蘑菇AV

Social search is gaining ground. Roughly two-thirds of US consumers search on at least one social platform in ways that can influence every part of the consumer journey.

Social network user growth will be slow on a worldwide level, but 2025鈥檚 meager 2.9% increase will still equate to more than 115 million new users. Facebook remains in the lead in most countries and regions, even though its share of internet users is declining.

The news: The trade war between the US and the rest of the world is heating up again, thanks to President Donald Trump鈥檚 latest threats to boost universal tariffs and impose stiffer duties on Canada and Brazil. Our take: The newly announced duties鈥攕hould they come to pass鈥攚ill push the US into the heavy tariff scenario outlined in our tariff report. Based on our forecast, that would mean a 1% decline in retail sales this year, the first contraction since 2009, as rising prices force consumers to prioritize essentials.

Retailers and CPG brands may face challenges as President Donald Trump鈥檚 so-called 鈥渂ig, beautiful bill鈥� takes effect, ushering in sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Though TikTok Shop faces the dual challenges of economic instability and a tenuous presence on US app stores, marketers are still taking advantage of its positioning as both a social platform and ecommerce engine.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss the growing AI literacy gap, how to tell if your organization is ready for AI, and what not to do when it comes to AI adoption. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analyst Gadjo Sevilla, and Professor and AI Advisor to the Deans at Rice Business School and Founder and CEO of AI company DemistifAI Kathleen Perley. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

The data: 蘑菇AV 2 in 3 people have at some point decided not to fill or refill a prescription medication, according to the M3 MI MARS Consumer Health Study of over 20,000 US adults. The final word: Pharma companies should create informational resources on the reasons side effects occur, while being transparent at the onset about what patients should expect. Drugmakers can also tap into digital channels such as online patient communities and social media platforms like Reddit, where patients regularly discuss their experiences with treatments. This could help brands gather insights that inform future drug development or the creation of new patient support programs.

The trend: Investments in AI-powered digital health startups drove an increase in total VC funding for the sector throughout the first half of 2025, according to a recent Rock Health report. The big takeaway: Making AI an essential element of your digital health platform isn鈥檛 a differentiating factor anymore鈥攊t鈥檚 a requirement to draw investor interest and customer adoption. To stand out, healthcare AI players and their marketers should demonstrate the real-world impact of their tech through published research and case studies. And they must be careful not to overstate their AI capabilities, as doing so will drive potential and current customers to a competitor鈥檚 solution.

The trend: Healthcare professionals are worried that social media influence promotes unhealthy fad diets, per a new Sermo survey. Our take: Healthcare professionals risk losing credibility with patients, who are turning to more relatable (albeit maybe more unreliable) social media influencers. Doctors and nurses will need to enroll in CME nutrition courses and lean into their medical expertise when patients are in the office to offer guidance on nutrition, without seeming heavyhanded.

The news: Pharma companies can earn a speedier path to approvals for new drugs if they agree to lower US prices to global levels. The takeaway: Pharma companies are on board with faster drug approvals and higher global prices, but they still make the bulk of their profits on US sales. By adopting good faith balanced stances鈥攁dvocating for fairer pricing, but highlighting innovation鈥攑harma can notch wins with the administration and consumers.

The news: The stability of bank deposits (i.e., how likely they are to stay put) significantly changes over time, based largely on interest rates. Our take: This will force banks to adopt a more dynamic and strategic approach to marketing. It shifts deposit acquisition and retention from a passive activity to an energetic, competitive arena where compelling rates are a primary attraction, and trust, service, and holistic value are essential reinforcements. Banks should aggressively market competitive rates on high-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs. This is about clearly communicating the tangible benefit to the customer (e.g., "Earn more on your savings," "Watch your money grow faster").

The news: T-Mobile鈥檚 T-Satellite service, which launches July 23, will be accessible to customers of competing networks, unlocking carrier-agnostic reach in areas previously off the grid, per CNET. Because the service supports Verizon and AT&T users via eSIM and compatible devices, T-Mobile鈥檚 advertisers gain access to millions of new users鈥攚ithout being locked into one carrier鈥檚 ecosystem. Our take: As services like T-Satellite make it possible to connect with customers anywhere鈥攎arketers who adapt early will shape the next frontier of mobile engagement. They can expand geofenced campaigns to include off-grid locations and explore partnerships around safety, navigation, and outdoor experiences.

The news: Samsung is exploring innovative new wearable formats, including smart jewelry. Won-joon Choi, Samsung鈥檚 COO of mobile experience, told CNN that AI advancements could power a 鈥渘ew wave鈥� of devices beyond the smartphone. 鈥淲e believe it should be wearable, something (that) you don鈥檛 need to carry. 鈥� It could be something that you wear: glasses, earrings, watches, rings, and sometimes (a) necklace,鈥� Choi said. Our take: As the shift toward hands-free, voice-first wearables accelerates, companies should start building applications designed for screenless experiences like voice-driven customer service tools, workforce productivity assistants, or sponsored fitness programs.

The news: NBCUniversal will charge $8 million for 30-second Super Bowl LX spots, per an Adweek report citing those familiar with the matter. Ads for Super Bowl LX were reportedly going for around $7 million for 30 seconds鈥攂ut that number has been increased due to high demand. Our take: The Super Bowl is likely the most lucrative advertising opportunity for US brands, as football continues dominating live TV鈥攎eaning advertisers are willing to invest despite the high cost. Live sports events, especially the Super Bowl, offer a rare combination of scale, immediacy, and viewer engagement.

T-Mobile has announced a full rollback of its DEI programs as it seeks regulatory approval for two major deals, citing alignment with FCC expectations. The move eliminates all DEI language and infrastructure, signaling a dramatic reversal of the brand鈥檚 equity commitments. FCC Chair Brendan Carr applauded the shift, while critics warned of reputational risks鈥攑articularly with Gen Z and DEI-conscious consumers. As major brands reassess social strategies amid regulatory and political scrutiny, T-Mobile鈥檚 move may gain short-term approval but risks long-term brand damage. Marketers face a tough balancing act between political pragmatism and authentic social commitments.

The initiative: Urban Outfitters is teaming with HGTV to launch the 鈥淒ream Dorm Makeover Contest,鈥� which invites students to create a Pinterest board that captures their vision for a dorm that reflects their personal style, supports their daily routines, and feels like home. Our take: The campaign is designed to help Urban Outfitters connect with Gen Z students and their parents, as well as millennials seeking creative ways to revamp small spaces.

The news: Save A Lot introduced a new Hispanic-focused store format鈥攊ts second鈥攊n partnership with Leevers Supermarket as it explores ways to build deeper connections with Hispanic consumers. The takeaway: The rationale for opening these stores is clear: Hispanic consumers wield increasing buying power and account for an outsize share of growth in categories like CPG, beauty, and food and beverage. By targeting these shoppers with formats and products best suited to their needs, grocers can win lasting loyalty.

The news: JPMorgan will charge fintechs fees to access its customers鈥� bank account information, per a report from Bloomberg. Our take: This fee regime would be a pivotal win for JPMorgan that would undoubtedly be emulated by other banks anxious to tap a new revenue stream.

The news: Bilt will launch the Bilt Card 2.0 in partnership with fintech Cardless in February 2026, per a press release, after Wells Fargo ended its deeply unprofitable co-brand partnership early. Our take: Bilt Card 2.0 appears to close some of the gaps that made its partnership with Wells Fargo so rocky. With yearly fees and new deals with major US landlords, Bilt is positioning itself to make the Bilt card more successful鈥攁nd more profitable.

The news: The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia recorded the first year-over-year decline in delinquency rates since the fourth quarter of 2021, per a report. Our take: As consumers鈥� financial situation recovers, banks need to plot out their next move.

The news: Spotify is expanding its automated podcast buying capabilities, giving advertisers the opportunity to reach podcast listeners through two automated buying channels. Spotify Ads Manager is evolving to give advertisers in several regions 鈥渄irect access to premium podcast inventory,鈥� including content from original and licensed podcasts.. Our take: The updates could enable Spotify to increase its share of ad dollars, attracting advertisers looking for more opportunities to reach engaged audiences representing key demographics. But to continue attracting spending, Spotify will need to shift some focus to drawing in more listeners to keep its podcast offerings attractive.

The news: Samsung leaned heavily on AI functionality at its Unpacked event Wednesday with the Galaxy S25 series, Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 smartphones and Galaxy Watch 8, all featuring enhanced AI capabilities as a core value proposition, per Android Central. Samsung highlighted proprietary Galaxy AI for tasks like on-device photo and video editing, but the bigger news was Samsung鈥檚 adoption of Google Gemini across its ecosystem. Our take: For advertisers, the shift toward screen-aware, voice-activated experiences requires them to rethink how brands and campaigns align in an AI-first mobile world. Reframing brand experiences around mobile, voice, and contextual AI features opens opportunities for user engagement.

Samsung Ads has launched Mobile Conversion, a new tool designed to drive mobile app installs by linking CTV ad exposure to in-app behavior. Using AI, real-time engagement signals, and partnerships with attribution platforms like AppsFlyer and Adjust, Samsung enables advertisers to target high-intent users and dynamically optimize campaigns. Early results show up to 150% gains in Day 7 ROAS. The product leverages Samsung鈥檚 massive device footprint and runs on premium inventory, including Samsung TV Plus. While starting with gaming, Mobile Conversion will soon extend to verticals like retail and finance鈥攎aking CTV a legitimate player in the performance marketing toolkit.

The news: Google Chrome could soon face intensified competition from OpenAI and Perplexity. On Wednesday, Perplexity launched its long-awaited agentic AI browser, Comet. It鈥檚 currently exclusive to subscribers on its $200-per-month Max plan, but other users can sign up on a waitlist. OpenAI is expected to launch its own browser in the coming weeks, per Reuters, bringing more AI tools to its over 400 million weekly ChatGPT users. As AI search tools continue to expand, companies should plan their generative engine optimization (GEO) strategies now by ensuring content can be summarized by chatbots and that copy in graphics is clear and accessible to AI tools.

The news: Consumers increasingly see connected TV (CTV) ads as helpful during the holiday shopping season, according to LG Ad Solutions鈥� latest study. A growing number鈥�59%鈥攕ay CTV ads help guide holiday purchases, a 43% YoY spike. Home screen CTV ads are clicking鈥�26% of shoppers find them helpful for purchases, up 105% YoY. For advertisers, they鈥檙e fast becoming high-impact conversion tools amid rising ad loads. Our take: As holiday shopping habits extend into events like Prime Day and Cyber Monday, advertisers that align messaging, timing, and format across CTV platforms will win both attention and conversions.