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This week, J. Mac & Ryder are joined by the great mind of gamer, streamer, and Geeked Out podcast cohost: Ty Palomino as they break down The Minecraft Movie. With TikTok trends sweeping the world, box office successes, and Jack Black at the helm of the acting crew, what could go wrong?
At the tail end of March, Digital Cinema Media (DCM), the UK's largest cinema ad sales house, hosted its annual upfronts in the Leicester Square Odeon. It was a way to celebrate cinema's strong start to the year and look ahead to the 2025 and 2026 film slates, but also an opportunity for brands to consider whether to position the channel more prominently on their AV plans.Among the presentations, new research from DCM found that cinema is well-placed to drive price premiums – that is, consumers were willing to pay on average 12% more for a brand that advertised in cinemas than if it had advertised on other media channel. It's a finding that could prove useful in an era marked by continued macroeconomic uncertainty and the desire for brands to retain pricing power.DCM CEO Karen Stacey joined host Jack Benjamin to discuss the research and unpack what has driven the sales house's 33% revenue growth in Q1. Stacey also explored where cinema belongs on media plans today and how the channel can grow its share of adspend.Highlights:1:30: Stacey's career path, advice for leaders and priorities for Wacl14:59: DCM's strong start to 2025 – what's behind the growth in revenue and cinema admissions?24:52: The opportunity for cinema to embrace programmatic30:45: Will box office and admissions ever get back to pre-Covid levels?34:59: How cinema drives strong price premiumsRelated articles:Cinema drives up price premium, research suggestsBridget Jones leads 20% growth in February box officeAre all ‘views' created equal? With TikTok, DCM, Total Media and Mindlab---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticIn this segment of "Notorious Mass Effect," Analytic Dreamz dives into Machine Gun Kelly's "Your Name Forever," released March 17, 2025. The standalone single, co-written with Travis Barker, blends acoustic introspection with punk-rock energy, earning 900K U.S. Spotify streams on day one. Analytic Dreamz unpacks its projected #30-35 Billboard Hot 100 debut, #12 entry on Hot Rock & Alternative, and #4 peak on iTunes Rock. With TikTok traction and 400K YouTube views by March 20, MGK's emotional rock pivot shines.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
In This Episode: Tesla’s self-driving feature gets tricked by a fake Wile E. Coyote-style road wall Gen Z is "revenge quitting" jobs to get back at employers Apple's first foldable iPhone could cost double the iPhone 16 Pro Max Sources: Tesla Autopilot drives into Wile E. Coyote fake road wall in camera vs. lidar test Gen Z is ‘revenge quitting’ as payback for employers’ alleged ‘unfair treatment’ — causing chaos at the office Apple's First Foldable iPhone Estimated to Cost Nearly Twice as Much as iPhone 16 Pro Max Tesla vs. Wile E. Coyote Popular YouTuber Mark Rober put Tesla’s self-driving technology to the test in a scene straight out of Looney Tunes. He set up a massive fake road wall painted to look like the road continued, just like something Wile E. Coyote would use against the Road Runner. The result? The Tesla drove straight into it without hesitation, proving that while self-driving tech has improved, it's still no match for classic cartoon trickery. Gen Z’s ‘Revenge Quitting’ Movement A new workplace trend has Gen Z employees quitting their jobs in the most inconvenient ways possible as a form of protest against perceived unfair treatment. Whether it's leaving in the middle of a shift or dropping a resignation notice with zero warning, this movement is causing major disruptions in offices everywhere. With TikTok driving the trend, some say it's empowering, while others argue it's just making work environments even more chaotic. Apple’s Foldable iPhone Price Shock Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone is estimated to have a jaw-dropping starting price of around $2,300—nearly double the cost of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. According to an investor research note, this would make it Apple’s priciest iPhone ever. While foldable tech is gaining traction, the big question is whether customers will shell out that much cash just to have a bendy screen. Nina's What's Trending is your daily dose of the hottest headlines, viral moments, and must-know stories from The Jubal Show! From celebrity gossip and pop culture buzz to breaking news and weird internet trends, Nina’s got you covered with everything trending right now. She delivers it with wit, energy, and a touch of humor. Stay in the know and never miss a beat—because if it’s trending, Nina’s talking about it! This is just a tiny piece of The Jubal Show. You can find every podcast we have, including the full show every weekday right here…➡︎ https://thejubalshow.com/podcasts The Jubal Show is everywhere, and also these places:Website ➡︎ https://thejubalshow.comInstagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/thejubalshowX/Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/thejubalshowTikTok ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@the.jubal.showFacebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/thejubalshowYouTube ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@JubalFreshSupport the show: https://the-jubal-show.beehiiv.com/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is Your Social Strategy Future-Proof? With TikTok's uncertain future and new platforms emerging, diversification is key. VP Social Strategy & Content Amanda Sarver and COO Jen Renehan dive into the power of owned media, the rise of influencers, and how brands can stay ahead of shifting trends. Plus, a look at AI's impact on content […]
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticJoin Analytic Dreamz on Notorious Mass Effect for a segment exploring Coco Jones' speculated track 'Taste,' likely dropping late 2024 or early 2025 via High Standardz/Def Jam. From Disney star to Grammy-winning R&B artist, Coco (Courtney Michaela Ann Jones) blends soulful vocals with modern production. Analytic Dreamz analyzes its potential Top 20 debut on Billboard Hot R&B Songs, #40–50 Hot 100 climb, and 5–10 million Spotify streams by February 2025. With TikTok buzz and a Grammy halo, 'Taste' could cement her R&B rise.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The future is uncertain for TikTok.With TikTok facing a potential ban in the US, marketers need to be ready to pivot. In this episode, Data Dialogues host and Head of Marketing, Larisa Bedgood, and Kristin Jones, Content Marketing Manager at PGM, explore the latest developments in the ongoing debate surrounding the app's future and provide actionable strategies to help you adapt your marketing plans. We delve into alternative platforms and innovative ways to connect with your audience, ensuring your brand stays ahead of the curve, no matter what happens with TikTok.
How do you turn brand interactions on social platforms into moments that feel personal, meaningful, and community-driven? Jamie Ray, founder and CEO of Buttermilk, knows the secret lies in nurturing the bond between brands and their biggest fans. In this episode, we dive into how Buttermilk prioritize community-first engagement, helping brands create authentic relationships that go beyond transactions. From amplifying brand love to fostering deep connections, Buttermilk's approach proves that when brands invest in their fans, the impact is both powerful and lasting. Full Episode Details Jamie joins this episode of Social Pros to share how Buttermilk is redefining influencer marketing by putting communities first. He dives into why building strong, lasting connections between brands and their most loyal fans is so important—and how Buttermilk helps brands nurture those relationships in meaningful ways. With TikTok facing a possible U.S. ban, Jamie unpacks what this means for creators and brands, offering insights on how to pivot, protect communities, and stay ahead of platform changes. He also explores the rise of AI influencers, why human connection will always reign supreme, and whether influencers could soon take on the role of creative directors for brands. Social moves fast, and brands that truly understand their audiences win. Jamie explains how Buttermilk helps brands move beyond transactional influencer marketing to create authentic, long-term engagement that keeps communities thriving. In This Episode: 2:02 - Large shifts in the influencer space over the last decade, from just a few big influencers to thousands of micro influencers 5:39 - Buttermilk being community first and finding tastemakers in communities 8:05 - How Buttermilk nurtures and grows the relationship between brands and their fans 10:25 - How Jamie advises his clients to get customer insights from their biggest fans 12:33 - The beginning of Jamies' career and the origins of Buttermilk 16:38 - Not getting hyper-fixated on trends in 2025 19:42 - Thoughts and advice on the future of TikTok 22:22 - The flaws of AI influencers in social, and the Gen Z hunger for more real life experiences 24:40 - The democratization of creativity in marketing teams and brands 29:56 - Jamie's advice for aspiring social pros Resources Visit Buttermilk's Website Follow Buttermilk on LinkedIn Follow Buttermilk on Instagram Follow Buttermilk on TikTok Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.
What happens when a potential TikTok ban looms over the U.S. market? In this episode of the "Unstoppable Marketer" podcast, our hosts dive into the implications for brands heavily reliant on this platform. With TikTok's future uncertain, businesses must pivot quickly—Trevor emphasizes the need to master ad strategies on platforms like Meta. The conversation unfolds with insights into how brands can adapt and thrive amidst these changes, ensuring they remain competitive in a shifting digital landscape.The discussion takes a turn towards the significant drop in organic reach on social media platforms like Instagram. Our hosts explore the 50-60% decrease in reach since mid-2023, urging brands to reassess their strategies. They highlight the importance of understanding these shifts and adapting to maintain engagement. Mark shares his frustration with the current state of A/B testing in marketing, advocating for a more structured approach to hypothesis testing to truly understand what drives success.As we look ahead to 2025, the hosts discuss strategies for reaching more people and enhancing distribution in e-commerce. They stress the importance of targeting the right audience and maximizing reach. With January 2025 marketing performance in focus, they offer reassurance to those whose numbers didn't meet expectations initially, attributing it to the holiday season's impact. This episode is packed with actionable advice and insights to help marketers navigate the evolving digital landscape.Please connect with Trevor on social media. You can find him anywhere @thetrevorcrump
This week, the guys talk TikTok! With TikTok apparently on the clock and headed towards being shut down, the guys talk about what's going on, how it impacts them, and what it could mean on a bigger scale. Do they think TikTok will actually be banned? Is it all just a political stunt? Or is it all a precursor to unprecedented political power? Either way, it's all kinda wild and very new. And hey, their thoughts are old news with the TikTok ban coming and going since they talked! But hey, the ideas discussed are still topical. The guys also talk "sticking it to the man," mention a ton of Fact of the Week tidbits, and bust out some daily history facts for your listening pleasure!
Corey Feldman avoided the LA wildfires but not the comments on his hat, Kim Porter's explosive Diddy allegations, Spencer Pratt & Heidi Montag grief grift media tour, Donald Trump's inauguration performers, Obama's divorce rumors, more adults need trophies, and Bad News BranDon strikes again. If you really need to brush your hair on an airplane, do it in the bathroom. Does the carpet always match the drapes? Corey Feldman gave live updates during his evacuation notice in the LA fires only to fight with Twitter commentators. His house must be ok because he's off meeting RFK Jr. in Florida. Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag are still recovering from losing their house in the LA wildfire, but the important thing is that her album is number one. It must be because of the billboard they purchased in Times Square. They shared their story on GMA this morning. Everyone seems to support her song including Flavor Flav. We call him for comment. She could turn OnlyFans to make money... if she hadn't already tried that route. The $2 billion Powerball winner also lost his house, but has two more in the Los Angeles area. Meghan Markle continues her disaster tourism around LA to donate clothes that no one wants. J-Lo wants everyone to know she's cleaning out her closet to help Los Angeles as well. With TikTok running out of time in the U.S. they might have found a savior in Mr. Beast. Follow us on YouTube. And then answer the pressing question about Drew's take on Spencer and Heidi. Carrie Underwood is going to perform God Bless America at Donald Trump's inauguration. The Village people are going to play a dance party with Trump. Drew's childhood friend and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsey had an unexpected cameo on Netflix's new show American Primeval. Joe Biden's final days: Jill Biden is so mad at Nancy Pelosi for being truthful. Hunter Biden DID show up at Jimmy Carter funeral. Hunter is asking Hollywood for help in cashing in on his famous last name. Sean Penn seems to be biting after being gifted some artwork. Some people are saying that Barack and Michelle Obama are heading for a divorce because he's bisexual. The Philadelphia Eagles fan that got in the face of a female Green Bay Packers fan has been doxxed and fired. No surprise since he worked for a DEI consulting firm. Tim Tebow had sex and has knocked up a former Miss Universe. Ben Affleck is getting sick and tired of the police stopping him when he wants to return home. Some people are saying he flew the drone that damaged the Super Scooper plane. Lisa Marie Presley's daughter Riley Keough appeared on Call Her Daddy. She never saw Michael Jackson do anything untoward, but then again she was not a little boy. Kim Porters' diary has some pretty crazy allegations about Diddy. Her first husband Al B. Sure! has broken his silence. BranDon is not here today as he had another car accident. Our sincere thoughts are with him. Stuttering John has removed public viewing of his stupid Cameos. They are already on sale. We are gearing up for a huge football weekend. David Montgomery and Terrion Arnold participated in the Detroit Lions practice today. Lou Holtz is already trolling OSU head coach Ryan Day ahead of the National Championship against Notre Dame. Jim Harbaugh is going to take care of those pesky health problems now that the LA Chargers are out of the Playoffs. Visit our presenting sponsor Hall Financial – Michigan's highest rated mortgage company. If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (The Drew Lane Show, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley and BranDon).
Many TikTok users are joining apps such as RedNote and Lemon8 in anticipation of a TikTok ban in the United States. The problem? They’re also Chinese-owned. We’ll get into how this could turn into a headache for Congress. Then, we’ll unpack Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s climate change comments at his confirmation hearing and how people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles are being impacted by the current fires in a unique way. Plus, a farewell hallucinogenic mushroom story from outgoing Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Some of the possible alternatives to TikTok have their own problems” from Marketplace “Trump considers executive order hoping to ‘save TikTok' from ban or sale in U.S. law” from The Washington Post “With TikTok ban looming, ByteDance has a backup plan” from Marketplace “Where Gaetz and Hegseth stand on climate change” from Politico “The Changing Threat” from Marketplace’s “How We Survive” “As thousands flee LA fires, disaster poses unique challenges for the unhoused” from Marketplace “How the LA fires could exacerbate California's homelessness crisis” from CalMatters “‘It Was Ok” – Sec. Janet Yellen On Trying Marijuana For The First Time” from “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
Many TikTok users are joining apps such as RedNote and Lemon8 in anticipation of a TikTok ban in the United States. The problem? They’re also Chinese-owned. We’ll get into how this could turn into a headache for Congress. Then, we’ll unpack Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s climate change comments at his confirmation hearing and how people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles are being impacted by the current fires in a unique way. Plus, a farewell hallucinogenic mushroom story from outgoing Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Some of the possible alternatives to TikTok have their own problems” from Marketplace “Trump considers executive order hoping to ‘save TikTok' from ban or sale in U.S. law” from The Washington Post “With TikTok ban looming, ByteDance has a backup plan” from Marketplace “Where Gaetz and Hegseth stand on climate change” from Politico “The Changing Threat” from Marketplace’s “How We Survive” “As thousands flee LA fires, disaster poses unique challenges for the unhoused” from Marketplace “How the LA fires could exacerbate California's homelessness crisis” from CalMatters “‘It Was Ok” – Sec. Janet Yellen On Trying Marijuana For The First Time” from “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
Many TikTok users are joining apps such as RedNote and Lemon8 in anticipation of a TikTok ban in the United States. The problem? They’re also Chinese-owned. We’ll get into how this could turn into a headache for Congress. Then, we’ll unpack Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s climate change comments at his confirmation hearing and how people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles are being impacted by the current fires in a unique way. Plus, a farewell hallucinogenic mushroom story from outgoing Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Some of the possible alternatives to TikTok have their own problems” from Marketplace “Trump considers executive order hoping to ‘save TikTok' from ban or sale in U.S. law” from The Washington Post “With TikTok ban looming, ByteDance has a backup plan” from Marketplace “Where Gaetz and Hegseth stand on climate change” from Politico “The Changing Threat” from Marketplace’s “How We Survive” “As thousands flee LA fires, disaster poses unique challenges for the unhoused” from Marketplace “How the LA fires could exacerbate California's homelessness crisis” from CalMatters “‘It Was Ok” – Sec. Janet Yellen On Trying Marijuana For The First Time” from “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
With TikTok potentially leaving U.S. app stores next week, millions of scrollers and posters are looking for greener — or in this case, redder — pastures. As Los Angeles grapples with one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, insurers in Canada are wrestling with their own severe weather dilemma.
Join Jay and Gabbie on this weeks episode of Mom Said, Dad Said as they go over 2025 goals and what to expect this year from them content wise. With TIKTOK being on the verge of being banned in the US, Jay and Gabbie keep a positive outlook on the situation encuraging their supports to stay tuned with other platforms such as YT, IG, FB, and Snapchat. Gabbie talks about the elevation of The Kelley Family's content going up creating a more engaging everyday lifestyle culture for the supporters to interact with. Thank you for watching and listening in. Stay tuned weekly every Tuesday for more episodes of Mom Said Dad Said. Like, Comment, and subscribe to stay up to date with weekly Gossip. Check us out on Spotify: https://bit.ly/MomSaidDadSaidSpotify Check us out on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/MomSaidDadSaidApple Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKelleyFamily Video Editor: https://www.instagram.com/kartist_videoeditor Follow our socials!: Gabbie's Instagram: https://instagram.com/glambygabriellek_ Jay's Instagram: https://instagram.com/j.royalty.k TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thekelleyfamily Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Main Image Monthly - Winning the Amazon Game with Data Welcome back to another Main Image Monthly episode of Seller Sessions, where we analyze, test, and refine product imagery to help brands optimize their Amazon listings. Hosted by Danny McMillan, this episode features a stellar lineup: Sim Mahon: A seasoned seller managing six private label brands and driving eight-figure revenues, Matt Kostan and Andri Sadlak: Founders of ProductPinion and 7-8 figure sellers, with over a decade of experience in e-commerce growth strategies. Then stop the scroll expert Dorian Gorski on the main image optimisation, and Oana Padurariu (image recognition insights), with special guest Luke T. Shelley from the viral TikTok brand Lucky Egg. Meet the Brand: Luke T. Shelley Luke, co-founder of Lucky Egg, shares his brand's journey from selling stationery products to launching a party game brand in 2021. With TikTok as a primary driver for traffic, the brand has achieved exceptional success. However, the Amazon listing needed fine-tuning to ensure consistency across traffic sources and optimize conversions. Qualitative Testing: Real Customer Feedback Product Opinion provided unfiltered feedback from 10 board game enthusiasts, focusing on three key questions: How could this party game's images be improved? What are the top features and benefits that matter most? Why wouldn't someone buy this game? Top Objections from Testing: Dark and Dull Colors: The black box was criticized for feeling uninviting and not matching the festive vibe of a party game. Looks Fake: Overuse of Photoshop, especially on the headphones, led to concerns about product quality. Too Busy: Customers felt the main image was cluttered with text and unclear instructions. Customer Quote: "The black background makes it look dull. I can't immediately tell it's a party game. The text is too small and busy." Concept Testing: Data Meets Creativity The team ran multiple iterations of the main image to address feedback while testing hypotheses: Original Image: Straightforward, clean box with headphones and cards. Concept A: Simplified, more focus on the headphones with gameplay text. Concept B: Open-box concept with brighter interior colors, added human element (smiling faces), and prominent TikTok branding. Round Two: Refining the Winning Concept The team didn't stop there. They hypothesized further improvements: Concept D: Enhanced the original image by rearranging elements and improving clarity. Concept E: Added customer-requested features, such as player count, playtime, and ease of use, directly on the box. Key Takeaways from Testing: Clarity is King: Customers prefer simplicity and a clear understanding of the product. Highlight Key Benefits: Playtime, player count, and ease of play are critical for party games. Social Proof Works: The “Best Party Game” badge was a standout element. Quotes Build Trust: Consider adding a powerful testimonial or review to the packaging for instant credibility. Amazon Recognition Insights Oana shared critical insights about how Amazon's algorithm interprets images: The current image risks being labeled as “electronics” or “business cards” due to the black headphones and text-heavy design. Recommendation: Incorporate the word “game” on the box and cards to ensure accurate indexing. Key Optimization Tip: Run Amazon Recognition tests before finalizing images to ensure they are correctly categorized by Amazon. Sim's Key Takeaways Quotes Matter: Adding a humorous or impactful quote can drive purchases, as seen with competitors. Giftable Packaging: A party game is often purchased as a gift, so showcasing appealing packaging is crucial. Segmentation: Keep the core audience (e.g., adults, party-goers) in mind when refining designs. Dorian's Expert Insights Testing Process: Creative optimization requires multiple iterations. Testing with real customer feedback separates opinion from data. Simplify and Enhance: If the original image performs well, focus on incremental improvements rather than dramatic changes. Final Advice: Focus on clarity and a focal point that attracts attention. For party games, simplicity and fun elements are key. Next Steps for Lucky Egg Luke will balance all feedback to test a refined main image: Retain the award badge with potential source credibility. Incorporate key gameplay features (e.g., player count, ease of play). Explore adding a reputable quote or humorous testimonial. Address Amazon's recognition by ensuring “game” is part of the image design. Final Round-Up This episode showcased the power of combining data and creativity in image optimization. From brutal customer feedback to multiple rounds of testing, the process demonstrated that even strong-performing listings can be improved with methodical, customer-focused changes. Key Learnings for Sellers: Always test hypotheses; assumptions don't drive conversions. Listen to your target audience—their feedback reveals critical pain points. Use data-driven tools like Product Opinion and Amazon Recognition to validate changes. Follow Lucky Egg on TikTok: @luckyegg for inspiration on creating viral, engaging content. Connect with Luke T. Shelley via LinkedIn or email: luke@luckyegg.co. Looking for a Free PPC Audit? https://www.databrill.com/ Out Now on SellerSessions.com: "The Cold Reality of the Honeymoon Period and External Traffic" https://sellersessions.com/the-cold-reality-of-the-honeymoon-period-and-external-traffic/ Your opinion matters! Drop us a comment
Friday on the News Hour, we report from Aleppo in Syria's north as the city comes back to life and Syrians return to their homes. With TikTok facing a potential ban in the U.S., we look at one billionaire's effort to buy the social media app and keep it up and running. Plus, we examine the widespread anger and distrust of the health insurance industry after the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
CHECK OUT LIVING KRINGLE from Hey Girl Hey ProductionsWhat happens when creativity meets procrastination head-on? Join us as we share our personal struggles with content creation and the constant tug-of-war between inspiration and deadlines. We'll reveal the humor in swapping our creative roadblocks and discuss how motivation sometimes boils down to simply hitting that post button. With TikTok's future in question, we explore how community and self-reflection can become our secret weapons for overcoming procrastination and achieving our creative goals. Hear the deeply moving account of visiting sites tied to the Atlantic slave trade, where history books fall short of capturing the true depth of tragedy. Walking through castles and dungeons, and standing at the poignant "last bath" site, offers a perspective that is both heart-wrenching and enlightening. Drawing parallels to visits to places like the National Museum of African American History, we reflect on the significance of sharing these experiences with friends and recognize the weight of the stories these spaces hold. As we edge closer to Kwanzaa, there's an opportunity to honor these histories while looking forward to future celebrations.Celebrate with us as we mark Blair's milestone in her first filmed project, a creative homage to "Living Single." We can't help but express our pride in Blair's multifaceted talents as an actor, writer, and director, all of which shine brightly in this production. Her dedication and passion reignite a creative spark, proving the power of planning, teamwork, and following one's dreams. Amidst some light-hearted gaming anecdotes and TikTok distractions, we also highlight the importance of support and engagement—especially when it comes to Blair's latest accomplishment. Listen in for a mix of laughter, introspection, and a hearty dose of inspiration.Follow US IG: https://www.instagram.com/highlymelanatedpodcast Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/H_MelanatedPod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb2VbyoW6KaMxQo5onYluXAIF YOU WANT TO BE A GUEST OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE, HIT US UP!!!FEEL FREE TO EMAIL US @highlymelanatedpodcast@gmail.com
Recorded 12/6/24 With TikTok set to be banned in the U.S. on January 19, 2025, (unless divested) —Australia is the frontrunner at banning the social media platform. Sources:https://www.reuters.com/techno...https://x.com/elonmusk/status/...https://www.tallahassee.com/st... Follow my socials (before it's too late): beacons.ai/kamasense
Send us a textIs TikTok the new frontier in political influence? Jenn Barbee and Kristen Cruz unravel the unexpected events of Election Day 2024, including the peculiar incident of Puerto Rico being the target of an unjust criticism in the political sphere. Join us as we discuss how the election cycle has transcended the predictable, entering a realm where social media platforms hold unprecedented sway. With TikTok emerging as a pivotal player in engaging younger voters, we reflect on the transformation from the days when X (Twitter) was the trailblazer in political campaigns to today's complex digital battleground.Amidst the digital noise, we emphasize the importance of focusing on what truly matters, especially for industries like tourism that occasionally find themselves in the spotlight. As millions of messages swirl in the digital ether, the challenge is to provide travelers with content that is both informative and digestible. From observing the power of social media in Obama's era to dissecting its current vibrant role, our conversation explores how platforms like Instagram and TikTok are shaping the discourse and empowering the next generation to make informed decisions. Tune in for a mix of reminiscence and revelation, as we navigate the swift currents of political and social change and where the tourism industry fits in.-----------------------------------------------------The Tech, Travel, and Twang Podcast is hosted by Co-Founders, Kristen Cruz and Jenn Barbee with Destination Innovate. Learn More! https://destinationinnovate.com/about/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-travel-and-twang/id1679996130
Discover how Kenya's Gen Z has been transforming the digital landscape through powerful online mobilization and offline protests. With TikTok leading the charge, young Kenyans are reshaping social media usage and internet accessibility. What opportunities and risks does this digital growth bring?
Welcome to episode 116 of The Social Circus! In this episode, host Sarah Thomson dives deep into the world of Reels, a powerful tool for digital marketing and social media strategy. As a business owner, understanding and leveraging Reels can be a game changer, and Sarah is here to guide you through it. Whether you're a novice or looking to improve your existing skills, this episode will equip you with the knowledge to create engaging and effective Reels for your business. Reels, as Sarah explains, are short-form video content that have revolutionised social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest. With TikTok leading the way and having over a billion active users, the impact of Reels on engagement and account growth is undeniable. Sarah emphasises the importance of creating Reels consistently and shares practical tips for doing so, including the ideal length for cross-platform use and the evolving trends in Reels content, from talking heads to faceless marketing. Leveraging various tools and features can significantly enhance your Reels. Sarah discusses the advantages of using captions for inclusivity and accessibility, the fun of duets and transitions, and how apps like CapCut and Canva can streamline your video creation process. She also highlights the importance of staying authentic to your brand while exploring new trends and features. Sarah's actionable advice will motivate you to start creating and experimenting with Reels, ensuring your content resonates with your audience and stands out in the crowded digital space. ### Key Takeaways: * **Understanding Reels:** Learn what Reels are and why they are vital for engaging your audience on various social media platforms. * **Optimal Reels Length:** Create Reels that are ideally 59 seconds or less to maximise use across multiple platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest. * **Evolving Content Trends:** Stay updated with current trends in Reels content, such as talking heads, transitions, and faceless marketing, to keep your videos engaging and relevant. * **Useful Tools:** Utilise apps like CapCut for advanced video editing and Canva for creating visually appealing Reels with ease.
Here's my hot take: some of us tall women may be spending too much money on clothes.... Okay, but before you come for me, hear me out!!! This week's episode dives into the hot topic of overconsumption—the excessive purchase of non-essential items. With TikTok trends like "TikTok made me buy it" and the obsession with kitchen organizers, overconsumption is more prevalent than ever.Tall fashion creators are particularly affected, often showcasing frequent hauls and try-ons that may seem excessive. But it's not just them—fashion influencers everywhere play a role in promoting this behavior. While their content creation is a job or hobby, it leads the public to believe they need the items showcased.In this episode, we discuss overconsumption in the tall girl community and offer tips on how to combat it. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on finding balance in a consumer-driven world! Subscribe to A Tall Girl's Newsletter: https://atallgirlspodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeLet's stay connected: https://beacons.ai/atallgirlspodcast Leave a review and let me know how tall you are: https://atallgirlspodcast.com/reviews
Danisha Lomax is a sought-after keynote speaker, innovator, and creator. Her purpose is to provide pathways for untold stories to emerge because reclamation and co-conspiratorship depend on storytelling. First to create and hold the role of Head of Client Inclusivity and Impact for Digitas North America, she develops programs focused on authenticity, cultural influence, and impact. In this position, she works to bring clients along the inclusive journey through the Multicultural Center of Excellence - a collective that sits at the intersection of race, culture, identity, and brand responsibility. Bolstering a brand's impact is next to none. Danisha was instrumental in developing Sephora's The Beauty of Blackness, a documentary about Fashion Fair Cosmetics, the first Black-owned beauty brand. The film is the first of its kind to be acquired by Max and won the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival's Tribeca X Award, among others. Adding to her film repertoire, The Foundation of Belleza tells a generational story of Latina beauty and cultural pride through the eyes of Latina founders. Danisha's story continues; she is critically aware of the continuous lack of equity in the creator space. With TikTok and Sephora, she co-developed an industry-changing Incubator partnership. It is the first program that provides access, opportunities, and overinvestment to BIPOC founders and rising creators. Her creator advocacy has scaled across categories, specifically gaming and financial literacy. Her experience allowed her multiple nominations and awards, including ADCOLOR Rockstar Nominee (2023), AdMonsters + AdExchanger Top Women in Media & Ad Tech Awards, DE&I Champion (2023), Campaign US' Media Planner of the Year (2021), among others. While also dedicating time to individually mentor rising stars, Danisha has served as a board member for organizations that elevate young girls, queer, non-binary, and women of color, including Girl Ventures and SFWPC. She is a founding member of OhHey Coach Collective, Board President of Sol Sisters, an advisor to Hello Hapi, and part of the 4As Diversity Steering Committee. Yet, her most humbling charge is being the parent and guide to her two children, Kamaiyah and Ke'aun. Article she mentioned: https://www.campaignlive.com/article/creating-afrocentrist-future-ai/1879087
Friend of the show Abbie Richards explains why low effort AI generated conspiracy theory content is all over TikTok right now and who is profiting from it. With TikTok creator program, AI-sped misinformation pays: https://www.axios.com/2024/03/26/tik-tok-creator-program-ai-misinformation Follow Abbie Richards on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tofologySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Liked This Episode? Text Me A Question!With TikTok's potential ban and Instagram's "most deleted app" title in 2023, a fresh wave of content marketing is on the rise. In this episode, we'll dive into the 2024 State of the Creator Economy Report and reveal why long-form content is the smart choice for your business. Let's break free from the content hamster wheel and discover a smarter approach to content marketing this year!
With TikTok in the hands of 170 million Americans, cybersecurity expert Amy Zegart says it's time to talk about consequences. Foreign access to all that data on so many Americans is a national security threat, she asserts. For those as concerned as she, Zegart has good news and bad. The government has gotten better at fighting cyberthreats, but artificial intelligence is making things very complicated, very fast. The US needs to adapt quickly to keep pace, Zegart tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering's The Future of Everything podcast.Episode Reference Links:Amy Zegart's Stanford ProfileHoover Institution Profile: WebsiteEp.20 How Vulnerable Are We to Cyber Attacks? (Amy's previous episode on The Future of Everything)Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads or Twitter/XConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/XChapters:(00:00:00) Introduction Host Russ Altman introduces guest Amy Zegart, a cybersecurity expert from Stanford University.(00:02:37) Government and Cybersecurity SpeedsHow AI has changed the pace at which both government and cyber attackers operate, and the evolving dynamics of cybersecurity efforts.(00:04:12) Corporate CybersecurityThe unexpected role of the SEC in regulating corporate cybersecurity efforts and how the cyber attack surface has expanded beyond traditional big industries(00:07:30) Global Cyber Threats and PreparednessInsights into the strategic use of cyber operations by other countries, and the multifaceted nature of international cyber relations.(00:09:13) Cyber Dynamics in the Russia-Ukraine ConflictThe cyber aspects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its implications for global cybersecurity strategies.(00:11:35) Misinformation and Disinformation DynamicsThe difference between misinformation and disinformation, their impacts on society and the challenges in combating them.(00:15:04) TikTok and National SecurityRisks associated with TikTok as a platform controlled by Chinese interests, discussing data privacy and potential for foreign influence.(00:20:11) Corporate Power in AI and National SecurityThe role of corporations in national security through their control over AI, and the challenges this poses for regulation and innovation.(00:22:47) Learning from Cybersecurity to Manage AI RisksLessons from cybersecurity that could help manage emerging AI risks, highlighting the need for developing independent AI research capacities.(00:26:44) European Regulation and Global AI SafetyThe European approach to AI regulation and data protection, advocating for international AI safety norms and collaborative efforts.(00:29:21) AI's Role in Enhancing IntelligenceHow AI can transform intelligence services, and advancements that could lead to significant efficiency gains in national security.(00:31:23) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads or Twitter/XConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X
Tune in here to this Wednesday edition of the Brett Winterble Show! Brett kicks off the program by talking about the anti-Israel/pro-Hamas protests spreading to more college campuses and President joe Biden's solution to the problem, which is bringing in Palestinian refugees. Brett also shares what he believes is at the root of these protestors drive to stand up for something that everyone with their eyes open sees as evil, it is boredom, these students don't learn in class they're indoctrinated in class. With TikTok being banned these students must find a new hobby and it appears the new hobby is protesting for terrorists. These radical ideologies are pushed on the CCP's greatest propaganda weapon and as a final show of force before TikTok is banned in America the CCP is pushing pro-terrorist propaganda to the youth. This goes to show how important removing TikTok from all American platforms is, we should not allow a foreign government to brainwash the youth of our nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mama, Does your teen girl struggle with saying "no" to temptation? Does your daughter practice instant satisfaction on the latest trends? With "TikTok made me buy this" trends and the ease of online purchasing, our teenagers are finding it more challenges to resist the impulsive wants. Today, we're going to talk about a crucial skill for both moms and their tween and teen daughters: delayed gratification. In a world that often promotes instant satisfaction, teaching our girls the value of patience and delayed gratification is more important than ever. Are you looking for ways to communicate with your girl so she can start opening up to you? Do you want to understand why is it so hard to approach your girl? Are you stuck on how to approach your teenage daughter in conversation without her freaking out? JOIN US FOR A LIVE 2-DAY TEEN TALK WORKSHOP!! You'll walk away with understanding the changes happening to your girl , Shift you role in this teen stage, and discover better communication pathways to connect and grow closer with your daughter Imagine if you and your daughter can finally have conversations at a level where she doesn't need to hide anything from you! Plus, you'll get to meet other mamas who are all in the same boat.... ALL IN THIS FREE ONLINE WORKSHOP WITH JEANNIE! SAVE YOUR SPOT HERE! You can find me here: Work with me: www.talktoyourteengirl.com Connect: hello@jeanniebaldomero.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanniebaldomero/ Free mom support community: www.raisingherconfidently.com
As the world grappled with isolation during the pandemic, Priscilla Destiny Vargas (Priscillaxdestiny) found herself on a spiritual expedition through the corridors of faith, leading her from the familiarity of Protestantism to the hallowed traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy. Her tale, woven from poignant conversations and theological reflection during a time of global retreat, is a beacon for those seeking a deeper understanding of Christianity's diverse tapestry. With TikTok as her unlikely vessel, Priscilla navigated the currents of religious discourse, her voyage marked by the guiding stars of history, scripture, and sacred practice, ultimately anchoring in the rich waters of Orthodoxy.Our latest episode is a mosaic of Priscilla's transformative journey—her early Roman Catholic roots giving way to the allure and eventual disenchantment with Protestantism, and her candid exploration of Mormonism's unique draw, all before the solemn beauty of Eastern Orthodoxy beckoned her with its timeless allure. Her narrative is a masterclass in theological evolution, challenging listeners to contemplate their own beliefs about salvation, the interplay of faith and works, and the communal versus individualistic expressions of worship. Priscilla's story, one of profound personal and doctrinal discovery, invites us to consider the weight of tradition and the whispers of ancient practices in our own spiritual quests.Finally, Priscilla's closing message resonates with a heartfelt call for gracious dialogue and an open-hearted search for spiritual authenticity. Her transition to Eastern Orthodoxy, marked by newfound passions and the embrace of liturgical depth, is a poignant reminder of faith's intricate journey—one that often unfolds in the most unexpected of places. Through her reflections on religious symbols, the role of sacraments, and the acceptance of mystery, this episode stands as a testament to the beautiful complexity of faith and the transformative power of honest seeking. Join us, and let the resilience and introspection of Priscilla's odyssey inspire your own voyage into the soul's expansive seas.For the full 3 hour episode, visit the Cloud of Witnesses Radio Patreon today!https://www.patreon.com/CloudofWitnessesRadioThank you for journeying w/ the Saints with us!
With TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts dominating the organic social space, short form video is vital to reach large audiences and create an engaging brand image. Edwin Smith, Founder and CEO of The Social Sandwich, gives practical advice on how your brand can dominate on social platforms.Guest:Edwin is the Founder and CEO of The Social Sandwich and leads strategy across FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter (X) for small businesses. Previously, Edwin was the Senior Social Media and YouTube Producer on The Voice Australia, and was also the Senior Social Producer at Network 10. He has also led strategies for the Australasian Survivor, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and 10 Sport.Find Us Online:James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/ Smarter Marketer Website: https://www.smartermarketer.com.au/ Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/ Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/Buy Smarter Marketer:Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm About the Podcast:This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.
After her first MMA victory, both two-time undisputed boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields (the GWOAT) takes her victory lap with half-naked Instagram post. And you bet not say nothing to that engaged sista while she's “talkin' her ish!” With TikTok facing a ban in USA, let's talk about freedom of speech, and what really constitutes “truth”, “fact”, as well as a belief in everyday people getting to the bottom of stories… while never even leaving their house. How's that work, b? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/its-always-personal/support
With TikTok, he is bowing to president Xi. With Ukraine, he is bowing to President Putin. And in both cases, he and the GOP are bowing to big money…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to our 100th episode of the Cheat Code Podcast, where we're "Keeping it 100 for our 100th"! In this monumental episode, we dive straight into the heart of the music industry, discussing the intricate dynamics between artists, record labels, and business savvy. Join us as we celebrate the success stories of independent labels like Strange Music and TDE, highlighting the power of self-sufficiency in today's music landscape. We take a moment to honor the legendary Killer Mike for his recent Grammy wins and commend his impactful community activism. Amidst the celebrations, we pause to acknowledge the significance of reaching this milestone and express our gratitude to our listeners for their unwavering support. Turning our focus back to the business of music, we dissect the importance of synergy in propelling artists and records to new heights. With TikTok emerging as a dominant force in music discovery, we emphasize the value of cultivating fan-generated content to foster deeper connections with audiences. Delving into a thought-provoking discussion, we challenge conventional notions of success and redefine what it means to be a "loser" in the music industry. We explore innovative revenue streams, including platforms like Even.Biz, empowering artists to embrace fan funding and monetize their craft in unprecedented ways. Join us as we embark on this landmark episode, filled with insights, inspiration, and a renewed commitment to empowering artists to thrive in the ever-evolving music landscape. Here's to the next 100 episodes and beyond! getthecheatcode@gmail.com
This week, we explore "The New Way To Search" as TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, and YouTube challenge Google's dominance in information discovery. With TikTok becoming the #1 search engine for over half of Gen Z and YouTube emerging as the world's second-largest search engine, we delve into the shift towards short-form video content and the evolving landscape of information consumption.DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the cast members and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Christ Community Church.
Tricia Mpisi is a Congolese-South African writer, actress and content creator with a passion for stories. Superhero stories to be exact. And like most superhero stories, Tricia's life is also marked by tragedy. With TikTok as her unlikely sidekick, Tricia is finding her voice, facing her grief and defeating the ultimate villain: shame.
On today's episode Deuce and James are joined by Deuce's big brother Russell and together they discuss a man dying after altercation at Patriots game, Brazil Medical Students masturbating at a Volleyball Tournament, Twitter possibly charging users, and a high school band director getting stunned for not stopping his band from playing. With TikTok's own Russel's Mania being on the show they decided to do a top Wrestler Edition Pick Em' and Leave Em'. Listen to the full episode to hear a fan picked "Question of the Week" about what black culture means. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enlightenedonespodcast/message
Welcome back to the Purposeful Marketing Podcast with hosts Aaron and Mary, along with their guest, a friend of the program and TikTok aficionado Kevin McClary. This episode marks the third installment of TikTok's marketing potential for the B2B industry. The hosts dive into the pivotal mindset shift that B2B marketers need today: understanding where their audience is and adapting accordingly. With TikTok's explosive popularity, and continued adoption, the question arises – should you be on TikTok? Kevin McClary recounts his TikTok journey ignited during the pandemic. From a passive consumer to a creative force, Kevin harnessed TikTok's green screen feature to revolutionize content creation. Sharing diverse topics from pop culture to business insights, Kevin's approach has amassed over 80,000 followers. The hosts stress the simplicity of initiating a TikTok presence. Kevin's advice dispels the myth of elaborate setups; authenticity triumphs over complexity. Both hosts emphasize the value of relatability and authenticity in content creation – mirroring real-life interactions to engage viewers effectively. Whether you're a B2B marketer intrigued by TikTok's potential or an individual seeking authentic self-expression, this episode holds invaluable insights. Tune in to glean wisdom from Aaron, Mary, and Kevin, and unravel the art of impactful TikTok content creation – driven by authenticity, passion, and the sheer delight of sharing what you love.
www.goodluckgabe.life The Perils of Audience Capture How influencers become brainwashed by their audiences The Man Who Ate Himself In 2016, 24 year old Nicholas Perry wanted to be big online. He started uploading videos to his YouTube channel in which he pursued his passion—playing the violin—and extolled the virtues of veganism. He went largely unnoticed. A year later, he abandoned veganism, citing health concerns. Now free to eat whatever he wanted, he began uploading mukbang videos of himself consuming various dishes while talking to the camera, as if having dinner with a friend. These new videos quickly found a sizable audience, but as the audience grew, so did their demands. The comments sections of the videos soon became filled with people challenging Perry to eat as much as he physically could. Eager to please, he began to set himself torturous eating challenges, each bigger than the last. His audience applauded, but always demanded more. Soon, he was filming himself eating entire menus of fast food restaurants in one sitting. In some respects, all his eating paid off; Nikocado Avocado, as Perry is now better known, has amassed over six million subscribers across six channels on YouTube. By satisfying the escalating demands of his audience, he got his wish of blowing up and being big online. But the cost was that he blew up and became big in ways he hadn't anticipated. Top: Nicholas Perry when he first started making mukbang videos. Bottom: Perry transformed by his audience's desires into Nikocado. Nikocado, moulded by his audience's desires into a cartoonish extreme, is now a wholly different character from Nicholas Perry, the vegan violinist who first started making videos. Where Perry was mild-mannered and health conscious, Nikocado is loud, abrasive, and spectacularly grotesque. Where Perry was a picky eater, Nikocado devoured everything he could, including finally Perry himself. The rampant appetite for attention caused the person to be subsumed by the persona. We often talk of "captive audiences," regarding the performer as hypnotizing their viewers. But just as often, it's the viewers hypnotizing the performer. This disease, of which Perry is but one victim of many, is known as audience capture, and it's essential to understanding influencers in particular and the online ecosystem in general. Lost in the Looking Glass Audience capture is an irresistible force in the world of influencing, because it's not just a conscious process but also an unconscious one. While it may ostensibly appear to be a simple case of influencers making a business decision to create more of the content they believe audiences want, and then being incentivized by engagement numbers to remain in this niche forever, it's actually deeper than that. It involves the gradual and unwitting replacement of a person's identity with one custom-made for the audience. To understand how, we must consider how people come to define themselves. A person's identity is being constantly refined, so it needs constant feedback. That feedback typically comes from other people, not so much by what they say they see as by what we think they see. We develop our personalities by imagining ourselves through others' eyes, using their borrowed gazes like mirrors to dress ourselves. Just as lacking a mirror to dress ourselves leaves us disheveled, so lacking other people's eyes to refine our personalities leaves us uncouth. This is why those raised in isolation, like poor Genie, become feral humans, adopting the character of beasts. Put simply, in order to be someone, we need someone to be someone for. Our personalities develop as a role we perform for other people, fulfilling the expectations we think they have of us. The American sociologist Charles Cooley dubbed this phenomenon “the looking glass self.” Evidence for it is diverse, and includes the everyday experience of seeing ourselves through imagined eyes in social situations (the spotlight effect), the tendency for people to alter their behavior when in the presence of pictures of eyes (the watching-eye effect), and the tendency for people in virtual spaces to adopt the traits of their avatars in an attempt to fulfill expectations (the Proteus effect). When we lived in small tight-knit communities, the looking glass self helped us to become the people our loved ones needed us to be. The “Michelangelo phenomenon” is the name given to the semi-conscious cycle of refinement and feedback whereby lovers who genuinely care what each other think gradually grow closer to their partner's original ideal of them. The problem is, we no longer live solely among those we know well. We're now forced to refine our personalities by the countless eyes of strangers. And this has begun to affect the process by which we develop our identities. Gradually we're all gaining online audiences, and we don't really know these people. We can only gauge who they are by what some of them post online, and what people post online is not indicative of who they really are. As such, the people we're increasingly becoming someone for are an abstract illusion. When influencers are analyzing audience feedback, they often find that their more outlandish behavior receives the most attention and approval, which leads them to recalibrate their personalities according to far more extreme social cues than those they'd receive in real life. In doing this they exaggerate the more idiosyncratic facets of their personalities, becoming crude caricatures of themselves. The caricature quickly becomes the influencer's distinct brand, and all subsequent attempts by the influencer to remain on-brand and fulfill audience expectations require them to act like the caricature. As the caricature becomes more familiar than the person, both to the audience and to the influencer, it comes to be regarded by both as the only honest expression of the influencer, so that any deviation from it soon looks and feels inauthentic. At that point the persona has eclipsed the person, and the audience has captured the influencer. The old Greek legends tell of Narcissus, a youth so handsome he became besotted by his own reflection. Unable to look away from his image in the surface of the waters, he fell still forever, and was transformed by the gods into a flower. Similarly, as influencers glimpse their idealized online personas reflected back at them on screens, they too are in danger of becoming eternally besotted by how they appear, and in so doing, forgetting who they were, or could be. III. The Prostitution of the Intellect Audience capture is a particular problem in politics, due to both phenomena being driven by popular approval. On Twitter I've watched many political influencers gradually become radicalized by their audiences, starting off moderate but following their increasingly extreme followers toward the fringes. One example is Louise Mensch, a once-respectable journalist and former Conservative politician who in 2016 published a story about Trump's alleged ties to Russia, which went viral. She subsequently gained a huge audience of #NotMyPresident #Resist types, and, encouraged by her new, indignant audience to uncover more evidence of Trump's corruption, she appears to have begun to view herself as the one who'd prove Russiagate and bring down the Donald. The immense responsibility she felt to her audience seems to have motivated her to see dramatic patterns in pure noise, and to concoct increasingly speculative conspiracy theories about Trump and Russia, such as the claim that Vladimir Putin assassinated Andrew Breitbart, the founder of Breitbart News, so his job would go to Trump ally Steve Bannon. When her former allies, such as the hacker known as "the Jester," expressed concern over her new trajectory toward fringe theories, she doubled down, accusing all her critics of being Trump shills or Putin shills. Another, more recent victim of audience capture is Maajid Nawaz. I've always liked Maajid, and as someone who once worked with the organization he founded, the counter terrorism think-tank Quilliam, I'm aware of how careful and considered he can be. Unfortunately, since the pandemic, he's been different. His descent began with him posting a few vague theories about the virus being a fraud perpetrated on an unsuspecting public, and after his posts went viral he found himself being inundated with new "Covid-skeptic" followers, who showered him with new leads to chase. In January, after he lost his position at the radio show LBC due to his increasingly careless theories about a secretive New World Order, he implied his firing was part of the conspiracy to silence the truth, and urged his loyal followers to subscribe to his Substack, as this was now his family's only source of income. His new audience proved to be generous with both money and attention, and his need to meet their expectations seems to have spurred him, consciously or unconsciously, to double down on his more extreme views. Now almost everything he writes about, from Covid to Ukraine, he somehow ties to the shadowy New World Order. Motivated by his audience to continually uncover new truths about the conspiracy, Maajid has been forced to scrape the barrel of claims. His recent work is his wildest yet, combining common tropes like resurrected Nazi eugenics programs, satanic rituals, and the Bilderberg meeting. Among the fields he now relies on for his evidence are... numerology. Twitter avatar for @MaajidNawaz Maajid أبو عمّار @MaajidNawaz British MPs have begun voting on a motion of ‘no confidence' in the UK Parliament against Prime Minister Johnson. The vote commenced at: 6pm, on the 6th day, of the 6th month. No joke. آل عمران:[54] وَمَكَرُوا وَمَكَرَ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ Twitter avatar for @MaajidNawaz Maajid أبو عمّار @MaajidNawaz 3 of our British MPs were at this dodgy af global Bilderberg meeting: Michael Gove (con) Tom Tugendhat (con) David Lammy (lab) Their attendance alone must be remembered if they ever seek leadership of their respective political parties and hence try to become PM of Britain https://t.co/EKohVzfaiN 6:52 PM ∙ Jun 6, 2022 957 Likes 287 Retweets There is clear value in investigating the corruption that pervades the misty pinnacles of power, but by defining himself by his audience's view of him as the uncoverer of a global conspiracy, Maajid has ensured he'll see evidence of the conspiracy in all things. Instead of performing real investigation, he is now merely playing the role of investigator for his audience, a role that requires drama rather than diligence, and which can lead only to his audience's desired conclusions. Muddying the Waters to Obscure the Reflection Maajid, Mensch, and Perry are far from the only victims of audience capture. Given how fundamental the looking glass self is to the development of our personalities, every influencer has likely been affected by it to some degree. And that includes me. I'm no authority on the degree to which my mind has been captured by you, my audience. But I do suspect that audience capture affects me far less than most influencers because I've taken specific steps to avoid it. I was aware of the pitfall long before I became an influencer. I wanted an audience, but I also knew that having the wrong audience would be worse than having no audience, because they'd constrain me with their expectations, forcing me to focus on one tiny niche of my worldview at the expense of everything else, until I became a parody of myself. It was clear to me that the only way to resist becoming what other people wanted me to be was to have a strong sense of who I wanted to be. And who I wanted to be was someone immune to audience capture, someone who thinks his own thoughts, decides his own destiny, and above all, never stops growing. I knew there were limits to my desired independence, because, whether we like it or not, we all become like the people we surround ourselves with. So I surrounded myself with the people I wanted to be like. On Twitter I cultivated a reasonable, open-minded audience by posting reasonable, open-minded tweets. The biggest jumps in my follower count came from my megathreads of mental models, which cover so many topics from so many perspectives that the people who appreciated them enough to follow me would need to be willing to consider new perspectives. Naturally these people came to view me as, and expected me to be, an independent thinker as open to learning and growing as themselves. In this way I ensured that my brand image—the person that my audience expects me to be—was in alignment with my ideal image—the person I want to be. So even though audience capture likely does affect me in some way, it only makes me more like the person I want to be. I hacked the system. My brand image is, admittedly, diffuse and weak. My Twitter bio is “saboteur of narratives,” and few people can say for sure what I'm about, other than vague things like “thinker” or “dumb fuck.” And that's how I like it. My vagueness makes me hard to pigeonhole, predict, and capture. For this same reason, I'm suspicious of those with strong, sharply delineated brands. Human beings are capricious and largely formless storms of idiosyncrasies, so a human only develops a clear and distinct identity through the artifice of performance. Nikocado has a clear and distinct identity, but its clarity and distinctness make it hard to escape. He may be a millionaire with legions of fans, but his videos, filled with complaints-disguised-as-jokes about his poor health, hardly make him seem happy. Unfortunately, salvation seems out of reach for him because his audience, or at least the audience he imagines, demands he be the same as he was yesterday. And even if he were to find the strength to break character and be himself again, he's been acting for so long that stopping would only make him feel like an imposter. This is the ultimate trapdoor in the hall of fame; to become a prisoner of one's own persona. The desire for recognition in an increasingly atomized world lures us to be who strangers wish us to be. And with personal development so arduous and lonely, there is ease and comfort in crowdsourcing your identity. But amid such temptations, it's worth remembering that when you become who your audience expects at the expense of who you are, the affection you receive is not intended for you but for the character you're playing, a character you'll eventually tire of. So the next time you find yourself in the limelight of other people's gazes, remember that being someone often means being fake, and if you chase the approval of others, you may, in the end, lose the approval of yourself TikTok is a Time Bomb The ultimate weapon of mass distraction For thousands of years, humans sought to subjugate their enemies by inflicting pain, misery, and terror. They did this because these were the most paralyzing emotions they could consistently evoke; all it took was the slash of a sword or pull of a trigger. But as our understanding of psychology has developed, so it has become easier to evoke other emotions in complete strangers. Advances in the understanding of positive reinforcement, driven mostly by people trying to get us to click on links, have now made it possible to consistently give people on the other side of the world dopamine hits at scale. As such, pleasure is now a weapon; a way to incapacitate an enemy as surely as does pain. And the first pleasure-weapon of mass destruction may just be a little app on your phone called TikTok. I. The Smiling Tiger TikTok is the most successful app in history. It emerged in 2017 out of the Chinese video-sharing app Douyin and within three years it had become the most downloaded app in the world, later surpassing Google as the world's most visited web domain. TikTok's conquest of human attention was facilitated by the covid lockdowns of 2020, but its success wasn't mere luck. There's something about the design of the app that makes it unusually irresistible. Other platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, use recommendation algorithms as features to enhance the core product. With TikTok, the recommendation algorithm is the core product. You don't need to form a social network or list your interests for the platform to begin tailoring content to your desires, you just start watching, skipping any videos that don't immediately draw your interest. Tiktok uses a proprietary algorithm, known simply as the For You algorithm, that uses machine learning to build a personality profile of you by training itself on your watch habits (and possibly your facial expressions.) Since a TikTok video is generally much shorter than, say, a YouTube video, the algorithm acquires training data from you at a much faster rate, allowing it to quickly zero in on you. The result is a system that's unsurpassed at figuring you out. And once it's figured you out, it can then show you what it needs to in order to addict you. Since the For You algorithm favors only the most instantly mesmerizing content, its constructive videos—such as “how to” guides and field journalism—tend to be relegated to the fringes in favor of tasty but malignant junk info. Many of the most popular TikTokers, such as Charli D'Amelio, Bella Poarch, and Addison Rae, do little more than vapidly dance and lip-sync. Individually, such videos are harmless, but the algorithm doesn't intend to show you just one. When it receives the signal that it's got your attention, it doubles down on whatever it did to get it. This allows it to feed your obsessions, showing you hypnotic content again and again, reinforcing its imprint on your brain. This content can include promotion of self-harm and eating disorders, and uncritical encouragement of sex-reassignment surgery. There's evidence that watching such content can cause mass psychogenic illness: researchers recently identified a new phenomenon where otherwise healthy young girls who watched clips of Tourette's sufferers developed Tourette's-like tics. A more common way TikTok promotes irrational behavior is with viral trends and “challenges,” where people engage in a specific act of idiocy in the hope it'll make them TikTok-famous. Acts include licking toilets, snorting suntan lotion, eating chicken cooked in NyQuil, and stealing cars. One challenge, known as “devious licks”, encourages kids to vandalize property, while the “blackout challenge,” in which kids purposefully choke themselves with household items, has even led to several deaths, including a little girl a few days ago. As troublesome as TikTok's trends are, the app's greatest danger lies not in any specific content but in its general addictive nature. Studies on long term TikTok addiction don't yet exist for obvious reasons, but, based on what we know of internet addiction generally, we can extrapolate its eventual effects on habitual TikTokers. There's a substantial body of research showing a strong association between smartphone addiction, shrinkage of the brain's gray matter, and “digital dementia,” an umbrella term for the onset of anxiety and depression and the deterioration of memory, attention span, self-esteem, and impulse control (the last of which increases the addiction). These are the problems caused by internet addiction generally. But there's something about TikTok that makes it uniquely dangerous. In order to develop and maintain mental faculties like memory and attention span, one needs to practice using them. TikTok, more than any other app, is designed to give you what you want while requiring you to do as little as possible. It cares little who you follow or what buttons you click; its main consideration is how long you spend watching. Its reliance on machine learning rather than user input, combined with the fact that TikTok clips are so short they require minimal memory and attention span, makes browsing TikTok the most passive, uninteractive experience of all major platforms. If it's the passive nature of online content consumption that causes atrophy of mental faculties, then TikTok, as the most passively used platform, will naturally cause the most atrophy. Indeed many habitual TikTokers can already be found complaining on websites like Reddit about their loss of mental ability, a phenomenon that's come to be known as “TikTok brain.” If the signs are becoming apparent already, imagine what TikTok addiction will have done to young developing brains a decade from now. TikTok's capacity to stupefy people, both acutely by encouraging idiotic behavior, and chronically by atrophying the brain, should prompt consideration of its potential use as a new kind of weapon, one that seeks to neutralize enemies not by inflicting pain and terror, but by inflicting pleasure. Last month FBI Director Chris Wray warned that TikTok is controlled by a Chinese government that could “use it for influence operations.” So how likely is it that one such influence operation might include addicting young Westerners to mind-numbing content to create a generation of nincompoops? The first indication that the Chinese Communist Party is aware of TikTok's malign influence on kids is that it's forbidden access of the app to Chinese kids. The American tech ethicist Tristan Harris pointed out that the Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, is a “spinach” version where kids don't see twerkers and toilet-lickers but science experiments and educational videos. Furthermore, Douyin is only accessible to kids for 40 minutes per day, and it cannot be accessed between 10pm and 6am. Has the CCP enforced such rules to protect its people from what it intends to inflict on the West? When one examines the philosophical doctrines behind the rules, it becomes clear that the CCP doesn't just believe that apps like TikTok make people stupid, but that they destroy civilizations. II. Seven Mouths, Eight Tongues China has been suspicious of Western liberal capitalism since the 1800s, when the country's initial openness led to the Western powers flooding China with opium. The epidemic of addiction, combined with the ensuing Opium Wars, accelerated the fall of the Qing Dynasty and led to the Century of Humiliation in which China was subject to harsh and unequal terms by Britain and the US. Mao is credited with eventually crushing the opium epidemic, and since then the view among many in China has been that Western liberalism leads to decadence and that authoritarianism is the cure. But one man has done more than anyone to turn this thesis into policy. His name is Wang Huning, and, despite not being well known outside China, he has been China's top ideological theorist for three decades, and he is now member number 4 of the seven-man Standing Committee—China's most powerful body. He advised China's former leaders Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, and now he advises Xi Jinping, authoring many of his policies. In China he is called “guoshi” (国师: literally, “teacher of the nation”). Wang refuses to do press or to even speak with foreigners, but his worldview can be surmised from the books he wrote earlier in his life. In August 1988, Wang accepted an invitation to spend six months in the US, and traveled from state to state noting the way American society operates, examining its strengths and weaknesses. He recorded his findings in the 1991 book, America Against America, which has since become a key CCP text for understanding the US. The premise of the book is simple: the US is a paradox composed of contradictions: its two primary values—freedom and equality—are mutually exclusive. It has many different cultures, and therefore no overall culture. And its market-driven society has given it economic riches but spiritual poverty. As he writes in the book, “American institutions, culture and values oppose the United States itself.” For Wang, the US's contradictions stem from one source: nihilism. The country has become severed from its traditions and is so individualistic it can't make up its mind what it as a nation believes. Without an overarching culture maintaining its values, the government's regulatory powers are weak, easily corrupted by lobbying or paralyzed by partisan bickering. As such, the nation's progress is directed mostly by blind market forces; it obeys not a single command but a cacophony of three hundred million demands that lead it everywhere and nowhere. In Wang's view, the lack of a unifying culture puts a hard limit on the US's progress. The country is constantly producing wondrous new technologies, but these technologies have no guiding purpose other than their own proliferation. The result is that all technological advancement leads the US along one unfortunate trajectory: toward more and more commodification. Wang writes: “Human flesh, sex, knowledge, politics, power, and law can all become the target of commodification… Commodification, in many ways, corrupts society and leads to a number of serious social problems. These problems, in turn, can increase the pressure on the political and administrative system.” Thus, by turning everything into a product, Western capitalism devours every aspect of American culture, including the traditions that bind it together as a nation, leading to atomization and polarization. The commodification also devours meaning and purpose, and to plug the expanding spiritual hole that this leaves, Americans turn to momentary pleasures—drugs, fast food, and amusements—driving the nation further into decadence and decay. For Wang, then, the US's unprecedented technological progress is leading it into a chasm. Every new microchip, TV, and automobile only distracts and sedates Americans further. As Wang writes in his book, “it is not the people who master the technology, but the technology that masters the people.” Though these words are 30 years old, they could easily have been talking about social media addiction. Wang theorized that the conflict between the US's economic system and its value system made it fundamentally unstable and destined for ever more commodification, nihilism, and decadence, until it finally collapses under the weight of its own contradictions. To prevent China's own technological advancement leading it down the same perilous path, Wang proposed an extreme solution: neo-authoritarianism. In his 1988 essay, “The Structure of China's Changing Political Culture,” Wang wrote that the only way a nation can avoid the US's problems is by instilling “core values”—a national consensus of beliefs and principles rooted in the traditions of the past and directed toward a clear goal in the future. Such a consensus could eventually ward off nihilism and decadence, but cultivating it would in turn require the elimination of nihilism and decadence. This idea has been central to President Xi's governance strategy, which has emphasized “core socialist values” like civility, patriotism, and integrity. So how has the push for these socialist core values affected the CCP's approach to social media? The creator of TikTok and CEO of Bytedance, Zhang Yiming, originally intended for the content on TikTok and its Chinese version, Douyin, to be determined purely by popularity. As such, Douyin started off much like TikTok is now, with the content dominated by teenagers singing and dancing. In April 2018, the CCP began action against Zhang. Its media watchdog, the National Radio and Television Administration, ordered the removal from Chinese app stores of Bytedance's then-most popular app, Toutiao, and its AI news aggregator, Neihan Duanzi, citing their platforming of “improper” content. Zhang then took to social media to offer a groveling public apology, stating: "Our products took the wrong path, and content appeared that was incommensurate with socialist core values." Shortly after, Bytedance announced it would recruit thousands more people to moderate content, and, according to CNN, in the subsequent job ads it stated a preference for CCP members with “strong political sensitivity.” The CCP's influence over Bytedance has only grown since then. Last year, the Party acquired a “golden share” in Bytedance's Beijing entity, and one of its officials, Wu Shugang, took one of the company's three board seats. The CCP's intrusion into Bytedance's operations is part of a broader strategy by Xi, called the “Profound Transformation”, which seeks to clear space for the instituting of core socialist values by ridding China of “decadent” online content. In August 2021, a statement appeared across Chinese state media calling for an end to TikTok-style “tittytainment” for fear that “our young people will lose their strong and masculine vibes and we will collapse.” In the wake of that statement, there have been crackdowns on “sissy-men” fashions, “digital drugs” like online gaming, and “toxic idol worship.” Consequently, many online influencers have been forcibly deprived of their influence, with some, such as the movie star Zhao Wei, having their entire presence erased from the Chinse web. For Xi and the CCP, eliminating “decadent” TikTok-style content from China is a matter of survival, because such content is considered a herald of nihilism, a regression of humans back to beasts, a symptom of the West's terminal illness that must be prevented from metastasizing to China. And yet, while cracking down on this content domestically, China has continued to allow its export internationally as part of Xi's “digital Silk Road” (数字丝绸之路). TikTok is known to censor content that displeases Beijing, such as mentions of Falun Gong or Tiananmen Square, but otherwise it has free rein to show Westerners what it wants; “tittytainment” and “sissy men” are everywhere on the app. So why the hypocritical disparity in rules? Is the digital Silk Road intended as poetic justice for the original Silk Road, whereby the Western powers preached Christian values while trafficking chemical TikTok—opium—into China? Since Wang and Xi believe the West is too decadent to survive, they may have opted to take the Taoist path of wu wei (無為), which is to say, sit back and let the West's appetites take it where they will. But there's another, more sinister and effective approach they may have adopted. To understand it, we must consider one final piece of the puzzle: an amphetamine-fueled philosopher who lived in my hometown. III. The Matricide Laboratory At first glance the British philosopher Nick Land could hardly be more different from Wang Huning. Wang rose to prominence by being dour, discreet, and composed, while Land rose to prominence by ranting about cyborg apocalypses while out of his mind on weed and speed. In the late 1990s Land moved into a house once owned by the Satanist libertine Aleister Crowley (half a mile from where I grew up), and there he apparently binged on drugs and scrawled occult diagrams on the walls. At nearby Warwick University where he taught, his lectures were often bizarre (one infamous “lesson” consisted of Land lying on the floor, croaking into a mic, while frenetic jungle music pulsed in the background.) Land and Wang were not just polar opposites in personality; they also operated at opposite ends of the political spectrum. While Wang would go on to be the top ideological theorist of the Chinese Communist Party, Land would become the top theorist (with Curtis Yarvin) of the influential network of far-right bloggers, NRx. And yet, despite their opposite natures, Land and Wang would develop almost identical visions of liberal capitalism as an all-commodifying, all devouring force, driven by the insatiable hunger of blind market forces, and destined to finally eat Western civilization itself. Land viewed Western liberal capitalism as a kind of AI that's reached the singularity; in other words, an AI that's grown beyond the control of humans and is now unstoppably accelerating toward inhuman ends. As Land feverishly wrote in his 1995 essay, “Meltdown:” “The story goes like this: Earth is captured by a technocapital singularity as renaissance rationalitization and oceanic navigation lock into commoditization take-off. Logistically accelerating techno-economic interactivity crumbles social order in auto-sophisticating machine runaway.” Land's drug-fueled prose is overwrought, so to simplify his point, Western capitalism can be compared to a “paperclip maximizer,” a hypothetical AI programmed by a paperclip business to produce as many paperclips as possible, which leads it to begin recycling everything on earth into paperclips (commodities). When the programmers panic and try to switch it off, the AI turns them into paperclips, since being switched off would stop it fulfilling its goal of creating as many paperclips as possible. Thus, the blind application of short term goals leads to long term ruin. Land believed that, since the runaway AI we call liberal capitalism commodifies everything, including even criticisms of it (which are necessarily published for profit), it cannot be opposed. Every attack on it becomes part of it. Thus, if one wishes to change it, the only way is to accelerate it along its trajectory. As Land stated in a later, more sober writing style: “The point of an analysis of capitalism, or of nihilism, is to do more of it. The process is not to be critiqued. The process is the critique, feeding back into itself, as it escalates. The only way forward is through, which means further in.” —A Quick-and-Dirty Introduction to Accelerationism (2017) This view, that the current system must be accelerated to be transformed, has since become known as “accelerationism.” For Land, acceleration is not just a destructive force but also a creative one; he came to believe that all democracies accelerate toward ruin but a visionary despot unfettered by the concerns of the masses could accelerate a country to prosperity. Land's own life followed the same course he envisioned for the liberal West; following years of high productivity, he fell into nihilism and the decadence of rampant drug use, which drove him to a nervous breakdown. Upon recovering in 2002, he embraced authoritarianism, moved to Shanghai, and began writing for Chinese state media outlets like China Daily and the Shanghai Star. A few years after Land moved to China, talk of accelerationism began to emerge on the Chinese web, where it's become known by its Chinese name, jiasuzhuyi (加速主义). The term has caught on among Chinese democracy advocates, many of whom view the CCP as the runaway AI, hurtling toward greater tyranny; they even refer to Xi as “Accelerator-in-Chief” (总加速师). Domestically, Chinese democracy activists try to accelerate the CCP's authoritarianism ad absurdum; one tactic is to swamp official tip-off lines with reports of minor or made-up infractions, with the intent of breaking the Party by forcing it to enforce all of its own petty rules. As for the CCP itself, it's known to have viewed former US president Donald Trump as the “Accelerator-in-Chief,” or, more accurately, “Chuan Jianguo” (川建国: literally “Build China Trump”) because he was perceived as helping China by accelerating the West's decline. For this reason, support of him was encouraged. The CCP is also known to have engaged in jiasuzhuyi more directly; for instance, during the 2020 US race riots, China used Western social media platforms to douse accelerant over US racial tensions. But the use of TikTok as an accelerant is a whole new scale of accelerationism, one much closer to Land's original, apocalyptic vision. Liberal capitalism is about making people work in order to obtain pleasurable things, and for decades it's been moving toward shortening the delay between desire and gratification, because that's what consumers want. Over the past century the market has taken us toward ever shorter-form entertainment, from cinema in the early 1900s, to TV mid-century, to minutes-long YouTube videos, to seconds-long TikTok clips. With TikTok the delay between desire and gratification is almost instant; there's no longer any patience or effort needed to obtain the reward, so our mental faculties fall into disuse and disrepair. And this is why TikTok could prove such a devastating geopolitical weapon. Slowly but steadily it could turn the West's youth—its future—into perpetually distracted dopamine junkies ill-equipped to maintain the civilization built by their ancestors. We seem to be halfway there already: not only has there been gray matter shrinkage in smartphone-addicted individuals, but, since 1970 the Western average IQ has been steadily falling. Though the decline likely has several causes, it began with the first generation to grow up with widespread TVs in homes, and common sense suggests it's at least partly the result of technology making the attainment of satisfaction increasingly effortless, so that we spend ever more of our time in a passive, vegetative state. If you don't use it, you lose it. And even those still willing to use their brains are at risk of having their efforts foiled by social media, which seems to be affecting not just kids' abilities but also their aspirations; in a survey asking American and Chinese children what job they most wanted, the top answer among Chinese kids was “astronaut,” and the top answer among American kids was “influencer.” If we continue along our present course, the resulting loss of brainpower in key fields could, years from now, begin to harm the West economically. But, more importantly, if it did it would help discredit the very notion of Western liberalism itself, since there is no greater counterargument to a system than to see it destroy itself. And so the CCP would benefit doubly from this outcome: ruin the West and refute it; two birds with one stone (or as they say in China, 箭双雕: one arrow, two eagles.) So, the CCP has both the means and the motive to help the West defeat itself, and part of this could conceivably involve the use of TikTok to accelerate liberal capitalism by closing the gap between desire and gratification. Now, it could be argued that we have no hard evidence of the CCP's intentions, only a set of indications. However, ultimately the CCP's intentions are irrelevant. Accelerationism can't alter an outcome, only hasten it. And TikTok, whether or not it's actively intended as a weapon, is only moving the West further along the course it's long been headed: toward more effortless pleasure, and resulting cognitive decline. The problem, therefore, is not China, but us. America Against America. If TikTok is not a murder weapon, then it's a suicide weapon. China has given the West the means to kill itself, but the death wish is wholly the West's. After all, TikTok dominated our culture as a result of free market forces—the very thing we live by. Land and Wang are correct that the West being controlled by everyone means it's controlled by no one, and without brakes or a steering wheel we're at the market's mercy. Of course, democracies do have some regulatory power. Indian lawmakers banned TikTok in 2020, and US lawmakers are now considering the same. However, while this may stop the theft of our data, it won't stop the theft of our attention; if TikTok is banned then another short-form video site will just take its place. Effortless dopamine hits are what consumers want, and capitalism always tries to give consumers what they want. Anticipating the demand, YouTube has added its own TikTok-style “YouTube Shorts” format, and Twitter recently implemented its own version of TikTok's For You algorithm. The market is a greater accelerator than China could ever hope to be. So what's the solution? Land and Wang may be right about the illness, but they're wrong about the cure. It's true that we in the West have little left of the traditions that once tied us together, and in their absence all that unites us are our animal hungers. But Wang's belief that meaning and purpose can be miraculously imposed on us all by a strongman leader is just a fantasy that has littered history with failed experiments. Sure, democracies are vulnerable because there's no one controlling their advancement, but autocracies are vulnerable precisely for the opposite reason: they're controlled by people, which is to say, by woefully myopic apes. China is currently suffering from the myopia of Xi's zero-covid policy, which has ravaged the country's economy, and from the disastrous one-child policy that's led to China's current population crisis. For all our problems, we'd be unwise to exchange the soft tyranny of dopamine for the hard tyranny of despots. That leaves only one solution: the democratic one. In a democracy responsibility is also democratized, so parents must look out for their own kids. There's a market for this, too: various brands of parental controls can be set on devices to limit kids' access (though many of these, including TikTok's own controls, can be easily bypassed.) But ultimately these are short term measures. In the long term the only way to prevent digital dementia is to raise awareness of the neurological ruin wrought by apps like TikTok, exposing their ugliness so they fall out of fashion like cigarettes. If the weakness of liberalism is its openness, then this is also its strength; word can travel far in democracies. We'll surely sound like alarmists; TikTok destroys so gradually that it seems harmless. But if the app is a time-bomb that'll wreck a whole generation years from now, then we can't wait till its effects are apparent before acting, for then it will be too late. The clock is ticking. Tik. Tok… I just shit and cum. FAQ What does this mean? The amount of shit (and cum) on my computer and floor has increased by one. Why did you do this? There are several reasons I may deem a comment to be worthy of feces or ejaculation. These include, but are not limited to: Being gay Dank copypasta bro, where'd you find it walter Am I going to shit and cum too? No - not yet. But you should refrain from shitposting and cumposting like this in the future. Otherwise I will be forced to shit and cum again, which may put your shitting and cumming privileges in jeopardy. I don't believe my comment deserved being shit and cum at. Can you un-cum it? Sure, mistakes happen. But only in exceedingly rare circumstances will I put shit back into my butt. If you would like to issue an appeal, shoot me a hot load explaining what I got wrong. I tend to respond to retaliatory ejaculation within several minutes. Do note, however, that over 99.9% of semen dies before it can fertilize the egg, and yours is likely no exception. How can I prevent this from happening in the future? Accept the goopy brown and white substance and move on. But learn from this mistake: your behavior will not be tolerated in my mom's basement. I will continue to shit and cum until you improve your conduct. Remember: ejaculation is privilege, not a right. I just came in your asshole. I just came in your asshole. FAQ What does this mean? A large load of baby gravy has been transferred from my testicles into your rectum. Why did I do this? There are several reasons why I came in your ass. These include, but are not limited to: Your comment turned me on You are cute Your dad was too busy How did I do this? I rammed your rectum with my handsome hog until I turned you into a frosting factory. Why am I telling you about this? Your ass will be leaking cum for at least 36 hours and may be a slipping hazard. Also you might be gay. How can you avoid this in the future? Unless you stop looking so breedable in the near future, you can't. I will always find a way to fill your tight little boyhole
With TikTok videos, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook and Instagram Reels, videos have undeniably become the biggest form of content today. If you have a podcast, then it should be something you need to take advantage of. Ken Okazaki helps you do just that! He is the founder of GoBox Studio and 20X Agency, where he helps coaches and businesses simplify their marketing efforts, establish their authority, and attract customers through video content. In this episode, he joins Tracy Hazzard to share the video marketing framework that can maximize your podcast's reach. Ken is also the host of The Content Capitalists podcast. He shares some of the wisdom he has learned from businesses and brands on how to see actual conversion from the content you're creating, making money off your show. Plus, Ken dives deep into different types of video content—from long form to live stream—and weighs in on which ones are more effective. He then gives a couple of tips and tricks to optimize your show, producing content from your other content. Tune in and discover the ways you can grow your podcast through video!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here's How »Join the Binge Factor community today:FacebookInstagramLinkedInPinterestYoutubeTikTok
This episode is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.In this episode of the Contrarian Marketing Podcast, we discuss Apple's VR headset, WhatsApp channels, and the future of Meta, formerly known as Facebook.With TikTok taking headlines at the Mobile Apps Unlocked conference and Meta nowhere to be found, what does this mean for the future of tech companies? Can we really count them out? As Kevin says, "I think you can never ever count a tech company out, especially a tech company with tons of cash."They also delve into* The psychology behind contrarian marketing strategies * How Apple's VR headset might change the game for communication and productivity* Whether WhatsApp channels disrupt conventional brand marketing* If AI can change the playing field in searchJoin Kevin and Eli as they dissect these questions and much more!Transcript[00:00:00] Contrarian Marketing Podcast: Apple's VR headset, WhatsApp channels, and TikTok at Mobile Apps Unlocked[00:00:00] Kevin: Stop.[00:00:05] Eli: Hi, welcome to another episode of the Contrarian Marketing podcast where we give you ideas you might not be thinking about today.[00:00:11] Eli: We're talking about Apple's VR headset, WhatsApp channels and other news.[00:00:16] Eli: Eli, you just went to an event that is not the Apple WWDC.[00:00:21] Eli: Tell us about it.[00:00:22] Kevin: So I went to an event in Vegas call the Mobile Apps Unlocked conference and they did an interesting thing where they allowed all marketers who are not at agencies to go for free.[00:00:33] Kevin: So I'm not a big fan of paying 1000 $502,500 to go and attend a conference because if anything we've learned from the Pandemic, you could do a lot of learning without going anywhere.[00:00:44] Kevin: I go for the network, but I don't know necessarily if a network is worthwhile.[00:00:48] Kevin: So I don't really want to invest 1000 $502,500 in that conference because I can't go to that many.[00:00:52] Kevin: Like I would certainly do that for most the most awesome conference, but for a conference I've never heard of before or vaguely knew about, not sure I'd do that.[00:01:00] Kevin: But this conference was free for marketers.[00:01:02] Kevin: Obviously I had to pay my own travels in Las Vegas.[00:01:05] Kevin: It's called mobile apps.[00:01:06] Kevin: Unlocked.[00:01:06] Kevin: I think it was 1000 2000.[00:01:08] Eli: People talks about mobile.[00:01:10] Kevin: Of course, a lot of growth marketers there met fascinating people.[00:01:13] Kevin: But TikTok was a headline sponsor and they had dozens of TikTok employees.[00:01:18] Kevin: And they talked about all the things that TikTok does gaming, creative partnerships, a lot of things that go well beyond influencers.[00:01:26] Kevin: Dancing to the latest pop on TikTok videos, but really like how they integrate and how they monetize and how they can partner with creators.[00:01:34] Kevin: But what I felt was thought was fascinating was TikTok was headline sponsor.[00:01:38] Kevin: Facebook was not there.[00:01:40] Kevin: Meta was not there at all as a sponsor, as a booth, as anything, and they didn't even have any employees there.[00:01:47] Kevin: Now I get there are austere times at Meta, they're doing layoffs, maybe they are not out there as much as they used to be, but to not be there at all seemed fascinating to me.[00:01:57] WhatsApp and the future of Meta[00:01:57] Kevin: So we're going to talk today about WhatsApp which is a Meta company.[00:02:02] Kevin: But I think it's interesting that where Facebook is going and how they're going to retrench and how they're going to pivot.[00:02:08] Kevin: I think you can never ever count a tech company out, especially a tech company with tons of cash.[00:02:13] Kevin: Like how many times has Microsoft been counted out or how many times has even IBM been counted out?[00:02:18] Kevin: And then they came out there with Watson and you're like, oh, IBM is cool again.[00:02:21] Kevin: And people are saying maybe Google is behind the times because of chat JBT, lots of cash.[00:02:27] Kevin: So Facebook, certainly the usage of Facebook has been declining.[00:02:32] Kevin: I just saw this quote.[00:02:33] Kevin: I don't know if you watch Ted.[00:02:34] Eli: Lasso, of course, I just watched the last season of the third sorry, the last episode of the third season.[00:02:40] Eli: Yesterday.[00:02:40] Eli: I'm not going to spoil it.[00:02:41] Kevin: No, don't spoil it because I watched it.[00:02:43] Kevin: But we don't want to spoil it for our listeners.[00:02:44] Kevin: But did you see the part where Keeley got in trouble because she had a it wasn't a sex tape but it was just like a tape leak.[00:02:51] Eli: It was pretty close to sex tape.[00:02:53] Kevin: Yeah, close enough.[00:02:54] Kevin: Whatever.[00:02:54] Kevin: It's not real anyways.[00:02:55] Kevin: It's a show.[00:02:56] Kevin: And they told her that she had to put out her apology on the socials and they said you don't need to put it on Facebook because that's just for old people and rapists or something like that.[00:03:04] Eli: Pretty harsh.[00:03:05] Eli: Pretty harsh.[00:03:06] Kevin: That was pretty harsh.[00:03:07] Eli: I'm always a shoestring away from deleting my Facebook account and yet at the same time I am going to say that Meta's total number of users has gone to all time highs and I.[00:03:17] Kevin: Feel like Instagram and WhatsApp, but not through the Blue Facebook.[00:03:22] Eli: Well, not for us.[00:03:23] Eli: And I think even in the US they actually edit more Blue Facebook users.[00:03:27] Eli: But it's not our generation.[00:03:29] Eli: We're not the target audience of Facebook anymore.[00:03:31] Eli: I think it's I don't know about.[00:03:32] Kevin: You, but I am.[00:03:33] Kevin: I'm old.[00:03:34] Eli: Not that old.[00:03:35] Eli: Come on, it's not that bad.[00:03:36] Eli: We're going to talk a bit more about Meta in just a second.[00:03:39] Eli: There is some exciting news, especially for creators and for brands.[00:03:44] Apple Launches $3,500 VR Headset[00:03:44] Eli: But first we got to talk of course about the news of the day, maybe for me and not for Eli, which of course is that Apple has launched a $3,500 VR headset.[00:03:56] Eli: Now I got my own opinion about this, but I know Eli, you are the biggest Apple fan out there, so I'm going to let you speak first.[00:04:03] Kevin: So I used to be very anti Apple.[00:04:06] Kevin: I never purchased an Apple product, ever.[00:04:09] Kevin: I used a MacBook when I had a full time job because it was easier, of course.[00:04:14] Kevin: But when it came to purchasing products, I was never part of the cult of Mac or the cult of Apple.[00:04:19] Kevin: I've always had Android devices.[00:04:21] Kevin: My wife had an Apple device for some time and I didn't provide tech support for it when things happened.[00:04:26] Kevin: But I said if she was on an Android, I was going to be able to help it because I understood it.[00:04:29] Kevin: But I wasn't going to go learn an Apple system.[00:04:31] Kevin: So I've never purchased any Apple products.[00:04:33] Kevin: But I did recently purchase an iPad and this is my first Apple product and it's sucker man.[00:04:39] Kevin: I think it is a slippery slope to an iPhone, which is a slippery slope to maybe a MacBook, which next thing you know we're going to be doing this on a VR headset.[00:04:47] Kevin: So I typically think that a lot of what Apple does is extremely high end tech.[00:04:53] Kevin: It's not necessarily mainstream.[00:04:55] Kevin: That's my first opinion of the VR headset.[00:04:58] Kevin: I think it surprises me how many Apple watches have been sold because again, it's an expensive high end tool that you don't necessarily need if you're just trying to tell the time or get notifications.[00:05:10] Apple VR headset and its future impact[00:05:10] Kevin: Love to hear your thoughts on Apple VR headset and how you think it'll be used, especially at that price tag.[00:05:15] Kevin: I mean that price tag, it almost needs to be used expensed by companies rather than individuals.[00:05:21] Eli: The first thought is who is going to buy that?[00:05:25] Eli: And I think this is fulfilling a couple of purposes.[00:05:30] Eli: One is for Apple to have something out there.[00:05:35] Eli: I do believe that in the future we'll use VR and AR.[00:05:39] Eli: I don't believe that future is that close yet.[00:05:42] Eli: This is a high end consumer product for the richest of the rich, for maybe a few hotels or experiences that might provide this.[00:05:51] Eli: But this is not a yeah, you know, and maybe people said this about the $1,000 iPhone as well, but I don't see this being something that millions of people will buy just yet.[00:06:01] Eli: Maybe in the future when the price comes down and the price will come down.[00:06:04] Eli: The second thought is what's the use case here?[00:06:08] Eli: And it's really only a few use cases.[00:06:10] Eli: One of them is games.[00:06:12] Eli: And I don't think there is a killer game out there yet that you need these glasses for.[00:06:17] Eli: I might be wrong, I'll stand corrected.[00:06:19] Eli: I haven't tried them out yet, but I don't see this killer game yet.[00:06:22] Eli: The other one is sports events where you might be in the middle of a baseball field and that's going to be very attractive to people.[00:06:28] Eli: And then the third one, and that to me is the one that has the most utility and value is the office.[00:06:35] Eli: I think VR and AR is the best way to foster connections when people work remotely and that's where meta ism, is innovating heavily and I think that's their best trot.[00:06:46] Eli: Right.[00:06:47] Eli: I think VR and AR glasses are going to come through a work setting.[00:06:51] Eli: They're going to be a productivity tool to foster connection and to improve the experience you have when you communicate with people.[00:06:57] Eli: So that's kind of the first thought.[00:06:59] Eli: Again, the last thought that I'm going to say, which I think is a bit more contrarian, is typically innovation comes from the bottom up.[00:07:08] Eli: It's cheap and affordable, it comes from startups.[00:07:11] Eli: But I don't think startups are yet at a place to build affordable and good enough VR AR headsets.[00:07:18] Eli: So it has to be Apple.[00:07:20] Eli: And I think Apple actually has the best trot at making this a truly broad customer or consumer success.[00:07:28] Eli: But that time is not yet.[00:07:30] Eli: So I don't think they're going to make money on this in the next five years, but I think they're going to might set themselves up to crush it over the next ten years.[00:07:38] Kevin: Yeah, I think it's fascinating that they're trying this after Google failed.[00:07:41] Kevin: I mean, Google Glass failed is useless.[00:07:43] Kevin: Have you ever tried the google Glass?[00:07:45] Eli: I have not.[00:07:46] Eli: But Google is not a good hardware company.[00:07:49] Eli: They're not a consumer hardware company.[00:07:50] Eli: So this was a mood shot, and Apple has tons of experience in selling to consumers.[00:07:56] Kevin: Okay.[00:07:57] Kevin: And now Facebook tried, but Oculus is not saving Facebook as a company.[00:08:01] Kevin: So it's just interesting that Apple is trying this when there have been some notable failures.[00:08:08] Kevin: Oculus was not driven towards the business market, so maybe, maybe that's different.[00:08:14] Kevin: But again, $3,500 for a remote work tool when all of a sudden apple included companies are requiring that their employees come back to the office.[00:08:24] Kevin: Kind of interesting.[00:08:25] Kevin: It is.[00:08:26] Eli: I heard that the quality must be amazing.[00:08:28] Eli: It must be absolutely outstanding.[00:08:30] Eli: Again, I haven't tried it out yet, so I'm going to reserve final judgment, but those are the early thoughts you already started.[00:08:35] WhatsApp Channels: A New Way for Brands and Creators to Connect with Users[00:08:35] Eli: We mentioned Meta twice in this conversation.[00:08:37] Eli: Once with the TikTok event you went to, and the other time the Metaverse and all the hardware that they built with Oculus.[00:08:45] Eli: Now there's a new interesting development from the Meta side, which is on WhatsApp, and that is WhatsApp channels.[00:08:53] Eli: So in essence, WhatsApp channels are simply channels you can follow.[00:08:57] Eli: They're going to be interesting for brands and creators to basically broadcast their content.[00:09:01] Eli: And I think that could be an interesting channel for brands moving forward.[00:09:06] Eli: First of all, because WhatsApp has very broad adoption, I have to fact check myself and look at the latest numbers, but I think they're not too far away from a billion people.[00:09:15] Eli: And there are not that many channels out there.[00:09:19] Eli: We recently spoke about innovative marketing channels.[00:09:21] Eli: You're going to find the episode in the show notes, but there aren't that many channels out there that aren't super crowded.[00:09:26] Eli: And this seems to be more of a channel where you can select the content you get, but it is similar to an email where you get the content straight to your inbox, or in this case, straight to your WhatsApp phone.[00:09:38] Eli: So I'm bullish while there's not a lot of information out there, got to keep an eye on this one.[00:09:44] Kevin: Yeah, I think.[00:09:45] Kevin: WhatsApp is an underutilized asset for Meta?[00:09:49] Kevin: For Facebook?[00:09:50] Kevin: They bought it for 19 billion.[00:09:51] Kevin: I think it was 19 billion and everyone thought it was insane, but it was an amazing purchase.[00:09:56] Kevin: And they've really grown that platform.[00:09:59] Kevin: But the reason I say it's underutilized is because they're not monetizing it at all.[00:10:05] Kevin: They've tried to put ads, I think in India, maybe they injected ads, but they're not monetizing it directly.[00:10:11] Kevin: And there are a lot of different uses of it where they could inject themselves more into some sort of monetization strategy, but they're not at all.[00:10:19] Kevin: And then one thing that is interesting about the one way they are using it, of course, is backlash.[00:10:24] Kevin: But again, people are using the people that use Blue, Facebook.[00:10:27] Kevin: So when they log into the regular Facebook app and they're people you may what do they call people you may know, or people you should know or people you should connect with or whatever it is you get freaked out by who shows up.[00:10:39] Kevin: They're like, oh, that's my ex boss, or that's my ex girlfriend, or that's the person that tried to kill me, or something like that.[00:10:45] Kevin: That's actually feeding off the context that you've uploaded through WhatsApp.[00:10:50] Kevin: That's the way they're using it.[00:10:51] Kevin: And it's helping, in theory, build that social graph in Facebook and maybe in Instagram too, but otherwise they're not directly monetizing.[00:10:59] Kevin: So it's great to see an innovation within WhatsApp that allows them to do it.[00:11:03] Kevin: There are things within WhatsApp, like there are businesses that post statuses.[00:11:06] Kevin: They post the sales and you follow our business, here's our sale.[00:11:10] Kevin: Facebook is not injecting themselves into that process at all and trying to help promote that status, helping to gather followers for that status.[00:11:18] Kevin: There's so many things they could do.[00:11:19] Kevin: So it's great to see Facebook investing in there.[00:11:22] Kevin: And like we said earlier, don't count them out.[00:11:25] Kevin: They've got lots of cash, they've got a huge network between all of their different platforms.[00:11:29] Kevin: They have many, many billions of users.[00:11:31] Kevin: So lots of potential there.[00:11:33] Eli: Yeah, thanks for fact checking me here.[00:11:35] Eli: I just want to correct myself.[00:11:37] Eli: I said they're close to a billion users.[00:11:39] Eli: Actually.[00:11:39] Eli: They actually have over 2 billion users.[00:11:41] Eli: So massive channel, I'll be the first one to start broadcasting there because I'm hungry for a new channel where I can be early and where I can establish a a presence.[00:11:52] Eli: The thing that I'm going to be most curious about is the discovery aspect.[00:11:56] Eli: So how are people going to find new creators and brands to follow?[00:11:59] Eli: Because that will be its own little optimization game.[00:12:02] Eli: Call it WhatsApp SEO or maybe don't.[00:12:04] Kevin: Well, one of the things I love about Facebook is the ability to market and to use interest targeting.[00:12:11] Kevin: So I would love if they could plug that into WhatsApp.[00:12:14] Kevin: And you can get more followers for your channel.[00:12:16] Kevin: You can get more people to see your channel, or more people to see your statuses or add to your groups and do all that with just Facebook marketing.[00:12:23] Kevin: And I think that's great.[00:12:25] Kevin: Facebook is the number one channel for doing interest targeting because they've got so much information, except with the usage declining, it's harder and harder to target people.[00:12:35] Kevin: Again, like we said earlier, I don't log into Facebook that often.[00:12:38] Kevin: I don't use instagram.[00:12:39] Kevin: So yes, Facebook has my data.[00:12:42] Kevin: You can in theory target me, but I'm not seeing those ads if I'm not on Facebook.[00:12:45] Kevin: Facebook does actually have other ad or other ways of showing ads, and they have partnerships with apps, but it's far more limited.[00:12:53] Kevin: If you don't have those apps, you don't have those gains.[00:12:55] Kevin: But again, if they can get you on Facebook, they have almost everyone on WhatsApp they can get you on Instagram, then they can target you and maybe they'll revive Oculus now that Apple showed them there's potential there.[00:13:06] Kevin: And they can inject ads into Oculus too.[00:13:09] Kevin: And then you can have an immersive experience with an advertiser speaking about ads and broadcasting.[00:13:15] Missing the boat: GameStop and CNN's failed attempts to adapt[00:13:15] Eli: CNN just fired their CEO and there is another company who also fired their CEO, and that is GameStop.[00:13:22] Eli: And there are interesting similarities between both of them.[00:13:25] Eli: They both kind of missed the boats, but from different ends of the spectrum.[00:13:29] Eli: So GameStop, they tried too much contrarian stuff.[00:13:35] Eli: They tried to save their fading or eroding business with a crypto platform or a blockchain platform that went up in smokes.[00:13:43] Eli: Business has been dying for years and nobody has really been able to turn it around.[00:13:47] Eli: And then CNN, on the other hand, they've been moving too slow.[00:13:51] Eli: They weren't able to really establish themselves as a streaming platform.[00:13:55] Eli: They wrote off a 300 million US dollar check where they tried CNN Plus as a streaming platform and then overnight pulled the plug from that.[00:14:03] Eli: And now the CEO has to kind of pay the price for not establishing themselves and CNN on the streaming horizon.[00:14:10] Eli: Eli, how have both of these brands missed a boat?[00:14:13] Eli: I mean, from your perspective, what is your opinion?[00:14:16] Kevin: I'm going to be super contrarian here.[00:14:18] Kevin: I think both of these businesses don't need to exist at all.[00:14:21] Kevin: I think they're hanging on to an old vestige of something else that we just don't need.[00:14:26] Kevin: I mean, GameStop is a retail store in a world where many people buy things online.[00:14:31] Kevin: Do you need a GameStop when you can even go to GameStop.com?[00:14:34] Kevin: A Sharper Image, like they went out of business, but sharperimage.com still exists.[00:14:38] Kevin: You can still buy Sharp brand, it still exists as a brand, but you just don't need Sharper Image stores.[00:14:41] Kevin: I think the same with CNN.[00:14:44] Kevin: There's a lot you can say around the politics of CNN.[00:14:47] Kevin: I think they thrived on Trump.[00:14:49] Kevin: You wanted that narrative of anti Trump a couple of years ago already, that Trump has not been president.[00:14:55] Kevin: Now, is there a need for media?[00:14:58] Kevin: Is there a need for 24 hours media that you're going to watch and that's profitable now?[00:15:03] Kevin: I won't argue against the need for media in general.[00:15:05] Kevin: You're not going to have TikTok influencers and Twitter thought leaders and LinkedIn influencers flying to the interesting places in the world and riding in tanks alongside the Ukrainian army.[00:15:16] Kevin: That's not going to happen.[00:15:18] Kevin: You need the media.[00:15:19] Kevin: You need a funded, official, accredited, organized media to do that.[00:15:25] Kevin: So media should exist.[00:15:26] Kevin: But do you need to watch it 24 hours?[00:15:28] Kevin: Do you need a talk show to digest the latest thing that maybe happened in politics, when you can sit on Twitter and digest it just the same while you're multitasking, while you're supposed to be at work, you don't need to watch that online or on TV.[00:15:41] Kevin: Even worse, do you even need to watch it streaming?[00:15:44] Kevin: Do you want to catch up on the latest argument between two talking heads, five talking heads, or however many talking heads they have, when again, you could just go on Twitter and participate in it.[00:15:54] Kevin: So I think that CNN is they've been around for a very long time.[00:15:58] Kevin: They popularized the idea of 24 hours media when there was no 24 hours media.[00:16:03] Kevin: And I think now do you really need 24 hours media?[00:16:06] Kevin: So maybe that's what CNN struggling with.[00:16:08] Kevin: Is it's an entertainment platform?[00:16:11] Kevin: We had an episode on streaming.[00:16:13] Kevin: Look at what HBO did.[00:16:14] Kevin: HBO merged into Max and I just got a notification.[00:16:18] Kevin: Do you have Xfinity or what do you have for Internet?[00:16:20] Eli: There xfinity.[00:16:21] Kevin: Yeah.[00:16:22] Kevin: Okay, so did you get an email from Xfinity saying they're pulling peacock out of Xfinity?[00:16:27] Eli: No, but what is peacock again?[00:16:29] Kevin: Exactly.[00:16:30] Kevin: So there's a million streaming platforms.[00:16:31] Kevin: I got an email this morning saying, sorry to tell you, but you no longer get peacock for free.[00:16:36] Kevin: There's a good reminder that I even had peacock for free from Xfinity because they're both owned by NBC, owned by GE.[00:16:41] Kevin: I think it's a struggle, like all these streaming platforms, netflix, crackdown on, password sharing.[00:16:46] Kevin: So do you need a CNN subscription?[00:16:48] Kevin: Is there even a reason that you need to watch or even pay for a CNN streaming subscription?[00:16:54] Kevin: So I think that bigger question is, should they exist?[00:16:57] Eli: It depends on the content.[00:16:58] Eli: They had.[00:16:59] Eli: For example, one show with Scott Galloway, and I would have loved to pay for that because the guy is genius.[00:17:06] Eli: However, I think there's going to be consolidation at some point where all these streaming networks are going to be facilitated by YouTube, TV or someone else.[00:17:14] Eli: I don't think all of these are going to survive and people are not going to pay for all of them, at least not constantly.[00:17:20] Eli: You might pay for a show for a while and then you got to cancel your subscription again.[00:17:24] Eli: So that's going to be challenging.[00:17:26] Breaking News and Dopamine Addiction[00:17:26] Eli: But what's interesting, and one thing that I want to highlight is how breaking news and this kind of news real where you constantly have news and then a few ads in between.[00:17:36] Eli: There was the original dopamine factory before Twitter came out, before these social platforms come out.[00:17:43] Eli: And I'm just tired, man.[00:17:46] Eli: I'm tired out of the constant dopamine cycles.[00:17:49] Eli: I'm tired of Twitter, I'm tired of endless scroll.[00:17:53] Eli: And breaking news to me is just endless scroll once the news broke their old news.[00:17:58] Eli: And so basically, people watching that, I see it, I know people who watch that stuff constantly.[00:18:04] Eli: And are they younger than 80?[00:18:07] Eli: Slightly, but not much.[00:18:09] Eli: That's exactly the point, right?[00:18:11] Eli: That's kind of the dopamine addiction of the older generation and much older generation.[00:18:15] Eli: And so they're going to die out of it.[00:18:18] Eli: They're missing addressing younger audiences and bringing new audiences on board.[00:18:22] Discussing AI-Powered Search and The Future of SEO[00:18:22] Eli: So let's wrap up, speaking about one company that is struggling with something very similar, and that is Google and Alphabet.[00:18:29] Eli: Now, YouTube, to be fair, is incredibly hot with the teens and the young generation.[00:18:34] Eli: But Google is increasingly replaced by other platforms like TikTok.[00:18:39] Eli: I see.[00:18:40] Eli: It my fiance's sister, she's in her early 20s.[00:18:43] Eli: She searches so much more stuff on TikTok.[00:18:45] Eli: And I'm not here to say that TikTok is the SEO killer or the Google killer.[00:18:49] Eli: This platform is struggling to address and keep young audiences as well.[00:18:54] Eli: And they recently launched their search Genera Experience, which is based on AI, which we just recorded a full episode about.[00:19:01] Eli: But Eli, a lot has changed since we recorded that episode a week ago.[00:19:06] Eli: What's your freshest take on this?[00:19:08] Kevin: So I actually think that Google is going to win.[00:19:11] Kevin: I think because they own the platform, they have all the users, they can keep getting people back onto the platform from all their other, from Android, from Gmail, from Sheets and Docs and all the other things that Google does.[00:19:24] Kevin: But I'm very bullish on Google's future.[00:19:26] Kevin: I think what they're doing with Generative AI, it's buggy right now, but it will improve.[00:19:31] Kevin: They launched an update to Bard, which is what's powering Generative Experiences to begin with, which you can now do logic.[00:19:38] Kevin: And in this blog post, which we'll link in the show notes, they explain System One thinking.[00:19:41] Kevin: System Two, which is based on Daniel Kahneman's Nobel Prize winning economics theory, which is System One is your initial emotional response, and System Two is more thought out.[00:19:52] Kevin: So system one, where system two is more logical.[00:19:56] Kevin: So system one is barred.[00:19:58] Kevin: It's just language like it gives you a response, it may or may not be correct.[00:20:01] Kevin: System Two can do logic and that's where Google thrives.[00:20:05] Kevin: So Chat GBT is competing on the system one.[00:20:07] Kevin: It's just a large language model, can give an answer.[00:20:10] Kevin: System Two is where Google's been great at this for the last two decades.[00:20:13] Kevin: And they're doing logic like you can ask it math questions, it's pulling from knowledge graph, it's using the massive superpowers of Google.[00:20:22] Kevin: So I think that's where they win.[00:20:24] Kevin: I think there's no competitor right now that's as good at both of those as Google.[00:20:28] Kevin: It as long as they don't lose market share.[00:20:30] Kevin: I do think Google wins, even with their buggy product.[00:20:33] Eli: I think nobody can be Google and Search.[00:20:36] Eli: I much more think that other companies are going to try to fragment search and kind of break it apart.[00:20:42] Eli: For example, Microsoft.[00:20:44] Eli: I've changed my opinion.[00:20:45] Eli: I don't think they're trying to win with Bing.[00:20:47] Eli: I think they might have a chance to win with Chat GPT, which is a completely different experience that now also features Bing search results, or they're just going to bring the whole damn thing into the taskbar at the bottom of your screen.[00:21:00] Eli: They might break it out of the browser and bring it to the operating system level.[00:21:04] Eli: So there's a whole lot of interesting stuff going on with AI search and SGE.[00:21:10] Eli: But I think one of the biggest trends that most people don't have on the radar is that you might just not need the browser anymore.[00:21:16] Eli: It might live natively in an app, or in Google Sheets, or again in your taskbar.[00:21:21] Eli: And so I think the biggest chance for other companies is to change the game.[00:21:25] Eli: Instead of trying to beat Google ad it.[00:21:26] Eli: Google has one search period.[00:21:28] Eli: But the question is now, how can you change the field?[00:21:31] Kevin: How can you change the playing field?[00:21:33] Kevin: Absolutely.[00:21:34] Kevin: And you're right.[00:21:35] Kevin: I don't think anybody's going to be Google.[00:21:37] Kevin: I think the playing field is changing underneath Google, and they're now catching up and changing with it.[00:21:43] Kevin: A recent newsletter, I talked about how this is what Google's always been doing.[00:21:47] Kevin: These are featured snippets.[00:21:48] Kevin: These are knowledge graph.[00:21:50] Kevin: They had LLM to begin with, but they didn't want to release it for two reasons.[00:21:53] Kevin: One, innovator's dilemma, because they would kill their business model, and they're definitely hurting their ads for the people that are in the beta.[00:22:00] Kevin: And the second reason is that it's risky.[00:22:02] Kevin: I mean, when it comes to Knowledge Graph, most of knowledge Graph is correct.[00:22:06] Kevin: I know, like, you search certain people, like one search, I think Rand Fishkin, there was a picture of Neil Patel that was based on knowledge Graph is broken.[00:22:13] Kevin: But for the most part, knowledge Graph is accurate.[00:22:15] Kevin: It pulls off a structured data.[00:22:17] Kevin: LLM is not LLM can say offensive, wrong things.[00:22:21] Kevin: Like it can give you the wrong advice and you can follow and do serious harm to yourself.[00:22:26] Kevin: So they can't control it because they don't know what's out there.[00:22:27] Kevin: So I get why they didn't release it, but now that they are releasing it and they are working with it, I think they will win.[00:22:34] Eli: We're green too much, Eli.[00:22:35] Eli: We got to change that.[00:22:36] Eli: But one area or kind of one place?[00:22:39] Kevin: You're wrong.[00:22:39] Kevin: You're just wrong.[00:22:42] Eli: Do better now.[00:22:43] Eli: So much better.[00:22:44] Dealing with disagreements and building strong business partnerships[00:22:44] Eli: One area where we're not agreeing all the time, or where we disagree more, is our new Slack Group.[00:22:48] Eli: Eli, you want to talk about that secretly?[00:22:51] Kevin: Not secretly.[00:22:52] Kevin: We quietly discussed this a couple of weeks ago in an episode.[00:22:56] Kevin: We want to launch a Slack Group that would help consultants become better consultants.[00:23:00] Kevin: We have the slack group.[00:23:01] Kevin: We're going to put up a link where you can apply to be a part of this.[00:23:04] Kevin: We want to make sure it adds as much value to everyone that is in the Slack Group, and of course ourselves too, that we just want to have a high caliber of the best consultants out there.[00:23:12] Kevin: We have not yet defined what the cutoff will be, but this will be for really, the best consultants.[00:23:19] Kevin: And just to give a sneak preview to an upcoming podcast, the greatest of all time, the Goat of consulting.[00:23:26] Kevin: Alan Weiss, who published, I think, six best selling books on consulting, the Million Dollar Consulting or Consultants book, which is the first one he came out with in the late eighty s I learned everything from and he's had six updates to that book.[00:23:38] Kevin: So we just interviewed him for a podcast.[00:23:41] Kevin: This is our very first interview ever.[00:23:43] Kevin: So if you're not subscribed and you're just listening to this podcast for the first time, this one's coming.[00:23:47] Kevin: This is going to be the best episode we have.[00:23:49] Eli: Man, I'm still on a high from that conversation.[00:23:52] Eli: There's going to be so much we have to record an episode about that episode, just digesting and commenting on all the nuggets that he got out.[00:23:59] Eli: So, yeah, everyone look forward to this.[00:24:01] Eli: That was an absolutely mind blowing conversation with many things he never mentioned before, many fun stories about tanks and trains and jeopardy.[00:24:13] Eli: It's going to be a wild one.[00:24:14] Eli: So, yeah, Eli, this is a wrap.[00:24:16] Eli: Looking forward to talk to you again next week.[00:24:17] Kevin: Thanks, John.[00:24:18] Kevin and Eli Discuss Contrarian Marketing Strategies[00:24:18] Eli: And now it's your turn.[00:24:19] Eli: Head over to Contrarianmarketingpodcast.com and subscribe to the free weekly newsletter to get a summary of today's episode, key takeaways and community content.[00:24:28] Eli: And while you're there, go to today's episode and leave your opinion in the comments.[00:24:32] Eli: We'll feature the best thoughts in the newsletter and on the podcast podcast.[00:24:35] Eli: Also, if you like today's episode, please feel free to leave five stars on Spotify and Apple podcasts or wherever you listen to podcast.[00:24:41] Eli: As always, thanks so much for tuning in and here next week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.contrarianmarketingpodcast.com
With TikTok and short-form video, it often feels like we have no choice but to follow trends. It can be SO overwhelming. There's this intense pressure to stay cool, relevant, and "on-trend." But what about being innovative? What about standing out? What about being truly creative? I think it's easy to get lost in trying to go viral, so I wanted to talk about it. The pro's, the con's, and what I think you should do instead. What do you think? Do you like following trends or do you stray away? Send me an email or leave a comment on our IG page :) Email me! ➡️ podcast@halleesmith.com Shop the merch ➡️ https://www.hallee.shop/ Join the free email newsletter ➡️ https://view.flodesk.com/pages/61b7b91bdf87be04c2387523
I'm spilling the glitter and here's my fifth tip to conquer TikTok like a pro. Don't worry about being picture-perfect on TikTok - that's not what the platform is about! I'm here to tell you that you can still go viral if you show up as your authentic, unfiltered self. It works! Trust me!One of the biggest secrets: be ratchet! That's right. Don't be afraid to embrace the messy, the imperfect, and the real. It doesn't matter if you're in your car, just stepped out of the gym looking like a hot mess, or just chilling on the couch without makeup, TikTok encourages you to be yourself. By simply being genuine, everyday people have gone viral. My Glitter Besties, let go of those doubts and insecurities. With TikTok, you can let your personality shine and spread your glitter far and wide.Check out all the CONTENT CREATION + SOCIAL MEDIA resources I have at THEGLITTER.MEConnect with Sam on Instagram or TikTokCheck out all the CONTENT CREATION + SOCIAL MEDIA resources I have at THEGLITTER.ME
Welcome back to 50Talk. This week we bring you Episode 76 and after being off for a while we have a lot to talk about. So last week was Mother's Day weekend and we got busy with family and also this past weekend we had some family stuff to do as well. We took a large group of family to the Toledo Zoo and we had a great time. A lot has been going on since last we've talked but we will try to fit in as much as possible. We have opinions on some stuff as usual. To start the show off we start with some news out of Mississippi and The NAACP putting out a travel advisory to Florida in light of recent activities done with the Government of Florida. We give our thoughts and opinions on what this means or how we interpret it. I've always had a sour feeling about Florida & Texas for years but I have family in both. With TikTok on the verge of being banned in the entire country and already in Montana Cathy and I ask " Do 13 year old's need training on Social Media before they enter that world?" This is a touchy subject for me and I tried to give examples from a parents perspective and a Childs perspective. By no means do I think the government need to tell Parents how to parent their own kids. I respect that others may feel different than me and that's cool. We missed another Mass Shooting in Allen, Texas last week while we were off. It was a shooting that took place in an Outlet Mall where I believe 7 people were killed. We talk about this issue with guns and all the loosening of gun laws around the country. We also mention a couple statistics about those states that are loosening and a few that have stricter gun laws. On Sunday evening CNN aired Uvalde: Inside a School Shooting. We give our opinion on the show and the affects the families are having from the shooting. We are both confused on why these families still aren't getting the answers they deserve. Why has no one been held responsible for the Police response of over three hundred police officers who stood around in the hall while children got massacred? One year later, if you haven't seen this show you need to. Last but not least we get into some couples questions and also some "thought Provoking Questions for Couples". We hope you enjoy the show and we will see you all later this week. (Hopefully)Oh yeah, I did mention at the end of the show that this was Episode 75 but it really is Episode 76. We are getting closer to 100.....Yeah Us!
Louisiana Dance Musician calls on fans to help him save TikTok by: Howard Castay Cupid, a.k.a. Bryson Bernard, who dubs himself, "the line dance king," credits social media for reinventing his career among age groups in some of his fan base. However, he said the changes have been more noticeable since TikTok arrived in 2016. The Lafayette native has grown in popularity worldwide, after recording the single, the "Cupid Shuffle," in 2007. The song peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, the singer and songwriter has morphed into someone he calls the king of dance music. And as of late, he credits TikTok for helping him secure that title. "Tiktok is music to the people," Bernard said. "It's a direct connection for music and dance, and also a great resource of information." "With TikTok, I have tripled my exposure to audiences, as opposed to my past promotional strategy." Describing his TikTok success, he said his new song, "Flex," has over 10 million impressions on TikTok and the "Cupid Shuffle," has, "way more than that number." "What's interesting though, is that since TikTok's inception, I've been watching kids who weren't even born 17 years ago when I made the Cupid Shuffle, dance like crazy to it. Then, I'm watching the Cupid Shuffle fans, dance to Flex." "Speaking for myself, I think TikTok has been a huge influence." Now, the artist is asking fans to save TikTok by placing #saveTikTok on all their TikTok videos. The reason? What has his ire is news from Capitol Hill that some members of Congress want to ban TikTok for all Americans, citing unfounded national security concerns. Also, in Louisiana, there is a bill currently in the legislature (which is currently in session), HB 361 by Rep. Daryl Deshotel, R-Marksville, to prohibit the use of TikTok on state devices or networks. Here are some of the singer's objections on why a TikTok ban doesn't make sense. It seems like the government is trying to control people. Is the government upset because they can't figure out how to make money off of it, so they are throwing in the towel? Not having the power to control the media. Real life situations! Just think if there wasn't TikTok. When would we have found about George Floyd? Or Ahmaud Arbery? Viewing TikTok as a threat to personal freedom. For instance, some teenagers are making thousands, hundreds of thousands of dollars without a proper education. American Propaganda. We're told China is destroying America. But has the government checked on the things we're doing? Why are government contracts being leaked? That's not TikTok's fault!
Google Ads Secrets of the 1%: How to Attract & Convert More Visitors Into Customers | Ecom 80/20 Podcast Turning one-time buyers into lifetime buyers starts with acquisition. Most e-commerce brands, however, suffer from shiny new object syndrome. With TikTok ads, machine-learning driven strategies and ChatGPT hacks, staying ahead of the acquisition plans of […] The post Google Ads Secrets of the 1%: How to Attract & Convert More Visitors Into Customers | Ecom 80/20 Podcast appeared first on HiFlyer Digital.
With TikTok breaking over 1 billion active users per month - 100 million of those in America alone - it's no wonder why there's such loud response to the government considering removing the application out of the hands of Americans.
In this episode, we delve into the world of short-form video content platforms and their state of organic reach. With Tiktok's organic reach declining, and Instagram Reels failing to compete, we explore the only two platforms currently performing with organic reach - YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels. If you're interested in learning more about the challenges facing these platforms, and what the future holds for short-form video content, then be sure to tune in to the complete episode. Join us for this fascinating episode! ------ Follow any of the below-mentioned social media platforms to connect with me directly & discuss topics with me. Instagram: @creazionmedia Twitter: @CreazionMedia Website: https://creazionmedia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaurangagarwal/ Alternatively, you can reach me at info@creazionmedia.com I hope you like the episode, Thank You. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/creazionmedia/message
With TikTok currently on the chopping block, we have no idea how much longer we might have access to our favorite app. Congress is currently trying to decide whether or not to outlaw this social media platform in the US. But what the general public doesn't realize is how deep this bill actually runs. Join us this week to hear all about how your privacy and democracy (along with TikTok) are all on the line. Thank you to BetterHelp for sponsoring this week's episode: http://www.betterhelp.com/allthingsinternet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to a bonus episode of The iBuyer Experiment! With news popping up recently, we felt it needed to be discussed on the iBuyer Experiment much sooner. With TikTok being in the crosshairs of every politician, Metas stock jumping up, and the uncertainty with tech and AI as a whole there is so much more to be talked about on The iBuyer Experiment... _________________________________ Check us out on social media: Kala - https://linktr.ee/kalalaos Eliot - https://linktr.ee/eliottomaszewski/ Zoodealio - https://linktr.ee/zoodealio/ _________________________________ Check us out on Apple Podcasts & Spotify! Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ibuyer-experiment/id1510051846 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2e1M6C4x88OyNgIuTCZ0V8?si=51dc906935b64850
AskPat 2.0: A Weekly Coaching Call on Online Business, Blogging, Marketing, and Lifestyle Design
#1264 This Where Are They Now? episode is a perfect example of why I love this format. My returning guest, Andrea Davis of Better Screen Time, is doing fantastic work that I have to share with you! Andrea is a member of SPI Pro and one of our first students in Smart From Scratch. She has brilliantly applied knowledge from our courses and communities to help families create healthy content consumption habits. Today we hear all about how Better Screen Time has grown and evolved. Andrea is now spreading her message through public speaking, and the impact on her business has been incredible! Getting on more stages has also been a game-changer for me, so I love seeing entrepreneurs leveraging this powerful tactic. With TikTok taking over many children's lives, Andrea's mission is more important than ever. Listen in on our conversation to hear all about how she has built a fantastic course-based business to support her efforts! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1264.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Every Tuesday Kevin talks all things food with Alex from CT FoodGirly. With TikTok's food fave "Crumbl Cookies" opening locations in Connecticut it seemed like a good week to find out where we can find the best cookies. Alex has some great spots for you to try.
With TikTok's incredible growth, we've seen the marketing landscape upended by a flood of rising influencers. With this change, big and small companies have been scrambling to learn how to best promote their products in the most effective way possible. As they've done their research on influencer marketing, they've also asked themselves if they should even bother about it at all. Should your brand use TikTok influencers to promote your products? Are they truly effective in capturing the attention of young people globally, or are firms better off investing resources elsewhere? In this article, I'll seek to answer those questions and more. I believe TikTok's meteoric rise presents an incredible opportunity for brands to connect with audiences more deeply than ever before. As the consuming habits of younger generations rewrite the advertising playbook, TikTok influencers will prove to be a vital tool in your effort to build and maintain relevance. Why? Read on, and I'll tell you. What is TikTok? Before we go further, let's talk about TikTok – what it is and where it came from. First, please note that there are two versions of TikTok: Douyin (the Chinese version) and TikTok (the international counterpart). TikTok/Douyin is a video-sharing app that began its life in China, created by a little-known startup called ByteDance. From the beginning, ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming was laser-focused on international expansion to maximize the platform's growth – a move met with great success. In late 2017, TikTok acquired Musical.ly for one billion dollars and merged the two apps. Following this acquisition, TikTok hit critical mass and has since experienced unprecedented growth and, in 2021, surpassed Google in popularity. As they say, the rest is history. What is TikTok used for? Initially, TikTok was mostly centered around the same kind of content that Musical.ly was – homemade music videos of young, amateur fans singing and dancing to their favorite tracks. However, the range of content on the app has drastically expanded to include pretty much everything. These days, it has about the same content range as YouTube while surpassing YouTube in watch time. It's elementary to make a video on TikTok – adding to the platform's attractiveness. I published a video on TikTok that received over 1.4 million views. But, here's the kicker: it only took me about ten seconds to record and publish it. Who uses TikTok? TikTok's demographics skewer very strongly towards youth. So if you're thinking about marketing your product on TikTok, make sure it's something that appeals to Generation Y and Z youngsters. TikTok vs. Other Social Media Due to its unique structure, TikTok has blown past its established competitors in recent years. It's also been a boon for marketers, who have found that TikTok experiences phenomenal engagement – even compared to other major social platforms. Neuro-Insight – a neural marketing and analytics company – recently completed a study involving 57 respondents aged 18-35. The verdict was that TikTok drives incredible engagement among users, compared to established forms of advertising. Their study found that TikTok's videos are hyper-relevant to the users, resulting in an incredible approach 44% higher than the social media average (in this case, “approach” is basically how much the subject liked the content served to them). The engagement was terrific, too: 15% higher than the social media average. This study is fantastic news to advertisers who can rely on TikTok to serve their content to only the most relevant users possible. On TikTok, your content (both paid and organic) is much more likely to reach consumers who care about it versus other platforms. Moreover, this engagement effect can compound the authority of influencers established in their niches. What is Influencer Marketing? Influencer marketing is the art of paying influencers – people with a large social media following – to promote your products. Ideally, your targe...
Victor Dwyer is the VP of Marketing for Pirawna, an E-commerce Marketing Expert, and a Social Media Strategist. Public speaking is his passion and he helps eCommerce sellers increase sales through strategic external marketing.Write your questions as a comment to this video. Join the channel today at https://www.youtube.com/myamazonguy00:00 TikTok Ads Q&A with Victor Dwyer00:13 Victor Dwyer joins Pirawna01:16 What are Victor's experts in?02:17 Kind of questions Victor would love to answer.03:26 Have a few brands that need help w/ their social strategies.05:05 What is the best way to advertise?06:25 Which of these products are suitable for TikTok ads?10:36 What is a landing page?11:37 Are Virtual Bundles a thing? How effective are they?13:37 Best tool to find influencers in TikTok.15:40 You'd think the market would fix itself rapidly but apparently not.16:33 TikTok question. Is it better to have a business account or an organic user account?17:50 With TikTok, will you advise TikTok ads or influencer approach?18:37 What are the winning strategies in getting more views for your TikTok content?21:09 How do you think Facebook ads compare to TikTok ads?22:41 What are the metrics you use for TikTok ads?24:27 Have you heard about Upluence as a platform to find influencers and damage all your Social Commerce aspects?25:35 In my TikTok account, should I archive old/non-effective videos?26:35 How can you see videos from TikTok ads?26:53 What is your go-to pre-launch marketing strategy using TikTok?28:15 How to learn DSP and Vendor Central if you don't have access to them?30:47 How much can I count PPC cost per unit?32:32 A person I just talked to from Amazon told me today that Amazon does not index more than 80 characters in titles.34:30 My product costs around $34 (including FBA fees), and I am planning to sell at $49. What is the expected number of sales per day in the beginning?36:48 I tried updating my title from the help page, doesn't let me put more than 80 characters in the title.37:47 Can we use TikTok to improve the ranking of newly launched products?39:43 How TOS is Pixelfy?41:01 I placed 500 Qty of this product. This is my first product. I learned most from your videos. It's not a repeat purchase. It's a kitchen product. But I have modified it with customer reviews.41:48 Would it be better to use Amazon attribution tags?42:47 Do you teach this kind of stuff?43:50 What is the new product review rate?44:49 How significant are trending music and hashtags on TikTok posts?46:13 Do you suggest COSCO (Slow sea) for the first product? Or Use Super Matson (Fast sea for 30% of shipment)?47:23 Can I tell my USA friend to buy a product and review it?48:43 I recently started in the sports eyewear space. the recommended bids are high - $1.5-$4 for most words and my CPC is ~$2. ACOS is ~65% right now with 3-4 sales/day. Any recommendation on increasing bids/reducing ACOS?49:40 Best business book read by Victor Dwyer50:32 How to get in touch with Victor Dwyer51:00 Sellar Central JobsSupport the show
With TikTok continuously adding new users, many platforms like Instagram and Facebook are fighting to stay current with new updates mimicking TikTok. But, what if some of us like these OG platforms the way they are? Learn more: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-race-to-stay-present-for-social-media-sites/
Welcome to the latest episode of Music Business Worldwide's Talking Trends, supported by Voly Music.In this episode, MBW founder Tim Ingham discusses the model under which TikTok currently pays the music industry.Music Business Worldwide sources suggest that TikTok's deals with rightsholders are currently 'buy-outs' – i.e. the platform pays a lump sum upfront, rather than paying a revenue share based on each artist/label's popularity on its platform.With TikTok's revenues expected to triple to $12 billion in 2022, concerns are growing amongst music companies that TikTok could soon get "too big and too powerful" to force into an agreement that sees it "pay music rightsholders properly".Says Ingham: "The music industry is growing increasingly worried that it's about to star in a movie we've seen play out time and time again when it comes to music's relationship with tech and media giants. "In short, that movie is about a tech or media giant – you've guessed it! – 'building its business off the back of artists' without paying those artists what they deserve. "As my major record company source put it to me the other week: 'Soon TikTok is going to be too big and too powerful for us to force it into a revenue share deal. The last time we let a company of this size and power run away with things without paying us properly... was MTV."Ole Obermann, TikTok's Global Head of Music, has told Music Business Worldwide in response to this podcast: ""From the outset we wanted to pay rightsholders and we built a team to do that. We're proud of the deals we've struck and how in a few short years we've been able to offer a new and growing revenue stream to the industry, as well as becoming a powerful marketing and promotional platform for artists of all genres. "We're delighted by the success [that] artists, both new and old, have found using TikTok; connecting with fans and kick-starting their careers. This success and the power of our platform has translated into record label and publishing contracts [for artists], the launch of careers, significant streaming uplift and TikTok having a positive impact on charts worldwide."TikTok is a unique service and has pioneered the adoption of short-form video. We're not a streaming platform and we do not offer a subscription model. We negotiate our licenses on a rolling basis and as engagement with music on TikTok evolves, our business model will also evolve."Adds Obermann: "We want to play our part and contribute to a growing music industry, enabling music creators and makers to find success both on and off our platform.”
In today's episode with special guest Laura Lee us millennials discuss how to keep up with Gen Z! With TikTok slowly (well, quickly) taking over the social media world, we are wondering where millennials belong in that space? Laura Lee's career serves as a blueprint for wannabe influencers of all ages, so we want to know how she is successfully able to pivot and keep up with the ever-changing social media landscape! Join in the conversation @thedoublecleansepodcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
With TikTok seemingly taking over as the social media platform of choice...what does this mean for Instagram and businesses who built their brands through the 'gram? Let's chat about it.
With TikTok growing at a staggering rate many game developers are being left behind by not using the platform to its full potential. As social media platforms grow their organic reach diminishes, so right now is prime time to take advantage of that organic reach. We hear from people all the time that they don't know what to post, let's get into what you should be posting to seize the full potential of TikTok. BEAMABLE ► Main - https://www.beamable.com ► Twitter - https://twitter.com/Beamable ► LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/beamable/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BuiltOnBeamable ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/beamable/
In This Episode: Join me in welcoming Karl Wolf to the show. Most recently he's created the Omicron Queen NFT collection, been nominated for a Juno in the Best Dance Recording of the Year 2022 category and released "No Privacy" which is out now! Timestamps: 1:02 What are NFT's? Why did you create Omicron Queen NFT collection? 4:20 How does your music fit into the NFT space? Visual Digital Art with Music like Karl's Omicron Queen 9:00 When you purchase an NFT, you are investing in the creator directly. 9:49 Do you get royalties with NFTs? The terms are platform dependent. 11:19 It's a new industry, we are all learning about NFT's and how the industry will evolve. 11:56 My NFT's are about building community around my work 12:15 OpenSea, figuring out how to get involved with NFTs 13:01 Karl is one of the first Lebanese Canadians to perform in the MetaVerse with Decentraland (Deadmau5) 13:43 The important learning is to jump in with both feet when it comes to new technologies ex. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, NFTs 14:45 Be willing to continue to evolve over the course of your career 15:59 What keeps you in the creative headspace? What keeps you inspired? 16:37 Have fun and bring comedy into the current political landscape ex. Omicron Queen, Corona World 18:00 Karl Wolf and Jordan Peterson both emphasize the importance of bringing play and fun into work 19:11 With TikTok, try stuff and approach content from different angles to have it go viral 20:46 Bring your humanity to your work to allow people to get to know you and relate to your audience 22:07 You are not just about your music or creations. Show different parts of yourself and your life in order to build your personal brand in totality 22:45 Karl finds UFOs and aliens interesting, learn why. 23:00 Passion for music, taking care of your body using exercise and good food. 23:29 The people around you are very important. Everything is a push and pull in this life. 23:50 Joe Rogan with Sadguru Episode - UFO's and Aliens 24:33 There is something beyond us - Facebook Fan Page Africa UFO Egypt Page 24:43 Dr. Zucker Izazichim Translator of Old Testament in Sumarian Tablets - We come from a planet called Nabiru 25:46 Explore new ways of thinking 26:41 Why are we here? We are seeking answers to big questions which is imperative to grow and learn 27:41 We discuss Karl's Nomination for Juno's - Top 5 Dance Recording in Canada for 2022 for Getaway 28:33 Karl hints at Dvbbs potential album collaboration Karl's Website: http://www.karlwolf.com Omicron Queen NFT Collection: https://omicronqueens.io Follow Karl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlwolfs/ Follow Karl on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@karlwolfs OUT NOW! Listen to "No Privacy" https://onerpm.link/noprivacy // SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL // Membership: https://ko-fi.com/lead/tiers Donations: https://ko-fi.com/lead // COURSES // Women's Wisdom Accelerator: https://www.kalynamiletic.com/woman-wisdom Period Secrets: https://www.kalynamiletic.com/period-secrets-course Career Design Masterclass: https://www.kickstartyourwork.com/masterclass-registration // LINKS // Website: https://www.kalynamiletic.com Podcast: https://anchor.fm/kalyna Work with Kalyna 1-1: https://ko-fi.com/kalynamiletic/commissions // SOCIAL // Instagram: https://instagram.com/kalynamiletic --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kalyna/support
This week on Unfiltered Adventures, we are breaking down what we are calling “The Creativity Crisis.” With TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts pushing “trending” music and videos, it is forcing creators to copy each other in order to be successful. We will be discussing what it is really like being a creator in 2022 with copy culture being encouraged and the switch from photography to short form video.
With TikTok surpassing Google as the most visited website last year, it's more important then ever for business owners to get started! Today, Beth chats with Amanda Kay, TikTok expert. Amanda helps business owners stand-out, grow, and scale through expert branding, web design, and TikTok training and coaching. Amanda didn't necessarily "intend" to get into this business. She was running a local service based business (with 10 employees) for many years and found that she had a talent for the branding and marketing side of things. Then, colleagues, friends, and even customers started asking her for guidance with their websites and marketing. And, it turned out that she really enjoyed doing that type of work, to the point that she sold the service business and does this full time. Amanda is a mom of 3 teens and happily married to her soulmate, Justin. She enjoys traveling, cooking up yummy recipes and spending time with friends. You can grab Amanda's TIkTok Freebie here: https://connectwebdesignstudio.com/tiktok-bundle/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simple-socials/message
With TikTok increasing in popularity, a lot of people are wondering if the platform can be monetized. Creators on the platform are asking if they can make money from their videos. The simple answer is yes. Similar to other platforms like Instagram and YouTube, TikTok can be monetized. While TikTok doesn't have an established system for making money from your videos, there are still several strategies you can use to make money on the platform. In this episode, I tell you 6 ways to make money on TikTok. So what are you waiting for? This episode was adapted from our blog post (credit: Marvellous Aham-Adi)Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
With TikTok being the fastest growing and most-used social media app, a lot of Influencers, creators and even sellers had been using the platform during the past year. Today, we discussed how to be a TikTok influencer with an influencer herself, Gracey Ryback who turned her passion in sharing good deals to a profitable niche on TikTok. I had the honor to understand from her how to grow a Tiktok account and what it is like to work with brands and sellers to feature a product over a TikTok video. If you are a seller or brand looking to promote or try a campaign over Tiktok, this is your opportunity. Listen in and get more details. In This Episode: [00:34] Welcoming Gracey Ryback on the show. [04:59] When and how did Gracey start as an Influencer? [10:55] Training that taught Gracey on sales and confidence in speaking. [15:00[ How sharing Amazon codes got Gracey's account compromised by Amazon? [19:18] What Gracey is looking for a product to feature on her channels? [21:25] Price points of products she features. [27:35] What does working with Gracey look like? [29:00] paid partnership [32:09] Channel's biggest plans for 2022 [24:45] Knowing both sides of the industry. Guest Links and References: Email: contact@dealcheats.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dealcheats Book References: You are a Badass by Jen Sincero The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks Links and References: Wizards of Amazon: https://www.wizardsofecom.com/ Wizards of Amazon Courses: https://wizardsofamazon.mykajabi.com/a/27566/x6Kwkz6p Wizards of Amazon Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/South-Florida-FBA/ Wizards of Amazon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WizardsofAmazon/ Wizards of Amazon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wizardsofecom/
In this Vietnam Innovators episode, here with us are Khiem Ho (Head of Client Solutions at TikTok Vietnam) and Aniq Syed (Deputy Managing Director at Publicis Media) to decipher the TikTok phenomenon and how this video app has transformed the field of brand communication.Since officially launched in Vietnam in 2019, TikTok has quickly become one of the most popular social platforms among young people, shaking up the media and advertising world. Just like a mobile studio, this app allows users to easily create videos, unleashing their creativity and setting new trends. With TikTok, anyone can be a content creator!How can marketers reach their audiences through TikTok? Why is content the most important thing in this market? Listen to this podcast episode with host Hao Tran to find outListen to this podcast episode on YouTube here.and explore many amazing articles at website vietcetera.com.Feel free to leave any questions at vi@vietcetera.com
Have you ever wondered about the what makes a great curator? I mean the nitty-gritty behind their best days and their hardest moments? Chelsea Pennington Hahn of the Museum of Boulder is here to answer those questions just for you! Get ready to wander with a museum wonder star! Best Quote: “As a museum we're examining that narrative and saying, okay well like we've had it this way for years but you know what about all these other viewpoints or maybe there's actually another story that we need to reexamine and expose the truth of." Spotify playlist: bit.ly/CuratorsCornerPlaylist Today's Gif: bit.ly/DigiMuseumGif To experience a heavy dose of light-hearted participatory / interactive / immersive art, attendCU Boulder Atlas Institute's Whaaaat? Festival on November 14thSign up for your ticket on Eventbrite To read today's episode transcript, head over to WonderStarsUniverse.com/Podcast/ChelseaMuseumOfBoulder To read other Wonder Star stories, check out the full book: bit.ly/WonderStarsBook Learn more about the Universe and get bonus content at WonderStarsUniverse.com Music by Blue Dot Sessions Published and produced by the Eboni Freeman Institute#WonderStars ___________________________________Episode Topics Covered What's behind the myth of the cool job?With TikTok and the internet widely available, should museums even exist anymore?What's the danger of a single narrative within a museum? Who does it hurt?How do you remain humble when a guest curator comes in with an entirely different perspective? How do you check your biases at the door when collaborating with diverse groups?
With TikTok, creators and artists are more and more alike. TikTok star Bella Poarch's debut single reaching 400M streams has accelerated the trend. And because music is the first industry to have been taken by the internet tsunami wave, a question arises: What can the creator economy learn from the music industry? Shady contracts, unfair record deals, funding partners, management, legal representation, etc -- the level of toxicity the music industry has cultivated surely is a warning for the emerging creator ecosystem. We'll explore this captivating topic with one of the most fascinating companies in the space: Indify. They're building an AngelList for the music industry, helping artists raise funding from strategic partners, building their early team, getting discovered through data, etc. Rolling Stone wrote an amazing article about their model if you want to dig further. We're thrilled to host Shav, his enthusiasm is contagious and his vision for the future of both the music biz and Indify is crystal clear. That's how he attracted top investors like former Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and Cassius Family's Emmanuel Seugé to build one of the most exciting companies in the music industry.
On this episode we break down the character of Thor from the MCU. We cover every one of his appereances and delve deeper into how they all affected him. We also speculate about what might happen and geek out on how badass he is. With TikTok's @b_dazzler
We return to cover another Shinichiro Watanabe anime! With TikTok sensation Tunji Taylor-Lewis coming onto the podcast to chat all things SAMUARI CHAMPLOO! This hip-hop influenced show has it all: Brothels, Ninjas, Assassins, and SO MANY Record Scratches!!! And for the first time ever, could a car be named the Speedwagon of the episode?!? Tune in and find out! Anime discussed: Samurai Champloo Episodes 1, 10, and 15 Edited by: Sacha Husband (@sachahusband on Instagram) Follow Us on the Socials: Is This Anime? Twitter: @isthisanimepod Instagram: @isthisanimepod Jack Metcalfe Instagram: @jackisjak Twitter: @OnlyRealJackM Malcolm McLeod Instagram: @malcolmrjmcleod Twitter: @malcolmrjmcleod Tunji Taylor-Lewis Instagram: @tunjitl Tiktok: tunjitl https://www.tiktok.com/@tunjitl?source=h5_m
With TikTok seeming to be the app of the year (or past 3), today we sit down to discuss its pros and cons. From its strong hold on pop culture to its problematic security, we each voice our thoughts on the app and determine whether TikTok is a blessing or a curse for each of us.
Trigger Warning: On today’s show we discuss issues around paedophilia and child pornography. If this is something you find triggering, please skip ahead. The segment runs from 2:22 mins to 18:53 minsOn today’s show… With TikTok surging in popularity, a growing number of its creators are in the spotlight, after being accused of adopting child-like appearances to get more views and likes. Questions have also been raised over the safety of the app, with child safety experts labelling it a ‘paedophile’s paradise.’ Plus, the tiny handbags that are big in the fashion scene... The much anticipated Friends reunion AND likes are back on Instagram.Documentary RecommendationWe mentioned journalist Stacey Dooley’s documentary: Stacey Dooley Investigates: You Sex For Sale in JapanJoin in the conversation at :https://www.facebook.com/groups/546449075892582 and follow us in Instagram at @outspoken_the_podcast
As the reach and impact of TikTok continues to grow, Emily and Paula discuss the power of earned media on this fast-growing platform and how brands can position themselves for success through authentic customer experiences. With TikTok driving digital word-of-mouth, we're constantly buying items that come across our for your page! What has TikTok made you buy?
Charles kicks off this recording for Dee who is our awesome guest today. With TikTok being a huge thing and a binge-worthy society Dee ask's us how we determine a fad vs art. This led to a bit of a well-heated discourse as Swan could be proud of. Speaking of Swan, she is in this week for Phil. Art is in the eyes of the beholder but that didn't stop us from trying to define some lines. We Show Some Love: We show the love for you Featured Guest: Dee of FTO Nerd Talk Follow, Like, and Subscribe: @AlmostDailyPod FB/AlmostDailyPod Anchor.fm/AlmostDailyPod Contact us: AlmostDailyPod@gmail.com Hosts: Charles McFall, Philip Keating, Tony P. Henderson, and Mike Ellison Music is: Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke used under the Creative Commons License --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/inadditionpod/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/inadditionpod/support
With TikTok making the teens tick, Tiff Stevenson considers if there's any point in an education system beyond the app that appears to be everyone's job now. Do they need to learn to fight for the forthcoming war? To meditate while tweeting? If you've caught up with your previous Tiff homework that was set, move on to episodes 66 (Energy news), 70 (Commonwealth news) and 75 (High-tech underwear news).This is a Bugle Podcasts production.This episode was produced by Ped Hunter and Chris Skinner. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Welcome to East West Hurricane! 🌪We update you on the most essential news from Asia in tech, media, and business—the things you need to know that you probably haven’t heard in Western media.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram! ⚡️Indian Unicorn Zomato Plans to Go Public Next Year 👇Zomato, the Indian food delivery company, has just raised $250 Million and described their plans to go public in the first half of next year. As previous interview guest Rashi has said, Zomato is a prime example of an inspiring Indian tech startup that has found global success. The 12-year-old company is currently worth $3 Billion and this new fundraising round was partly to provide more cash reserves in the time of the coronavirus.While Zomato has struggled a bit because of the coronavirus, their latest announcements are optimistic for the future. Another Indian competitor in food delivery Swiggy has eliminated hundreds of jobs this year. At a global level, food delivery companies are benefitting from the coronavirus as eating at home becomes a forced, newer behaviour. If Zomato can hold on and succeed with this new investment, they should be able to have a large IPO next year. That would be a major success story for Indian tech.Tencent Wins Contract to Broadcast Premier League in China After the Premier League cancelled their $665 Million agreement with PPTV earlier this month, it was unclear how Chinese fans would be able to watch matches from England’s biggest football league. Last week, the Premier League announced the signing of a one-year broadcast deal with Chinese tech giant Tencent. Tencent will have the exclusive rights to play Premier League games in China, hosted on their platforms including WeChat, QQ, and Tencent Video. The TV rights to England’s Premier League are some of the most sought after in the world. And China has hundreds of millions of football fans eager to watch the games. For the Premier League, China is their most lucrative emerging international market and TV rights is the biggest revenue driver for the league, as with most sports leagues. However, the sports industry is in a precarious position considering that full stadium attendance is currently impossible, and sponsors/advertisers might want to renegotiate their deals in light of Covid. In the situation of Tencent and the Premier League, right now the Premier League needs Tencent more than Tencent needs the Premier League. Before Covid, it was the other way around.Youtube Shorts Launches in India 🎥With TikTok still banned in India, many companies are trying to fill the TikTok-sized consumer hole with their own mobile apps. This includes local startups, but also American companies like Triller, who have partnered with India’s JioSaavn, part of Reliance group. Another example is Youtube, who have just launched YouTube Shorts in India. YouTube Shorts is basically a short-form (less than 15 seconds) video app that gives people different creative tools to upload a video with background music. Much like Instagram Reels, this is a blatantly opportunistic move to capitalise on the short-video trend that has been best captured by TikTok. While YouTube Shorts has been launched first in India and then will expand globally, India is the one market where YouTube Shorts won’t have to compete with TikTok. So long as TikTok is banned in India, the country is now the world’s biggest market ‘up for grabs’ for any short-form mobile video app. And that’s a very big opportunity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eastwesthurricane.substack.com