformance’ is actually real, here’s everything PMW’s editorial team think you might have missed from this week.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Showheroes, Wavemaker, SMG, Analytic Partners and IMPACT+

From CTV ad carbon reduction to next-gen marketing forecasting tools, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Elon Musk to charge subscription fee: “final nail in Twitter’s coffin”

Elon Musk plans to charge all Twitter, now X, users a subscription fee. Will this give Threads the edge?

TikTok defends itself after €345m fine for child safety breach

The Bytedance-owned platform joins YouTube under scrutiny for how it handles children’s personal data.

The PMW 100 Powerlist: final winners 20 - 1 revealed

“The Olympian”, “The Brainiac” and “The Green Guardian” are among the final winners to join the PMW 100 Powerlist today, but who has been crowned the most influential person in performance marketing? All is revealed below…

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore...

From TikTok finally opening up Shop in the US and Criteo answering retail media’s fragmentation issues with a new DSP, here’s everything PMW think you might have missed from this week.

TikTok Shop opens in the US

After reports of a failed expansion last summer, the online marketplace has finally launched.

Personal B2C interactions on social media are 'most memorable' for consumers – report

Brands are leaning on AI to assist with scaling personal interactions with consumers. However, as authenticity becomes a priority, will automation satisfy them?

The PMW 100 Powerlist: winners 100-81 revealed

‘The Soothsayer’, ‘The A/B Alchemist’ and ‘The Search Sensei’ have all made the PMW 100 Powerlist – but who are they? The unveiling of the most influential people in performance marketing starts today.

Meta considers paid ad-free Facebook and Instagram model

An ad-free model may help Meta fend off EU privacy concerns as a future of a divergent worldwide tech landscape looks more likely.

Six tech giants named as gatekeepers under Digital Markets Act

Commentators predict big tech to fight the new law which aims to promote a fair and open market.

YouTube adds links within Shorts to re-up competition with TikTok and Instagram

Google-owned platform is hoping the changes will increase engagement and prevent comment spam and scams, as it capitalises on the growing user appetite for short-form video.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Sinch, Reddit, Automated Creative, SeenThis and Shopee

From measuring incrementality on Reddit Ads to ChatGPT-powered creative optimisation, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

PM News: Amazon enlists influencers for 'Inspire' page, GroupM drops MFAs, YouTube advances AI for musicians

From Amazon putting up $25-per-video to encourage influencers to contribute to its ‘Inspire’ page to GroupM’s curtailing of MFAs and YouTube’s AI development with its music partners, here’s all the performance marketing news you need to know this week.

Performance marketing people: Former Twitter staffer launches startup AR performance agency

In our latest round-up of industry moves, Ramarketing adds a Harvard-trained scientist to its staff and Brave Bison has a new CMO.

Three things you might have missed last week that you shouldn’t ignore…

The performance marketing industry is one of the most fast-paced and fluid in the world, making it difficult to keep up. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered! Here’s everything you might have missed from the past seven days.

Threads in crisis? Meta’s Twitter/X rival sees 79% decline in daily active users

Everyone’s been watching to see if Threads would replace X. But with X trying to rebuild its advertising reputation and Threads’ daily users plummeting, are marketers relishing having less platforms to worry about?

PM news: Google repays advertisers, restructuring of its UK base continues and is Amazon building an adtech tool for publishers?

Google has dominated this week’s performance marketing news cycle, from claiming that recent credits issued to agencies had nothing to do with Adalytics controversial report, to the continued restructure of its UK office. Here’s all the performance marketing news you need to know this week.

Performance marketing people: BBC Good Food publisher hires new CCO and Alight Media fills Head of Marketing role

In our latest round-up of industry moves, Meta’s former head of AR, VR, Metaverse Automation and Platform Engineering has joined Sandsoft Games as its new Chief Technology Officer.

Three things you might have missed last week that you probably shouldn’t ignore…

With Q3 well and truly underway and PMW’s Media Spend Index now fully released, there’s been a litany of content and understandably, you may have missed a thing or two - fortunately, we’ve got you covered! Here’s everything you might have missed from the past seven days.

This week in performance marketing: TikTok toggles off recommendation algorithm for EU compliance | Twitter’s new X logo ‘hindering happiness’ | Facebook ads cybercrime on the rise

TikTok races to comply with the EU’s DSA law by 28th of August, Twitter’s rebrand off to a shaky start and advertising cybercrime continues to be a thorn in Facebook’s side - here’s all the performance marketing news you need to know this week.

Sprout Social snaps up influencer marketing platform Tagger Media for $140m

The purchase further demonstrates how the worlds of paid social and influencer marketing are becoming more entwined as brands seek cross measurement with paid social to break down data solos.

PMW launches the Media Spend Index: senior marketers rate and rank the channels, platforms and skills getting the best returns

TikTok, or Facebook? Paid search or influencer marketing? PMW’s exclusive global panel of industry experts reveal where marketers will be spending their money in 2024– and where they’re getting the best returns now.

This week in performance marketing: Google cookie-phase out begins, Twitter cracks down on hate speech amid rebrand to ‘X’ and TikTok ups ad transparency

Google finally appears ready to make good on its promise to phase-out cookies, Twitter is taking strides towards winning back advertisers while simultaneously ushering forward a confusing rebrand and TikTok is all about transparency - here’s all the performance marketing news you need to worry about this week.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Veridooh, Impact.com, Anzu, Yext and ViewersLogic

From AI-generated customer review responses to 3D in-game media quality measurement, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Performance marketing people: General Motors, True Religion and Yahoo all welcome new CMOs

Our round-up of the week’s industry movers includes two new agency launches specialising in performance marketing, and new marketing leaders at Zendesk and The True Traveller.

Three things you might have missed this week that you probably shouldn’t ignore…

Barbie, IPA Bellwether and branding, these were the hot topics inundating your news feeds in the week just gone, so you would be excused to have missed a story or two here and there - fortunately, we’ve got you covered! Here’s everything you might have missed from the past seven days.

Performance marketing people: Coca-Cola gives generative AI a leadership face and Volvo hires former L’Oréal US marketing lead to surge growth online

PMW’s latest round-up of industry movers sees new leaders at Carat India, iProspect, Revolut and streaming service NOW.

Top 5 adtech tools this week: Revolut, Ozone, Shopify, Semrush and Yahoo

From ‘financial super app’ ads to measuring carbon impact at campaign level, here’s our round-up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Three things you might have missed this week that you probably shouldn’t ignore…

In the wake of PMW’s Cannes Lions coverage, our 30 Under 30 Awards Winners, newly published case studies and of course all the news analysis you could ask for, it’s understandable if some things fell through the cracks – fortunately, we’ve got you covered! Here’s everything you might have missed from the past seven days.

Publishers strike back: Meta axes news sharing in Canada after controversial legislation passes senate floor

Ad dollars put at risk as Meta rejects option to pay news outlets compensation each time a Facebook or Instagram user shares their content. But is this an important breakthrough for publishers to regain control of their own ecosystems?

Roblox offers brands’ the opportunity to scale innovation and self-serve their advertising

The promise of a more democratised ad-ecosystem should appeal to brands and Roblox’s new program's founding partners hope their long-term media spend commitments will alleviate trepidation from organisations hesitant to join up.

TikTok and Unilever leverage #CleanTok trend to create global marketing category

Attracting over 35bn views in the 12 months to March 2023, TikTok’s #CleanTok community is one of the platform’s most popular.

Rio Ferdinand and Qatar Tourism rapped by ad watchdog for Instagram post because #ad was not “prominently displayed”

ASA ruling against Rio Ferdinand and Visit Qatar is a warning to brands that #ad is not enough as Visit Qatar falls foul of placement issues.

Twitter’s new CEO woos back advertisers with promise of “world’s most accurate real-time information source”

On a mission to make Twitter “a global town square for communication”, new Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino has taken her first steps. But will it be enough to win back brands after a reported 28% ad revenue slump?

Instagram’s big algorithm reveal: how brands can crack the code to drive more social conversions

Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, revealed the app’s algorithms last week to encourage engagement, as competition with TikTok heats up.

PMW UK Awards 2023: Coca-Cola’s Ana Afán Ruiz announced as Chair of Judges

The Head of E-commerce GB at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners leads PMW’s expert panel for this year, as the early bird deadline for entries approaches.

What is a creator saying about my brand? New tool automates proof of work for influencer marketing industry

Video and audio data analysis solution from IMTB and RippleXn lets marketers get a view of where their brands – and their competitors – are being talked about on social media.

The Apple effect? Consumer searches for VR skyrockets 300% after Vision Pro reveal

In the wake of Apple announcing the impending launch of its first spatial computer headset, online searches for the technology saw a global boom, strengthening the notion that mixed reality may soon become a viable channel for performance marketing.

Fatboy Slim and Rob Mayhew join marketers in breaking down Cannes’ “exclusive club”

DJ and influencer donate 1% of all Cannes Lions earnings to support the #CannesForAll initiative alongside brands and agencies to bring more diverse talent to Cannes.

“Naive at best”: why Twitter’s ‘ungovernable’ community notes ought to have marketers concerned

Twitter’s newest feature puts content regulation in the hands of its user base. Some experts believe this should have brands abandoning the platform, or risk appearing alongside “content that could be manipulated or trolled into some form of community verification”.

PMW Global Awards 2023: all 18 winners announced

From K-Pop to ‘Goatbusters’; the winners of the Performance Marketing World Global Awards 2023 have been revealed. With work spanning the Americas, Asia, Europe and the MENA region, we showcase the campaigns, teams and people that took the top accolades – and offer analysis on why they won.

Meta steps out walled garden for summer with ‘decentralised’ Twitter copycat

‘Game on’ says Twitter after leaked reports that Instagram’s new text-based social network will be released as soon as June – outside of Meta’s exclusive family of apps for the first time.

Shutterstock to buy GIPHY and its 15 billion daily impressions from Meta

The mobile content platform with 1.7 billion daily users has been purchased by Shutterstock for $53m from Meta.

Is Twitter better off without Musk?

Elon Musk’s departure as CEO has some experts suggesting that Twitter is back in business for advertisers, but with the tech genius staying on as CTO, just how much control will incoming CEO Linda Yaccarino have?

Facebook and Instagram paid blue ticks to put a price tag on authenticity?

Meta Verified “threatens to undermine the core essence” of Facebook and Instagram, raising questions for creators and brands on the platforms.

YouTube’s CTV ad changes: “unskippable” opportunity or potential pitfall for advertisers?

YouTube has announced two changes to its CTV ads format. While many experts believe they present a good opportunity for brands to increase their visibility, some warn of the dangers of becoming a “visual tax” for viewers.

KSI and JD Sports rapped by ASA for promotional Instagram post not identified as an #ad

The sports retailer and popular YouTuber was found to violate the CAP Code by neglecting to identify sponsored content posted to KSI’s Instagram as marketing communication.

Is TikTok’s new search widget a threat to Google’s ad dollars?

With TikTok’s surreptitious addition of search widgets fuelling rumours that it’s reframing itself as a search engine, Google’s search algorithm may not be the only one brands need to worry about.

Top 5 martech tools this week: Unbounce, Analytic Partners, Reddit, Recurly, Impact+ and Scibids

From cross-platform subscription analytics to carbon cutting programmatic campaigns, here’s our round up of new ways to power up your tech stack.

Meta tests generative AI ads - a USP for brands?

The social media giant is currently testing the AI-powered ad tool technology in its ‘AI Sandbox', granting access to a select group of advertisers with expansion plans for later this year.

Performance Marketing World Global Awards UK 2023: shortlist announced

With work for Toyota, Etihad and KFC among the nominations, here are the campaigns, teams and people that made it through to the final round, ahead of the winner’s announcement at the end of the month.

TikTok teaches brands performance marketing tips in new advertiser hub

TikTok World Hub covers four main areas of focus – creative, commerce, performance and branding – with video and written content aimed at “teaching brands how to drive the most value from and optimise their advertising”.

Instagram tests UGC sharing tool to help brands bridge gap with creators

Brands can get access to deeper insights into user trends and get better value from ad targeting.

Google’s competition with TikTok heats up as it expands YouTube Shorts’ offerings for advertisers

Amid declining ad revenue, Google has added several new features to YouTube Shorts aimed at enticing advertisers to reconnect with the platform, but experts fear Shorts’ is failing to adequately differentiate itself from TikTok.

Amazon becomes Pinterest’s first ever third-party ad partner

After reporting major Q1 losses and share price drop for Pinterest, a partnership with Amazon hopes to deliver strong performance to advertisers in the first ever third-party ad deal on the platform.

Snap launches new ad formats and AI-powered solutions for advertisers

Part of the social network's ambitious growth plans, Snapchat has introduced several new advertising features allowing marketers to engage with its community of over 750 million monthly users.

Twitter’s ‘everything app’: a marketer’s dream?

Condemning ChatGPT, a failed rocket launch and copying WeChat: Musk is busy again.

Steven Bartlett’s Flight Story acquires Zebu Digital to boost Web3 marketing capabilities

The company’s expertise will form part of the marketing and communication agency’s latest innovation arm, Flight3, to help clients capitalise on the emerging worlds of blockchain, AI and VR.

See you later search, social commerce is taking over

Cemented by the death of telephone customer service, and driven by younger generations, how can brands get ahead of the uptick in social media shopping?

TikTok fined £12.7m by UK watchdog over misuse of children's data

Social media giant said it has "invested heavily" to protect children after ICO ruling says 1.4 million children gained access to the app without parental consent back in 2020.

WPP acquires influencer marketing agency Goat

Data-led influencer agency joins WPP’s latest acquisitions, merging with INCA.

Performance marketing people: Gravity Road leaves its creative to TikTok star and ASICS bolsters its performance marketing with in-house promotion

Our latest round-up of performance marketing industry moves includes new roles being created and filled at M&C Saatchi, appointments at iProspect and Little Dot Australia bringing onboard a former BBC staffer.

TikTok refreshes its Community Guidelines following UK government ban

The Chinese-owned app has released new guidelines, updating privacy and regulation principles in light of security concerns from global governments

More jobs to go at Amazon with AWS, Advertising and Twitch positions among those affected

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy informs staff in a memo today about the “difficult decision” to axe another 9,000 roles.

Performance marketing people: ex-Meta head takes the marketing reins at BDB and former Burger King marketing chief returns to the food industry

Our latest round-up of movers in the performance marketing industry include new faces at DoubleVerify and SmartFrame, AppsFlyer’s new hire zeroing in on fraud and board appointments at Semrush.

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