Global icons Jennie, Kendall Jenner, and Olivia Dean have joined forces with Adidas to headline the "True Superstars" campaign, a high-profile initiative celebrating the enduring cultural legacy of the brand's most famous silhouette
After a historic Season 50 premiere, Survivor continues to dominate the cultural landscape with over 462 million viewing hours last year—a massive legacy that began when more than 50 million people tuned in for its groundbreaking first season finale.
Social networking app Peanut and baby brand Tommee Tippee have partnered on a high-profile campaign, kicked off by a full-page New York Times ad, to officially recognize "matrescence"—the physical and emotional transition into motherhood—in major English dictionaries.
In a strategic push for accessibility and scale, Outdoor Voices has partnered with Sam’s Club to launch an exclusive spring apparel collection, bringing its signature "Doing Things" aesthetic to the warehouse club’s millions of members at an attainable price point.
eff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez have been named honorary co-chairs for the 2026 Met Gala, which will center on the high-concept theme “Fashion is Art,” bridging the worlds of tech philanthropy and avant-garde style.
Seeking a "digital detox" from the infinite scroll of smartphones, Gen Z is driving a resurgence in vintage iPod sales to embrace "friction-maxxing"—the intentional choice of single-purpose, offline technology that prioritizes manual control over algorithmic convenience.
According to Emplifi's 2026 Social Media Benchmarks report, brands saw a staggering 200% year-over-year follower growth on TikTok in 2025, while Instagram and Facebook are increasingly shifting into "reliable reach" roles as their organic growth and discovery potential slow down.
In a unique transparency-driven marketing move, Burger King president Tom Curtis is personally taking customer calls and texts for four hours a day to gather feedback that will shape the brand's 2026 focus, while recording interactions for future digital ad campaigns.
A new report from Pinterest highlights a growing movement toward "offline parenting," where parents are increasingly seeking out analog activities and digital boundaries to prioritize mental wellness and deeper real-world connections for their families.
Despite its under-the-radar status, this high-energy fusion of Memphis rap and EDM has quietly racked up over a trillion streams by becoming the definitive, algorithm-driven heartbeat of short-form video.
After viral speculation, Dunkin’ has confirmed the rollout of a massive, 48-ounce coffee bucket in select states, leaning into "maximalist" caffeine culture to satisfy the brand's most extreme coffee drinkers.
In a major retail expansion, Canadian fashion house Aritzia has acquired the iconic Los Angeles-based boutique brand Fred Segal, aiming to leverage the heritage brand’s cool-factor and physical footprint to accelerate its growth within the U.S. market.
Reddit is testing a new AI-driven search feature specifically for shopping that aggregates product recommendations and reviews from relevant subreddit discussions to help users make faster purchasing decisions without leaving the platform.
PepsiCo has officially introduced Pepsi Prebiotic Cola—a "first-of-its-kind" permanent addition to its lineup that contains 3 grams of prebiotic fiber and only 5 grams of sugar per can—designed to recapture younger, health-conscious drinkers who have been migrating toward functional soda brands like Poppi.
Exactly two decades after its Disney Channel debut, Miley Cyrus is returning to her roots for a Disney+ anniversary special on March 24, featuring a sit-down interview with Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper, rare archival footage, and recreations of the show’s most iconic sets.
KATSEYE has collaborated with luxury grocer Erewhon to launch a limited-edition "Gabriela" smoothie, leveraging the popular wellness brand to further bridge the gap between K-pop marketing and high-end lifestyle culture
After being abandoned by his mother, a baby monkey named Punch at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo found companionship in an Ikea plushie, eventually gaining viral fame that led to a donation of more toys and—subsequently—acceptance from the other monkeys in his enclosure.
Partnering with Creative Artists Agency and the ReelShort app, Crocs has launched Charmed to Meet You, a five-part scripted microdrama inspired by a real employee’s love story that uses the brand’s signature Jibbitz charms as a central plot device to reach a new generation of mobile-first consumers.
Frosted Flakes is reimagining its classic "Hey Tony" jingle into a full-length hype track featuring rapper J.I.D., which will debut alongside limited-edition merch at a youth football bowl game on February 22 to support the Kellogg’s Mission Tiger™ initiative.
American Girl has celebrated its 40th anniversary by releasing a "Modern Era" collection that reimagines six iconic historical characters—including Felicity, Addy, and Samantha—in contemporary fashions and a smaller 14.5-inch scale, drawing significant criticism from longtime fans who feel the "Barbie-fied" designs sacrifice the brand’s educational and historical integrity.
A Meta patent filing reveals a conceptual AI system dubbed "Project Lazarus" that would use large language models trained on a user's historical social media data to simulate their persona and continue interacting with followers after their death, though a company spokesperson recently stated there are currently no plans to move forward with the project.
Following its Super Bowl debut, MANSCAPED has partnered with comedian Stavros Halkias to auction off an anthropomorphic hairball monster named "Lil Stavvy" on eBay, with all proceeds benefiting the Testicular Cancer Society.
After winning two silver medals at the 2026 Winter Games, Eileen Gu dismissed questions about "losing" gold as "ridiculous," emphasizing that celebrating podium finishes is essential for the growth of the sport and athlete mental health.
Reddit's 2026 creative outlook highlights four key trends for brands: leveraging nostalgia-driven storytelling, utilizing real user commentary as social proof, engaging in niche-inspired campaigns, and designing flexible campaigns that evolve alongside community discussions.
Blank Street is positioning its signature mint-green cups as the ultimate fashion accessory during London Fashion Week, leveraging Gen-Z appeal and aesthetic branding to transform a routine coffee run into a high-status cultural statement.
Andrew Reese, the grandson of the man who created Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, is publicly criticizing Hershey for allegedly diluting the brand’s quality and heritage through cost-cutting measures and ingredient changes.
In a strategic move to capture the Gen Z market, eBay has agreed to purchase the secondhand fashion marketplace Depop from Etsy for $1.2 billion, returning the platform to independent branding under eBay's larger operational umbrella.
At 41 years old, U.S. bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor finally secured her first Olympic gold medal in the monobob event, winning by a mere 0.04 seconds to become the oldest individual champion in Winter Games history.
The traditionally polite world of curling has been thrown into turmoil at the 2026 Cortina d’Ampezzo Games following a heated confrontation where Canadian curler Marc Kennedy used profanity against a Swedish opponent after being accused of "double-touching" stones to gain an unfair advantage.
Driven by the mainstream success of influencer Clavicular, a new wave of "optimization" lexicon—including maxxing (self-improvement to the extreme) and mogging (physically outshining others)—has transitioned from niche right-wing circles to the cultural forefront, despite the creator's promotion of dangerous physical enhancements and extremist associations.
Despite facing viral criticism for its graphic infant-product packaging, Frida is leaning further into its "raw motherhood" brand identity by debuting a New Orleans parade float designed to destigmatize the physical realities of breastfeeding.
"Spearmint is your moment to hit refresh. This mint-green is crisp, clean and invigorating, while soft and sandy to the touch. Every glance at your mixer is a little reminder to pause, reset and shift your energy to what truly matters."
In response to a cooling labor market and fears of economic instability, employees are shifting away from the Great Resignation trend toward "job-hugging," a survival strategy focused on increasing productivity and staying indispensable to their current employers to avoid potential layoffs.
Kylie Jenner strips down for her sister's brand in a new campaign lensed by Mert Alas, debuting 10 premium cotton styles including triangle bralettes and thongs in a neutral-toned palette of "Cocoa Heather," "Light Heather Grey," and "Snow."
In response to mounting pressure from regulators and lawsuits, Meta, TikTok, and Snap have voluntarily agreed to undergo independent assessments by the Mental Health Coalition to determine how effectively their platforms protect the mental health and well-being of users under 18.
Major brands are leveraging Valentine's Day to tap into "self-love" and unconventional relationships, featuring campaigns like Fresh Step’s "Date Cats, Not Humans" Bumble takeover, JC Penney’s jewelry "Ex-Change," and Buldak’s "Hotter Than My Ex" spicy noodle initiative
The NAACP is mobilizing to protect Black and minority neighborhoods from the environmental and health impacts of the AI data center boom, specifically challenging tech giants like Elon Musk's xAI over unregulated pollution in vulnerable communities
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/11/tiktok-launches-an-opt-in-local-feed-in-the-u-s-leveraging-users-precise-location/?utm_source=External&utm_campaign=f006df0c52-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_01_21_05_30_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-6be90b9eb3-490993476&mc_cid=f006df0c52&mc_eid=28393c789b
Data from Yum! Brands reveals that nearly half of all fast-food trips are now solo outings, as Gen Z and Millennials increasingly rebrand eating alone not as a sign of loneliness, but as a deliberate act of self-care and "choice therapy."
The 2026 Winter Olympics ice dancing competition is doubling as a millennial time capsule, with skaters trading classical scores for grunge, boy bands, and hip-hop to capture a new generation of viewers through pure 90s nostalgia.
Aiming to bridge the gap between prompt engineering and cinematic production, Filmology Labs has launched a new end-to-end studio designed to streamline Hollywood-grade storytelling using advanced generative AI tools for writing, visual effects, and post-production.
Joining a growing exodus of artists like Wednesday and Best Coast, Chappell Roan officially exited Wasserman Music this week, stating she refuses to "passively stand by" after newly released DOJ documents revealed suggestive email exchanges between CEO Casey Wasserman and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell
In a push for radical authenticity, Dove is inviting consumers to provide unfiltered, unscripted feedback on its 10-in-1 Bond Shield Super Mask, committing to publish every review—regardless of the star rating—to prove the product's performance speaks for itself.
This Valentine's Day, Angry Orchard is inviting the heartbroken to ship their ex’s abandoned hoodies and dusty vinyl to their cider house in exchange for cash toward a fresh case of cider, turning leftover relationship clutter into a fully stocked fridge.
Responding to the viral sight of 500 dancers costumed as blades of grass during the Super Bowl halftime show, IKEA released a cheeky social media ad featuring its green FEJKA artificial plants and rugs, proving that you don't need a stadium budget to achieve Benito's "backyard" aesthetic.
By tapping a white influencer to launch a product long-stapled in Asian pantries, Fly By Jing ignited a fierce debate over cultural erasure and whether the creator economy is prioritizing viral faces over the very communities that built the cuisine
In a surreal architectural feat for the Super Bowl stage, Bad Bunny employed 500 athletic dancers—paid roughly $18 an hour to haul 50-pound costumes—to masquerade as the moving shrubbery of his Puerto Rican hometown
Spotify is launching a partnership with Bookshop.org to sell physical books directly through its app and introducing "Page Match," a computer-vision tool that allows users to sync their progress between printed pages and audiobooks with a quick camera scan.
Vaseline and Red Lobster have partnered to launch a "Kissing Booth" pop-up in Times Square from February 10–12, featuring a $140 five-course "PDA-approved" lobster dinner paired with cocktails inspired by Vaseline's new limited-edition Valentine's Lip Therapy collection
Originally created by Indonesian musician Kevin Rater, the high-pitched "Chicken Banana" song has been propelled into a Gen Alpha phenomenon by TikToker "G00fy_Edits," whose absurdist animations transformed the track into a primary pillar of modern "brain rot" culture
An accidentally manufactured "crying horse" plush toy has become a viral sensation in China ahead of the Year of the Horse, serving as a relatable symbol for overworked young employees who identify with its stressed and pitiful expression
Minecraft Education is highlighting its "Lessons in Good Trouble" DLC for Black History Month, an interactive experience that allows students to roleplay pivotal social justice moments alongside historical figures like John Lewis, Rosa Parks, and Nelson Mandela.
Backed by investors like GV and Patreon's Jack Conte, Watch Club is a new streaming and social platform that pairs high-quality "microdramas" with an integrated social network to let fans discuss episodes and foster a fandom-focused experience.
Netflix has secured the exclusive global streaming rights for "Arirang," a live concert documentary capturing BTS’ highly anticipated full-group return to the stage following the completion of their mandatory South Korean military service.
Snapchat users, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are significantly more likely than non-users to adopt new financial products during major life events, signaling a major opportunity for brands to leverage educational content and AR tools on the platform.
The "Headband Theory" is criticized for reinforcing narrow beauty standards by suggesting that certain facial features are flaws that require correction and for promoting a "polished" aesthetic that can feel both exclusionary and physically uncomfortable
McDonald's is partnering with Paramount Caviar to release a limited number of free, online-only McNugget Caviar kits on February 10, featuring premium Baerii Sturgeon caviar, crème fraîche, and a $25 Arch Card to facilitate an upscale Valentine's Day pairing
Spain is moving to ban children under the age of 16 from social media, following Australia's lead in a growing global push to hold tech giants accountable for the impact of their platforms on youth mental health
TikTok is commemorating the fifth anniversary of the #BlackTikTok community by spotlighting influential Black creators and entrepreneurs who have driven an 11-fold increase in content since 2020 and continue to shape global trends across fashion, food, and education
Following a surprise "shock drop" after his Grammy wins, Bad Bunny’s debut signature silhouette with Adidas is set for a wider release on February 9, 2026, coinciding with his highly anticipated Super Bowl Halftime Show performance
Chairish has partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures to launch an exclusive curated collection inspired by the 2026 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights. The collection features items that embody the film’s "sweeping romance and moody elegance," focusing on a gothic, untamed, and dramatic aesthetic.
After maintaining a steady base of 150,000 users for six years, the social network UpScrolled has seen its user count explode to over 2.5 million in just one month, capitalizing on a vacuum created by TikTok's U.S. restructuring
Following the 2026 Grammys, where Justin Bieber left empty-handed despite four nominations, Hailey Bieber posted a pointed Instagram Story saying, "and you can really clock that s--t. See you at Coachella," seemingly in response to critics and fans who claimed Justin looked "done" with their marriage during their red carpet appearance
The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Emmy-winning actress Catherine O’Hara, beloved for her iconic roles in Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone, and Beetlejuice, who passed away on January 30, 2026, following a brief illness