Guide to ad updates from Google, Meta, TikTok, and more

Plus: Forever 21, Abercrombie & Fitch execs talk AI, Gen Z, and D2C [Insider Intelligence]( [Emarketer Daily]([Emarketer Daily]( Charts. News. Analysis JULY 17, 2023 | By Sara Lebow, Arielle Feger, and Becky Schilling Telly’s free ad-supported TVs have us wondering what other electronics could support ads. A free microwave that plays a video ad while your food cooks? Headphones that deliver an audio ad before your music plays? An electric toothbrush that advertises via morse code vibrations? The possibilities are endless. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. TOP STORY [June and July ad updates from Google, Meta, and others highlight retail media, targeting tools, and AI]( The US ad market [grew for the first time in 11 months this May](, according to Standard Media’s US Ad Market Tracker. Now the question is if expansion can continue. June and the start of July brought a host of ad updates that could help continued growth, including ad tools enhancements from Google and Microsoft, retail media opportunities from Roku and Uber, and more. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new. [Keep reading]( NEWS AND VIEWS [Netflix’s sign-ups soared in June, while Disney looks to downsize]( Our view: Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown worked, at least in the short term. More sign-ups is good news for advertisers, especially if some of them are to Netflix’s Basic with Ads plan, which has had trouble gaining traction. [Advertisers to Zuck: Take our money, put ads on Threads]( Our view: Advertisers already work closely with Meta, so many are ready to launch ads on Threads. Meta will have to find a way to launch Threads ads in a way that doesn’t cannibalize Instagram’s revenues. [Threads’ user engagement decline could spell trouble for advertising potential]( Our view: With so many Instagram users signing up out of curiosity, user engagement was inevitably going to plummet from Threads’ first week of excitement. The question is if the app can maintain a significant enough user base to woo advertisers. ANALYSIS [Forever 21, Abercrombie & Fitch execs talk AI, Gen Z, and D2C]( Leaning into festival culture helps Forever 21 connect with Gen Z consumers. Abercrombie & Fitch uses generative AI to speed up the product design process. And Solo Brands embraces the changing definition of the D2C model. [Keep reading]( THINGS TO KNOW 🤖 [OpenAI’s latest model getting ‘lazier’ and ‘dumber’]( ⚖️ [Appeals court: Google can’t dodge children’s privacy claims]( 💬 [ChatGPT analysis sheds new light into people’s behavior, intent]( 🧠[Tangential SEO: How to use Google Bard to find content ideas fast]( PODCAST [Behind the Numbers: The Daily]( Is Threads’ arrival curtains for Twitter, Snap tempts creators, and proving social media's bad for teens. Tune in on [Apple Podcasts](, [Spotify](, or wherever you listen to podcasts. [Follow us on Instagram.]( “Behind the Numbers” is made possible by Verisk Marketing Solutions. [Listen in]( THE BIG QUESTION Barbieconomics: Which one of the following is not a real “Barbie” movie collab? A) Kendra Scott’s Barbie jewelry B) Gap’s “Ken” shirts C) NYX’s Barbie-themed flip phone mirror D) Homesick’s “Dreamhouse” candle E) Athletic Brewing’s “Barbie Brew” [Get the answer]( Email sent to: {EMAIL} If you cannot view the HTML newsletter, [please read it in your browser here](. [Become a Premium Subscriber]( | [Advertise with us]( [Manage your email preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy Policy]( ©2023 Insider Intelligence, 11 Times Square, New York, NY 10036 [LiveIntent Logo]( [AdChoices Logo](