This week, we’re providing a quick breakdown of some of the biggest industry headlines. From the TikTok ban and Google’s cookiepocalypse, to Taylor Swift’s record-breaking album and major Reddit moves, here’s what you need to know to keep your finger on the marketing pulse.

Cookiepocalypse Google Update

Google has postponed the deprecation of third-party cookies on Chrome until at least 2025, providing marketers additional time to adapt to the impending cookie-less environment. This delay is a response to comprehensive feedback from various stakeholders including regulatory bodies like the UK’s CMA, which continues to scrutinize the privacy implications of proposed alternatives. For marketers, this extension is critical—it offers more time to develop and integrate new targeting technologies that respect user privacy while maintaining campaign effectiveness. Brands should use this period to explore and adopt new measurement and targeting techniques, such as Google’s Enhanced Conversions and Meta’s Conversions API, to prepare for a future where traditional cookies are obsolete. This ongoing transition highlights the dynamic nature of digital marketing landscapes and the need for brands to stay agile and informed.

Biden Signs Bill that Could Ban Tiktok, a Strike Years in The Making

President Biden has signed a bill that potentially disrupts TikTok’s operations in the U.S. by forcing a sale or leading to a national ban. This decision is the culmination of longstanding concerns about national security, particularly fears that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, could allow the Chinese government access to American data. The new legislation has received bipartisan support and marks a critical moment for users, creators, and marketers alike. It provides a nine-month deadline for compliance, extendable by 90 days, offering TikTok and its stakeholders a limited window to adjust or contest. This development could significantly affect strategies – particularly in influencer marketing and targeted advertising within the U.S. – and highlights the importance of agility and foresight in marketing planning.

Taylor Swift’s New Album—How Sephora, Sweetgreen and Other Brands Are Reacting to ‘the Tortured Poets Department’

The release of Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” – which amassed over 300 million streams in a single day – has once again shown the immense marketing power of aligning with cultural icons. Brands like Sephora and Sweetgreen have leveraged the album drop to connect with the lucrative Swiftie demographic, known for its higher income and education levels. Such strategic alignments underscore the potential of using cultural phenomena to drive brand engagement and visibility. For marketers, this emphasizes the importance of timely and resonant content that taps into current cultural conversations. Engaging with such events can significantly amplify a brand’s reach and relevance, providing a valuable lesson in the power of pop culture in shaping successful marketing strategies.

Reddit is quietly changing the way its homepage works

As Reddit transitions from a private to a publicly traded company, notable shifts in its operational and content strategies are evident, particularly through the introduction of Reddit Pro — an analytics tool aimed at advertisers. These changes are part of a broader effort to monetize and enhance user engagement through more targeted advertising capabilities. The shift towards original content dominating Reddit’s viral posts indicates a move away from recycled content, presenting new opportunities for genuine engagement. Understanding these shifts is crucial for marketers aiming to leverage Reddit’s vast and diverse platforms, suggesting a strategic pivot towards more authentic and community-focused content strategies that resonate with Reddit’s unique user base.

Gen-AI Search Engine Perplexity Has a Plan to Sell Ads

Perplexity, a growing AI search engine, is planning to integrate native ads into its platform. This move comes as the company looks to monetize its operations amidst significant growth, highlighted by recent substantial funding rounds. For marketers, Perplexity’s approach offers a new venue for native advertising that promises integration directly into AI-driven search responses, potentially enhancing user engagement without disrupting the search experience. However, the platform’s challenge will be to scale its user base and ensure the relevance and safety of its sponsored content without alienating users. As Perplexity evolves, it presents a unique opportunity for marketers to tap into a novel advertising channel that is intimately tied to AI-driven content discovery.