DNA tests no longer seem like something out of a science textbook–and that’s thanks in large part to companies like 23andMe, which have brought DNA test technology into people’s homes, giving them a deeper look at their genetic makeup and ancestry with just a bit of saliva in a tube. But sharing your DNA with…
WhatsApp Adds Fingerprint Lock Feature to Android App
WhatsApp added a fingerprint lock to bring more security to its Android application. Users of the Facebook-owned messaging app can tap Settings, Account, Privacy, Fingerprint Lock to turn on the new feature and confirm their fingerprints. On the iOS side, WhatsApp rolled out Touch ID and Face ID for its iPhone app in February.
BBC Studios Takes Over Spotify to Back Seven Worlds, One Planet
BBC Studios is conducting a global first takeover of streaming platform Spotify Thursday to back its new documentary series from David Attenborough, Seven Worlds, One Planet. Spotify Free and Spotify Premium listeners will have access to seven featured videos depicting extraordinary wildlife stories and endangered species from around the world, as well as the official…
5 Ways to Beat Amazon at Its Own Game This Holiday Season
Of the holiday gifts shoppers will buy online this year, 42% expect to purchase all or most of them from Amazon, according to a new report from web content management firm Episerver. On the flip side, 47% will buy few or none of their gifts from Amazon, which means nearly half the market is still…
For Halloween, We Asked Marketers What Spooks Them About the Industry
(For our daily newsletter, First Things First, we provide tips on career and workplace strategy. You can sign up for FTF here, and if you’re interested in receiving our culture and workplace surveys, email me.) Every Halloween, marketers do their best to spook consumers with ads and activations like Budweiser promoting responsible drinking with costumed…
Snapchat Has Treats for Its Users’ Bitmoji on Halloween
Snapchatters’ Bitmoji can get into the Halloween spirit, too. The outfit shop in the Bitmoji application contains Halloween-themed costume options including a zombie, haunted house, cupcake and unicorn. Tapping the T-shirt icon in the upper-right-hand corner of the app enables users to browse through the selections. Snapchat’s Bitmoji Stories are featuring “spooky-scary-storylines” for Snapchatters and…
Forrester: Media Agency Groups Taking Steps To ‘Fend Off Looming In-House Threat’
Meshing and scaling technology, data and agency assets at the group level, Forrester asserts, will boost buying clout. The goal: “To corner the programmatic market with digital buying prowess,
bringing clients advanced inventory at preferred rates.”
bringing clients advanced inventory at preferred rates.”
Twitter Bans Political Ads: Says Political Speech Should Be ‘Earned, Not Bought’
Twitter just announced it will stop all political advertising. “We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought,” CEO Jack Dorsey said in a tweet Wednesday afternoon announcing the
decision to suspend all political ads on the platform globally.
decision to suspend all political ads on the platform globally.
Viacom-CBS Merger Nears, Company Names Chief Revenue Executives
Jo Ann Ross, chief ad revenue officer of CBS, will lead all ViacomCBS advertising. Advanced advertising revenue will be headed up by John Halley, executive vp/chief operating officer of ad solutions,
Viacom.
Viacom.
Donaton Jumping From Digitas To Hulu
Scott Donaton is joining the streaming service as its new head of creative, based at the company’s headquarters in California.