“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

It has been almost 50 years since US astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon. The anniversary of the moon landing gave brands an opportunity to celebrate mankind’s greatest achievement. Google’s Doodle was one of the best yet and Spotify took the opportunity to celebrate music’s place in space. The euphoria was only tempered by a recent study that found that kids would now rather be YouTubers than Astronauts.

Will you be using Pinterest’s new emotional health exercises and resources?

Binged out…Netflix is losing beloved shows, subscribers and confidence.

Amazon plans to talk it’s way into the automotive industry with it’s Alexa voice assistant.

Addicted to ‘likes’? Here’s how to quit: Instagram is trialing hiding likes in seven countries.

Another week, another massive data breach. This time for Equifax, slapped with a $700 million dollar fine!

Internet advertising is set to grow at 10%, which is the slowest rate since the dotcom bubble burst.

The Fall and Rise of VR and how it is now estimated to be worth a whooping $34.5 billion by 2023.

Insta- cravings! A recent Instagram report showcased that 39% of users spend time browsing food and drink.

Hello and welcome to your weekly FWD.

The era of handheld entertainment, communication, connection and everything in-between continues to grow. Whilst devices are pushing out traditional paper-based methods (the last physical Yellow Pages was delivered in London last week) the app industry is going from strength to strength. Fornite has just launched on Android for Samsung phones, whilst Facebook is building its own AR games to use over Messenger video chat.

As more and more attention turns to fake news and what falls between the lines of free speech and defamation, this week Twitter grapples with defining ‘dehumanising speech’ and what this means for the deletion of such tweets and accounts. InfoWars weighs in on the debate with more than a dozen of their tweets being red-flagged for violating Twitter’s rules. 280 characters can hold more than we thought – short but rarely sweet.

HEADLINES

• Facebook shuts down Friend Lists and is likely to bring dating into the core app, Facebook employees are testing it now
• Facebook also launches AR games to play with friends through Messenger and opens up Mentorship (one of their newer features) to Groups
• Snapchat opens up shoppable features to the top creators on the platform
• Pinterest rolls out wider video format to all advertisers
• Spotify tests skippable audio ads in Australia

INSIGHTS

• A look at the 55 proposed new Emoji for 2019
• Usage of #Ad increases by 44% in H1 but consumers want more inventive Influencer endorsements, and 49% want greater regulation
• How Google’s entry could change the OOH market

COOL

• Dua Lipa bot sends you ‘mood based’ playlists
• Wayfair is opening up commerce on Magic Leap
• BBC to create a Virtual Reality Prom

DEEP READS

• Twitter is under fire for its stance on extremist profiles, this article goes behind the scenes charting what content gets banned on the platform 
• Word from Kevin Systrom: How the pivot to Stories helped Instagram
• Nielsen believe collaboration and accountability are crucial for facing into tomorrow’s media landscape

Please feel free to pass OMD FWD onto your colleagues, clients and friends – they can subscribe here at any time and watch Wednesday’s get better! #OMDFWD

Hello and welcome to your weekly FWD. Following the Cambridge Analytica fiasco, this week saw social media giants such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter reviewing their privacy standards with Facebook releasing a new and efficient way of removing connected apps from user’s accounts. For those of you who ever regret sending a Facebook message you will be pleased to know that Messenger is following in the footsteps of WhatsApp and will add an ‘unsend’ feature. OMD EMEA’s Head of Social Charles-Henry Ruyant comments on how brands should approach Facebook’s 2018 changes.

As mentioned last week, Spotify went public and this week made the headlines with a bullish initial valuation from the Spotify IPO, with some positive news for the tech company despite the challenging climate for tech companies.

HEADLINES

• Spotify’s IPO got off to a good start despite a challenging climate for tech brands although some investors found its valuation difficult to fathom due to the company’s intangible assets. Their first physical product could be on the horizon in the shape of a smart car speaker and of course we hope they continue doing what they are doing with the ’Genius’
• In a haste to reassure and restore confidence after the scandal, Facebook have launched several initiatives. Including a bulk app removal tool, an ‘unsend’ feature for messenger and closed access to the Instagram API
• YouTube launches TrueView for Reach; a 5 second skippable version
• Elsewhere Twitter are going to refresh users of their ‘rules’ as Snapchat brings back the old chronological timeline for some users

INSIGHTS

• How Alexa is influencing the next generation
• Background knowledge is the reason why we will stay ahead of computers (for now)
• Ever wanted to see what other people search for? This Chrome extension is for you

COOL

• Take a tour of Tokyo in 360 degrees
• Manchester City form a partnership with Tinder to promote footballing equality
• Ready Player One recreates 80’s TV titles in 8 bit… Retro
• Tap Bio lets you link to multiple pages from one account

DEEP READS

• Google used data analytics to predict basketball game outcomes, and inserted the predictions into ads pre-game
• Have we witnessed the death of the newsfeed?
• Influencer marketing evolves as we better grasp the value in these partnerships by giving individuals long-term contracts and a better understanding of KPIs

As always, please share anything you find interesting using #OMDFWD

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of FWD. This week, Facebook unveiled new privacy tools that let you delete social network data for good through a new section called Access Your Information. Spotify went public on the stock exchange, however the company isn’t raising any money and Snapchat launched a major update to its local capabilities game with Radius Targeting, allowing advertisers to target Snap Ads and Filters around a specific location. This feature is coming soon to the UK. Lastly, Lego announced a brick sorting vacuum and Netflix acquired Seth Rogen in these April Fool’s stunts.

HEADLINES

• Facebook unveils new privacy tools that let you delete data for good
• Spotify goes public on the stock exchange today. Here’s what to expect.
• Snapchat improves its local capabilities with ‘Radius Targeting’ for advertisers

INSIGHTS

• Almost half of programmatic ads do not meet Media Rating Council standard
• By 2020, Social ad spend will eclipse TV investment, according to a new report by eMarketer
• Google Analytics have introduced a sample dataset for BigQuery for anyone to have a play with and glean new business insights

COOL

• Google Maps incorporates Where’s Wally gamification (or Where’s Waldo to our American colleagues)
• Want to host your own chat show? This service will help you realise your dreams
• Apple proposes 13 new accessibility emojis to better represent individuals with disabilities

DEEP READS

• Does broadcast TV need to utilise Big Data in order to survive?
• 2018 is the year of human-centred tech, according to the IPA
• What do we really mean when we talk about Customer Experience?

Another call for stories, we love it when you get involved! If you find anything interesting, please share using #OMDFWD.

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of FWD. This week, Facebook unveiled new privacy tools that let you delete social network data for good through a new section called Access Your Information. Spotify went public on the stock exchange, however the company isn’t raising any money and Snapchat launched a major update to its local capabilities game with Radius Targeting, allowing advertisers to target Snap Ads and Filters around a specific location. This feature is coming soon to the UK. Lastly, Lego announced a brick sorting vacuum and Netflix acquired Seth Rogen in these April Fool’s stunts.

HEADLINES

• Facebook unveils new privacy tools that let you delete data for good
• Spotify goes public on the stock exchange today. Here’s what to expect.
• Snapchat improves its local capabilities with ‘Radius Targeting’ for advertisers

INSIGHTS

• Almost half of programmatic ads do not meet Media Rating Council standard
• By 2020, Social ad spend will eclipse TV investment, according to a new report by eMarketer
• Google Analytics have introduced a sample dataset for BigQuery for anyone to have a play with and glean new business insights

COOL

• Google Maps incorporates Where’s Wally gamification (or Where’s Waldo to our American colleagues)
• Want to host your own chat show? This service will help you realise your dreams
• Apple proposes 13 new accessibility emojis to better represent individuals with disabilities

DEEP READS

• Does broadcast TV need to utilise Big Data in order to survive?
• 2018 is the year of human-centred tech, according to the IPA
• What do we really mean when we talk about Customer Experience?

Another call for stories, we love it when you get involved! If you find anything interesting, please share using #OMDFWD.

Hello and welcome to your weekly FWD.

“While my background is in tech, I have a deep-rooted belief in the power of creative ideas. This mix combined with start-up mentality, agility and entrepreneurialism, will unlock opportunities to deliver work that makes a difference for our clients.” – Guy Marks

Following the exciting announcement earlier this week that start-up founder Guy Marks will be taking the helm of OMD EMEA, this issue is dedicated to stories where tech and creativity meet…

Google opens new avenues in China through a long-term agreement with Tencent, Amazon has finally opened its checkout-free shop, and Spotify can now help you adopt a dog with the same music tastes as you!

One to watch: tackling one of the industry’s big mysteries, BuzzFeed’s Publisher Dao Nguyen gives a TED talk on the secret to making content that people love.

HEADLINES

• Automated retail is now here as Amazon’s checkout-free shop finally opens today
• YouTube announces measures to earn back trust from advertisers and agencies
• Google opens new avenues in China through long-term agreement with Tencent

INSIGHTS

• Twitter’s investigation reveals that 600k users interacted with Russian propaganda accounts
• You can never have too many, so here’s eConsultancy’s marketing and digital predictions for 2018
• Here’s Twitter’s best brand campaigns of 2017 and insights into why they worked

COOL

• Are we about to see the launch of an ‘iTunes equivalent’ for VR music?
• Barking mad? You can now adopt a dog with the same music tastes as you
• This messaging app only works when you have less than 5% battery life, and you can only chat to strangers

DEEP READS

• Tackling one of the industry’s big mysteries, BuzzFeed’s Publisher Dao Nguyen gives a TED talk on the secret to making content that people love
• Is advertiser-funded dialogue in scripts the future of product placement?
• Is CES’ ability to accurately show us the technology of the future starting to wane?

If you find anything interesting, please share using #OMDFWD

Hello and welcome to the first FWD of 2018!

As we say goodbye to 2017, we look at who ended the year on a high:

• AirBnB was the hottest ticket in town as 3 million people partied the night away in AirBnBs on New Year’s Eve (compared to just 1,400 eight years ago).
• WhatsApp set a new messaging record with 75 billion messages sent globally using the service on New Year’s Eve.
• Spotify started the new year with 70 million paying subscribers, as it files to become a public company.

However, it is also time to look forward to the year ahead as we hear predictions from experts from the ecommerce world, The BBC and The Guardian on what will be the biggest tech and media trends in 2018…

HEADLINES

• Spotify gains 10 million new paid members every 6 months and files to go public on the New York Stock Exchange
• On New Year Eve, three million people partied the night away in Airbnbs, compared to just 1,400 eight years ago and many of them were WhatsApping – a massive 75 billion messages globally were sent using the service
• Instagram is letting a select few users post directly to WhatsApp

INSIGHTS

• Google have newly released their voice search stats
• Ofcom’s communications market report gives a handy compilation of stats across Digital and Offline, as the Office for National Statistics reveals young people spend a third of their time on devices
• Here are some of the most significant apps of 2017
• In the world of ecommerce, experts round up the biggest trends in 2017 and give their predictions for 2018

COOL

• Footlocker’s unboxing experience across Snapchat Lens lets users ‘try before they buy’
• A new Twitter bot turns threads into easy to read blogs
• Audi puts safety first, with a script for websites that blocks people who are browsing whilst driving

DEEP READS

• Here’s a look at some 2017 highlights of content marketing from beauty brands and experiential marketing
• The BBC, The Guardian and Fast Company give their rundown of what they think will happen in media in 2018, including consolidations, fake news and politics
• Take a look at the future of Blockchain

Please share anything of interest using #OMDFWD

Hello and welcome to your weekly FWD! This week, Spotify CMO Seth Farbman has revealed why its data-driven outdoor ads “2018 Goals” work so well. Our personal favourite:

Avoid the “medical professionals” who added these songs to operating room playlists:
– Stressed Out
– Can’t Feel My Face
– Stairway to Heaven
– Say You Won’t Let Go

But Spotify are not the only ones that are revolutionising OOH…Volvo has built a lightening-powered billboard! Spotify listeners, you can also find out how many minutes of music you’ve listened to this year here. #2017Wrapped

HEADLINES

• 1^st social platform alteration – Snapchat are separating the media from the social
• 2^nd social platform change – a sharing button and story archiving function come to Instagram
• NEW social platform – Facebook launches Messenger for Kids (with all contacts vetted by parents)

 INSIGHTS

• Data visualisation into how ideological networks create the political bubble we digitally live in
• A deeper insight into Spotify’s latest inspired use of data in marketing
• When was Android an independent? A timeline of all the company buyouts that Google/Alphabet have made

COOL

• Volkswagen turns on OOH ad by using real lightning and a mythical superhero
• The hungry algorithm for Snickers has gone global
• Here they go again? OK GO release another music video and it is quite good

DEEP READS

• Facebook’s subtle shift in distinction from Audience API to Audience Tool – why it’s positive for us, why they’re removing the ability to exclusion target by ethnicity
• The pro’s and con’s to facial recognition
• This is ace – what the internet knows about you. Try it for yourself

If you see anything interesting in the next week, please share using #OMDFWD

Hello and welcome to your weekly FWD. This week we have seen many changes in the social media world. First up, Facebook is testing an Explore Feed that will push non-promoted posts out of your Newsfeed. Say hello to the ‘Jumanji’ VR experiences on Newsfeed, but prepare not to press ‘like’ after Facebook’s decision to put the Like button, and annoying Farmville invites, to sleep. Twitter is preparing for a “tweetstorm” feature, offering users to compose their stories with the click of one “Tweet All” button.

Hail Spotify as they bolster their ecommerce offering, allowing listeners to purchase makeup through the platform. A smart move with Black Friday just around the corner and estimates that 40% of Christmas sales will be purchased during the sales. Doritos and Xbox also partnered this week to re-create classic gaming levels in the physical world, a world where gaming influencers have to compete against each other. Shout out to our PepsiCo teams for this awesome campaign!

HEADLINES

• Facebook trials a second ‘explore’ newsfeed, aimed showcasing wider content that isn’t determined by historical preferences and friends’ posts. It’s pushing non-promoted posts further to the back as a result
• Introducing the Twitter Tweetstorm function
• Ever wanted to buy cosmetics via Spotify? Well, you can…

 INSIGHTS

• Black Friday is anticipated to take an even bigger slice of the total consumer Christmas coffers
• The role of Google visibility and success in the Retail category
• Where did all those Farmville invitations go on social? An insight into how Facebook has phased out invites and likes

COOL

• Doritos and Xbox partner to re-create classic gaming levels in the physical world, a world where gaming influencers have to compete against each other
• For the upcoming Jumanji release, Facebook test its VR credentials in the newsfeed, for users to explore all manner of things
• Thanks to Boston Dynamics, robots are officially suppler and athletic than myself

DEEP READS

• Why AI is designed to be mentally unbalanced
• A global look at the commercial impact of Singles Day on the rest of the world
• A future thought on how digital publishers can co-exist

Please tag and share anything interesting you see with #OMDFWD

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of OMD FWD. This week brands and tech companies have been challenging our social conscience, with Burger King releasing a powerful PSA tackling bullying and Will Ferrell starring in a campaign to show how much mobile phones are interrupting family time (probably because 81% of kids are busy Snapchatting at parties!). Facebook also announced it has purchased an app, TBH, which encourages teenagers to compliment each other.

HEADLINES

• The IAB created the digital ad ‘gold standard’ aimed to improve the quality of digital advertising, with major players such as Google, The Guardian and News UK pledging their commitment in an open letter
• Friends can now track your whereabouts in real time on WhatsApp
• Plenty of updates from Facebook, including their recent purchase of the app TBH which encourages teenagers to compliment each other, the launch of Explore Feed on desktop to help improve organic reach, self-destructing status updates and In-App Purchases for Instant Games
• Snapchat and NBC Universal are partnering together to deliver original content as they go up against the likes of Amazon and Netflix  

INSIGHTS

• For those of you who like stats, Activate’s Michael Wolf presents a wealth of insights for tech and media
• The IAB reports that online video overtakes spends in banner advertising for the first time
• Thought Snapchat usage would be the same at a football game as a party? Think again, as the most popular places are revealed

COOL

• Burger King’s social experiment highlights the problem of teen bullying
• Funny man Will Ferrell shows just how much mobile phones are interrupting family time
• Spotify announces their new program Rise to promote new artists

DEEP READS

• Shopping on Instagram is really taking off as these examples show
• Facebook are testing ‘Sets’ to rival Pinterest
• Try out the best games and apps across Google’s Daydream

Please share anything of interest using #OMDFWD