\/\/ Five Stories From the Week:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1.) What Happens When \u2018Social Media\u2019 is Neither? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nIt has been claimed that the main product of social media is \u2018content moderation\u2019. Arguably, the role of a platform is to be just that, balancing intervention and curating an experience that brings users together and, as traditional platforms have claimed for years, \u2018connects\u2019 them. However, what happens when the biggest platforms amongst us, as X and now Meta have done, skew towards less moderation? What is social media when it fails to provide a scaled \u2018social\u2019 experience and can\u2019t be used quickly as media? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conversation around content moderation is part of a larger shift in decentralization amongst social media users. With different viewpoints on the type of content they see and the experience they want, larger platforms may currently be in an untenable place – losing share to smaller platforms such as Bluesky, Truth Social, Gab, Mastodon and others which offer more specific policies on what is allowed that are in line with a user\u2019s specific beliefs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n2.) Can Grand Marnier Find Meaning Amongst Drinkers? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nBeing “Known Of”, But Not “Known About” is a Unique Brand Challenge – and one Campari & Grand Marnier are trying to address. These fading imprints on culture where names are known but don’t stand for an idea or moment don’t exist in a vacuum. The challenge isn’t to just stick a meaning on a name. Often you still have to counteract a barrier that lingers around it, from complexity to a sense of outdated association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grand Marnier has set out to address the two needs at the heart of their brand, a use occasion and cultural relevance. Taking the path Cognac used through Hip Hop, its new campaign is driving an understanding of functionally what drinkers can expect and culturally where it associates. Will it succeed? The mixture of culture and bar anchoring is a strong start. However, as drinking attitudes continue to shift, the challenge will be to make a brand relevant to a moving target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n3.) The Rise of Magical Thinking On TikTok. <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nIn times of uncertainty, it’s attractive to think our internal thoughts can control the external world, but what happens when we get our worldview from platforms like TikTok? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Magical thinking, manifestation and stoicism have come back further into popular culture in the last few years. As we try to make sense of the world around us and its unpredictability, it’s easy to turn inward to find the solution. But in an age where we consume so many different stories, points of view and events on platforms like TikTok, can we keep up? Or is the randomness in the world around us unavoidable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n4.) Won\u2019t Someone Think of the US TikTok Trends? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nWhile TikTok\u2019s US shutdown is officially looking incredibly likely, the reality is more likely that it tapers vs. immediately ends. However, what happens when it does shut down<\/em>? That\u2019s still a big if and there are some implications from entertainment and creators through to small business – but one unique area is in pop culture and trends. TikTok has been an incubator for memes, trends and moments. If it leaves the country, where do these come from in the US? Do we have a meme deficit with the rest of the world? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The easy answer would be a shift to other social media platforms. However, creators and the ecosystem that amplifies cultural trends isn\u2019t plug and play. It will take time for this to coalesce somewhere else. While Reddit, message boards and other social networks can still incubate much of what we see in culture, micro-cultural trends and communities will need to reform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We may see a period where surface level memes power on, but trends with more community authenticity take time to find a new home. Publishers recently surveyed overwhelmingly said they were focusing on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram in 2025<\/a>, so one assumes this effort redistributes and publishers source from the remaining sources. Trends will still exist, as long as wider media needs stories on culture and creators make content, but the tone of these may shift until a post-TikTok recovery can happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.) What Happens When \u2018Social Media\u2019 is Neither? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nIt has been claimed that the main product of social media is \u2018content moderation\u2019. Arguably, the role of a platform is to be just that, balancing intervention and curating an experience that brings users together and, as traditional platforms have claimed for years, \u2018connects\u2019 them. However, what happens when the biggest platforms amongst us, as X and now Meta have done, skew towards less moderation? What is social media when it fails to provide a scaled \u2018social\u2019 experience and can\u2019t be used quickly as media? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conversation around content moderation is part of a larger shift in decentralization amongst social media users. With different viewpoints on the type of content they see and the experience they want, larger platforms may currently be in an untenable place – losing share to smaller platforms such as Bluesky, Truth Social, Gab, Mastodon and others which offer more specific policies on what is allowed that are in line with a user\u2019s specific beliefs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n2.) Can Grand Marnier Find Meaning Amongst Drinkers? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nBeing “Known Of”, But Not “Known About” is a Unique Brand Challenge – and one Campari & Grand Marnier are trying to address. These fading imprints on culture where names are known but don’t stand for an idea or moment don’t exist in a vacuum. The challenge isn’t to just stick a meaning on a name. Often you still have to counteract a barrier that lingers around it, from complexity to a sense of outdated association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grand Marnier has set out to address the two needs at the heart of their brand, a use occasion and cultural relevance. Taking the path Cognac used through Hip Hop, its new campaign is driving an understanding of functionally what drinkers can expect and culturally where it associates. Will it succeed? The mixture of culture and bar anchoring is a strong start. However, as drinking attitudes continue to shift, the challenge will be to make a brand relevant to a moving target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n3.) The Rise of Magical Thinking On TikTok. <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nIn times of uncertainty, it’s attractive to think our internal thoughts can control the external world, but what happens when we get our worldview from platforms like TikTok? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Magical thinking, manifestation and stoicism have come back further into popular culture in the last few years. As we try to make sense of the world around us and its unpredictability, it’s easy to turn inward to find the solution. But in an age where we consume so many different stories, points of view and events on platforms like TikTok, can we keep up? Or is the randomness in the world around us unavoidable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n4.) Won\u2019t Someone Think of the US TikTok Trends? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nWhile TikTok\u2019s US shutdown is officially looking incredibly likely, the reality is more likely that it tapers vs. immediately ends. However, what happens when it does shut down<\/em>? That\u2019s still a big if and there are some implications from entertainment and creators through to small business – but one unique area is in pop culture and trends. TikTok has been an incubator for memes, trends and moments. If it leaves the country, where do these come from in the US? Do we have a meme deficit with the rest of the world? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The easy answer would be a shift to other social media platforms. However, creators and the ecosystem that amplifies cultural trends isn\u2019t plug and play. It will take time for this to coalesce somewhere else. While Reddit, message boards and other social networks can still incubate much of what we see in culture, micro-cultural trends and communities will need to reform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We may see a period where surface level memes power on, but trends with more community authenticity take time to find a new home. Publishers recently surveyed overwhelmingly said they were focusing on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram in 2025<\/a>, so one assumes this effort redistributes and publishers source from the remaining sources. Trends will still exist, as long as wider media needs stories on culture and creators make content, but the tone of these may shift until a post-TikTok recovery can happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2.) Can Grand Marnier Find Meaning Amongst Drinkers? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nBeing “Known Of”, But Not “Known About” is a Unique Brand Challenge – and one Campari & Grand Marnier are trying to address. These fading imprints on culture where names are known but don’t stand for an idea or moment don’t exist in a vacuum. The challenge isn’t to just stick a meaning on a name. Often you still have to counteract a barrier that lingers around it, from complexity to a sense of outdated association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grand Marnier has set out to address the two needs at the heart of their brand, a use occasion and cultural relevance. Taking the path Cognac used through Hip Hop, its new campaign is driving an understanding of functionally what drinkers can expect and culturally where it associates. Will it succeed? The mixture of culture and bar anchoring is a strong start. However, as drinking attitudes continue to shift, the challenge will be to make a brand relevant to a moving target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n3.) The Rise of Magical Thinking On TikTok. <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nIn times of uncertainty, it’s attractive to think our internal thoughts can control the external world, but what happens when we get our worldview from platforms like TikTok? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Magical thinking, manifestation and stoicism have come back further into popular culture in the last few years. As we try to make sense of the world around us and its unpredictability, it’s easy to turn inward to find the solution. But in an age where we consume so many different stories, points of view and events on platforms like TikTok, can we keep up? Or is the randomness in the world around us unavoidable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n4.) Won\u2019t Someone Think of the US TikTok Trends? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nWhile TikTok\u2019s US shutdown is officially looking incredibly likely, the reality is more likely that it tapers vs. immediately ends. However, what happens when it does shut down<\/em>? That\u2019s still a big if and there are some implications from entertainment and creators through to small business – but one unique area is in pop culture and trends. TikTok has been an incubator for memes, trends and moments. If it leaves the country, where do these come from in the US? Do we have a meme deficit with the rest of the world? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The easy answer would be a shift to other social media platforms. However, creators and the ecosystem that amplifies cultural trends isn\u2019t plug and play. It will take time for this to coalesce somewhere else. While Reddit, message boards and other social networks can still incubate much of what we see in culture, micro-cultural trends and communities will need to reform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We may see a period where surface level memes power on, but trends with more community authenticity take time to find a new home. Publishers recently surveyed overwhelmingly said they were focusing on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram in 2025<\/a>, so one assumes this effort redistributes and publishers source from the remaining sources. Trends will still exist, as long as wider media needs stories on culture and creators make content, but the tone of these may shift until a post-TikTok recovery can happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
3.) The Rise of Magical Thinking On TikTok. <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nIn times of uncertainty, it’s attractive to think our internal thoughts can control the external world, but what happens when we get our worldview from platforms like TikTok? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Magical thinking, manifestation and stoicism have come back further into popular culture in the last few years. As we try to make sense of the world around us and its unpredictability, it’s easy to turn inward to find the solution. But in an age where we consume so many different stories, points of view and events on platforms like TikTok, can we keep up? Or is the randomness in the world around us unavoidable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read More Here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n4.) Won\u2019t Someone Think of the US TikTok Trends? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nWhile TikTok\u2019s US shutdown is officially looking incredibly likely, the reality is more likely that it tapers vs. immediately ends. However, what happens when it does shut down<\/em>? That\u2019s still a big if and there are some implications from entertainment and creators through to small business – but one unique area is in pop culture and trends. TikTok has been an incubator for memes, trends and moments. If it leaves the country, where do these come from in the US? Do we have a meme deficit with the rest of the world? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The easy answer would be a shift to other social media platforms. However, creators and the ecosystem that amplifies cultural trends isn\u2019t plug and play. It will take time for this to coalesce somewhere else. While Reddit, message boards and other social networks can still incubate much of what we see in culture, micro-cultural trends and communities will need to reform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We may see a period where surface level memes power on, but trends with more community authenticity take time to find a new home. Publishers recently surveyed overwhelmingly said they were focusing on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram in 2025<\/a>, so one assumes this effort redistributes and publishers source from the remaining sources. Trends will still exist, as long as wider media needs stories on culture and creators make content, but the tone of these may shift until a post-TikTok recovery can happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
4.) Won\u2019t Someone Think of the US TikTok Trends? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\nWhile TikTok\u2019s US shutdown is officially looking incredibly likely, the reality is more likely that it tapers vs. immediately ends. However, what happens when it does shut down<\/em>? That\u2019s still a big if and there are some implications from entertainment and creators through to small business – but one unique area is in pop culture and trends. TikTok has been an incubator for memes, trends and moments. If it leaves the country, where do these come from in the US? Do we have a meme deficit with the rest of the world? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The easy answer would be a shift to other social media platforms. However, creators and the ecosystem that amplifies cultural trends isn\u2019t plug and play. It will take time for this to coalesce somewhere else. While Reddit, message boards and other social networks can still incubate much of what we see in culture, micro-cultural trends and communities will need to reform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We may see a period where surface level memes power on, but trends with more community authenticity take time to find a new home. Publishers recently surveyed overwhelmingly said they were focusing on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram in 2025<\/a>, so one assumes this effort redistributes and publishers source from the remaining sources. Trends will still exist, as long as wider media needs stories on culture and creators make content, but the tone of these may shift until a post-TikTok recovery can happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The easy answer would be a shift to other social media platforms. However, creators and the ecosystem that amplifies cultural trends isn\u2019t plug and play. It will take time for this to coalesce somewhere else. While Reddit, message boards and other social networks can still incubate much of what we see in culture, micro-cultural trends and communities will need to reform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We may see a period where surface level memes power on, but trends with more community authenticity take time to find a new home. Publishers recently surveyed overwhelmingly said they were focusing on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram in 2025<\/a>, so one assumes this effort redistributes and publishers source from the remaining sources. Trends will still exist, as long as wider media needs stories on culture and creators make content, but the tone of these may shift until a post-TikTok recovery can happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXekxhbGkTkSZtlEMuXOB0T_l_Oe97kTGV3n7TreQA-w0Qj7XFkfb44DXmUKQY00um7FDrXn4NCiW7ko-yFxtVGVc-6-A5XIx_rgsluFLAnGhTUDYo8cmiAcbhZI55Uua6BYJEEF0g?key=A9HL4A6WUcWnOtADaV7Mk7Fx\")
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