蘑菇AV

The news: Pause ads are gaining momentum as a promising format that boosts the potential of connected TV (CTV) ads to capture user attention, per findings from a Magna and DirecTV study. Our take: While pause ads promise potential, advertisers must implement strategies that increase their鈥� appeal to drive measurable outcomes. Viewers across age groups prefer pause ads that offer the ability to save offers/reminders. And younger generations favor pause ads that have clickable buttons linking to the brand鈥檚 site or app (53% for Gen Z and 50% for millennials) or that offer scannable QR codes.

The news: Primark is incorporating inclusive and sensory-friendly features into its kidswear line to help more children feel 鈥渃omfortable and good鈥� in their clothes, per The Retail Bulletin. Our take: Inclusivity isn鈥檛 just about doing the right thing鈥攊t鈥檚 a smart business strategy. At a time when brand loyalty is eroding鈥攅specially among Gen Z and millennial shoppers鈥攔etailers and brands that thoughtfully accommodate children with sensory sensitivities have a real opportunity. By offering products and experiences that meet these needs, they can forge lasting connections with parents who are actively seeking out solutions that make their kids feel comfortable and seen.

The news: The 2025 NBA Finals drew just 10.2 million viewers on average, among the weakest results in two decades鈥攜et Game 7 peaked at 19.3 million, the highest since 2019. Traditional ratings miss the full picture, though: social views on NBA Finals content soared 215% year over year to 5 billion. Our take: Gen Z sports fans are watching differently鈥攙ia highlights, short clips, and mobile-first formats on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. TV still matters, but leagues like the NBA must master new distribution models. With streaming growth and a massive $76B media deal in place, the future is already digital.

The insights: Generation X leads in consumer spending, and tech industry marketers may be missing out on a key opportunity, especially this holiday season. Gen Xers worldwide will spend $15.2 trillion in 2025鈥攎ore than any other generation鈥攑er NielsenIQ鈥檚 The X Factor report. 25% of UK Gen Xers plan to spend more than 拢500 ($639) on Christmas gifts this year, per Azerion, while only 1% of Gen Zers say they will spend that much. Our take: This is marketers鈥� cue to lean into smarter personalization, digital experiences, and loyalty programs that appeal to Gen X鈥檚 tech-savvy, open-minded style, and their outsized influence on household spending. Dedicated strategies to target Gen X now will drive growth while spending power is at its peak.

The news: American Express鈥檚 net revenues grew 9% YoY in Q2 2025, per its earnings release. Our take: Amex鈥檚 expansion into international markets and bet on its Gen Z and millennial cardholders鈥� interest in exclusive, experiential rewards has been a winning combination. But there may be early signs that Amex鈥檚 strategy is reaching its limits as consumers grapple with financial anxieties.

The news: Gen Z is preparing an ambitious lineup of summer fun鈥攊ncluding domestic and international travel, shopping and dining, and vacation upgrades鈥攖o a degree that outstrips millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers, per a study by Bread Financial. Our take: Gen Zers invest in work/life balance and are willing to spend to maximize their R&R experiences. Brands should meet this generation with luxury-first options and seamless experiences to maximize their return on investment for the younger cohort willing to spend to make a good time a great one.

96.3% of Gen Zers are digital video viewers, compared to 80.5% of the overall US population, per our May 2025 forecast.

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: In February, we covered Bankrate鈥檚 2025 Emergency Savings Report. It has since updated its survey results, which highlight Gen Z鈥檚 lack of savings. Gen Zers as a whole are living in the moment and setting their financial goals and woes aside. Our take: To attract these young consumers, banks should develop tailored, accessible, user-friendly savings products and educational resources that resonate with them. Such resources should encourage small, automatic, and consistent savings while acknowledging the generation鈥檚 desire for flexibility. Offering gamified savings challenges or linking savings directly to short-term, aspirational goals could also motivate this generation to build a financial safety net.

The news: To effectively engage Gen Z, banks must offer more than just basic digital experiences. This generation demands instant gratification, expecting rapid account openings, quick loan decisions, and frictionless onboarding. Gen Z also prefers visual learning, gravitating toward video explanations and gamified education for financial literacy. Despite their digital fluency, they still value human connection for problem-solving, requiring quick access to live help. Our take: Banks should move beyond traditional "channels" or "products" and design a responsive, omnichannel ecosystem that delivers education, trust, and personalization in real time, fitting seamlessly into Gen Z鈥檚 lives.

The news: Gen Z鈥檚 share of private label spending will overtake that of baby boomers by 2026, according to a Numerator report. Our take: Gen Z鈥檚 affinity for private labels is part of a broader behavioral shift鈥攐ne that retailers are making the most of. To encourage loyalty among this notoriously fickle cohort, companies will need to stay on top of emerging food trends, foster exclusivity and a sense of urgency with limited-edition releases, and make sure they satisfy Gen Zers鈥� desire for attractive packaging, transparent labeling, and sustainability.

The news: TikTok is reportedly exploring a US-only version of its app amid ongoing discussions of a US ban and selloff, per The Information. Known internally as 鈥淢2,鈥� the app will reportedly launch in September and require users to download a new version to use TikTok in the US鈥攖hough users will have several months to make the switch. Our take: We will continue to monitor closely for further developments, particularly the specifics of user data and algorithm migration, which will directly dictate the app's future efficacy for bank marketing. For now, FIs should maintain their Gen Z outreach strategies on TikTok with a high degree of adaptability.

The trend: Gen Z adults and boomers are more likely to strongly support vaccines for disease prevention than middle-aged generations. The takeaway: Gen Zers mirror older people鈥檚 pro-vaccine stance. This might be surprising, but it also presents an opportunity for brands and marketers who can no longer assume that young consumers are purely skeptical of the healthcare system. Marketers will want to tap influencers and edutainment to make sure accurate information on vaccines and other evidence-based treatments is readily available.

Almost half of Gen Zers (46%) and Baby Boomers (45%) would switch to less expensive brands or product alternatives if there are price increases related to tariffs, according to March data from Collage Group.