💎Have tech bros ruined social media?
+ why Pinterest and Substack are winning these days [and how you can too]
💎cultural gems💎
The moments and media catching our eye…
📰🏀 Sunday was a big day for two of our Famous Paiges: Paige DeSorbo landed a Sunday Times feature for her upcoming book, and Paige Bueckers ended her UConn career with a national championship win. Check out our piece on why Paiges are the it-girls of the moment here.
🦋 Bluesky’s CEO is on a mission to create a nontoxic social media platform. Ambitious? Yes. Possible? TBD.
🪷 Still processing last night’s White Lotus finale. So much drama and so much symbolism.
📱 YouTuber Tiffany Ferg breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly of social media platforms and our relationships with them.
📚For his latest project, MrBeast is co-writing a book with… James Patterson?
🧠 Is AI making us stupid? Studies show that avoiding mental effort can cause our brains to atrophy.
💫 Vox is asking the stars: why is astrology everywhere? We asked the same thing a while back—diving into why it clicks with so many people and how brands can harness that energy online here.
🏆 Congratulations to M.T. Deco client Civic Entertainment Group on being nominated for a Webby Award for their work with Ford on Live from Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central. If you feel inclined, give them a vote here.
Substacker to Watch
Each week, we share creators that cut through the noise with fresh formats and something real to say. This week’s spotlight:
⭐️
- trauma therapist, bestselling author and writer of the Substack @Mental Health Musings📓What makes this Substack special, unique and different?
The writing is in essay form from the lens of both therapist and survivor
The topics cover real world mental health issues and offer easy, applicable tools or action items that anyone can incorporate
In her recent post, What Drives “Doom-scrolling?”, she unpacks the psychology behind our most compulsive media habits. Why do we keep scrolling when we know it’s making us feel worse? Because it gives us the illusion of control.
But as Dr. Vinall reminds us, “The horrors may not change, but at least we won’t be caught off guard.” Her take? Replace passive spirals with purposeful action [even if that action is just weeding your garden 🌱].
Digital Strategy Content Pillars:
Mental Health topics
Culturally relevant happenings
Politics
How-to, tips
Personal anecdotes
📌 Who is the target audience?
This publication is for anyone, but will resonate most for those who want to be more mindful or even AWARE of their mental health, and understand how to manage it in today’s world [think moderating media consumption, despair, hacks for resilience in difficult times]
💭Why [might you subscribe or follow]?
If your feed gives you anxiety for whatever reason, this content is substantive counter programming [like vegetables]. We are excited to check out the live meditations and spend some time in the archives [🔌 our client
has had a ton of success with live meditations too]🧾Where else can you connect?
More from Dr. Deborah Vinall on Instagram, TikTok, or check out her book on Amazon.
Know a standout Substacker? We’re not looking at follower counts, we’re looking for original voices, powerful ideas, and creators making community happen. DM us or email hello@mtdecoagency.com to nominate someone for a future Ones to Watch feature.
If your feed’s been feeling a little - too loud - lately, you’re not alone.
The most interesting platforms and creators right now aren’t chasing chaos, they’re building calm. This week for premium subscribers, we’re diving into two trends that prove feel-good content is more than just a vibe shift, it’s a strategy:
1. Pinterest and Substack are quietly winning [What these platforms get right about creativity, community, and why Gen Z is all in]
2. Festival branding gets smarter [How Coachella 2025 is raising the bar for aesthetic-led experiences with staying power]. Get ahead of the curve and prep for your week here ⬇️