💎Beyond the algorithm: How brands are winning with cultural insight and AI savvy
+Deep dives on YouTube’s AI “slop ban,” Men are joining Pinterest, How Love Island USA is building community, The rise of comfort viewing
In this Monday’s email we’re sharing:
6 stories to start your week — Pinterest’s masculinity shift, the NYT’s journalist-to-creator pipeline, and a global study that finally defines “cool.”
In the full edition, available for members, we look at:
2 cultural gems worth your time — Curated deep dives on 6 standout TIME100 creators, plus how brands like e.l.f. are turning women’s sports into a content and culture play
YouTube is tackling its AI problem — What the “slop ban” really means, how to protect your content, and the 6 questions brands + creators should be asking now
Gen Z is embracing partying [sort of] — Why it’s not a return to party culture, and what it means for brands tapping into premium indulgence, identity drinks, and the new rules of nightlife
Recent publications: The ‘creatorfication’ of corporate America, She got her biggest meeting from a 3,000-view TikTok video, Why the internet latches on to seasonal themes [and how you can own this summer]
💎cultural gems💎
The moments and media catching our eye…
📌 Pinterest’s latest report is breaking down how men are redefining masculinity through style and self-care. Men are joining the platform in record numbers, representing more than one-third of their global audience.
stay tuned for our Thursday breakdown of how Pinterest is steering online discourse through creator collabs 👀
💖 Love Island USA is bringing people together. On both social platforms and IRL for watch parties, audiences are finding community through the show.
🎥 The New York Times is transforming its writers into video personalities, blending their journalistic expertise with visual storytelling to engage audiences across platforms.
📺 We’re seeing a rise in “comfort content” with people sticking with old reliables [The Sopranoes, Girls, Mad Men, etc.] instead of taking a risk on new content.
back in 2023,
predicted that quality over quantity and brands and advertisers needing to shift from novelty to quality: My big prediction for 2024: quality over quantity⭐️ The line between tech startup and media brand is disappearing. Friend of MTD and content creator Sammi Cohen breaks down the “Hollywoodification” of Silicon Valley and how founders are becoming talent.
check out our interview with Sammi Cohen: Side hustle —> main character energy: growing an audience without quitting
😎 What makes someone cool? Psychologists surveyed nearly 6,000 people around the world and found 'cool' people share six traits (from calm to secure).
Beyond the paywall…
We’re sharing our final 2 cultural gems articles and two rising trends that you need to start the week:
YouTube’s AI crackdown just got real — What the “slop ban” means, plus 3 essential action items for creators to protect their content and 3 key moves marketers need to safeguard partnerships and ensure AI transparency.
Gen Z is drinking again—but on their own terms — How brands are winning with premium-on-a-budget vibes and identity drinks, plus 3 activation strategies for hospitality, marketers, and creators to connect authentically in this evolving scene.