💎Threads is gaining traction. Spooky sells. LinkedIn's creator era
+This week: Gen Alpha embraces gothic aesthetics, Meta finally delivers on Threads analytics, and LinkedIn becomes a real creator channel. Members get tactics, platform plays, and what to try next.
In this Monday’s email we’re sharing:
6 stories to start your week — Bluey is trying to reach adults, a rising new breed of influencer, and the key to Substack Notes virality
In the full edition, available for members, we look at:
2 cultural gems you should know — the new “dating advice app” that has shot to the top of the App Store is raising privacy concerns, plus LinkedIn is rolling out new tools to help creators monetize their content
Gen Alpha is in their spooky-girl era — the generation is all about spooky and weird, fueling a surge in kid-friendly horror
Threads finally has analytics — after months of under-the-radar growth, Threads is becoming the go-to spot for authentic, off-the-cuff content
Recent publications: Emma Chamberlain, Pinterest & a trends-based marketing strategy that’s actually sustainable, How to authentically build community on Reddit, from a Reddit alum, Your content might be too perfect—and that’s a problem
💎cultural gems💎
The moments and media catching our eye…
💙 The BBC is expanding Bluey into a lifestyle brand for all ages, tapping into its massive global success to reach beyond kids.
💼 The influencer is dead. Now, audiences want to see creators build real companies.
we broke down the growing trend of podcasters building their own networks: The latest media trend: don’t just start a podcast, create a network
📝 Substacker
analyzed over 1,600 Substack Notes using ChatGPT to uncover patterns in virality and engagement. So far, she’s identified 4 key themes.🐰 Epoch, the maker of Sylvanian Families, is suing the creator of the viral “Sylvanian Drama” TikTok series for copyright infringement, claiming the adult-themed content harms its brand.
📖 A new wave of print magazines is encouraging kids to unplug by offering engaging, tactile content—like puzzles, stories, hands‑on activities, and even analog extensions of digital media—to draw them away from screens.
✈️ TikTok is obsessed with Jet2 Holiday. The voice-over ad is going viral on TikTok, almost 2 years after it was originally released.
Beyond the paywall…
We’re sharing our final 2 cultural gems articles and two rising trends that you need to start the week:
Gen Alpha is embracing their dark side — from haunted dollhouses to gothic fashion, Gen Alpha’s love for all things spooky is rewriting the playbook on what “kid-friendly” looks like. We share 3 insights for brands and marketers who are looking to connect with this young generation
Threads is evolving into a must-watch platform — with new analytics tools, Threads is finally acting like an actual social media platform, becoming a low-pressure space to test, engage, and grow. We break down 4 insights for brands and creators who want to experiment on the platform