Celebrating women, trying out more AI chatbots, NOT having a midlife crisis (or just not being able to afford to), and not looking for Pedro Pascal in sunsets.

ON DIGITAL

• Instagram launches Broadcast Channels, a chat room-like feature that allows creators to host group conversations with subscribers. The feature eliminates algorithm struggles and allows creators to speak directly to their biggest fans.
• Twitter seeks out "cost-conscious marketers" focused on direct-response advertising as some bigger brands continue to stay away from the platform.
• Netflix's ad-supported tier had roughly 1 million monthly active users in the US earlier this year, according to Bloomberg.
• TikTok's CEO heads to Capitol Hill today to make a case for how he'll safeguard American data from the Chinese government.
• Google rolls out Bard, an AI chatbot and direct competitor of ChatGPT. Google plans to open it up to more users in the coming months (you can get on the waitlist here).

IN CULTURE

Twitter post-Elonpocalypse is a very different world. We can look to other once-popular social media channels like LiveJournal and Tumblr to predict what Twitter's fate will be. Spoiler: It comes down to the users, who ultimately decide if a site is worth using.

"Twitter is already beginning its sad half-life as advertisers leave the platform and people look for the thing that will replace it." Sad to say, but if things don't change, students will probably be discussing "The Rise and Decline of Twitter" in advertising classes one day.

Millennials are reaching "middle-aged," though it doesn't feel like it. Despite having lived through may to many "unprecedented events," when surveyed by The New York Times last summer, readers in their 40s couldn't relate to the typical image of having a "midlife crisis."

"When you're not financially stable until your mid-30s and you don't have children until your late 30s, you don't have the time or the funds to have a meltdown." Perhaps Millennials will still feel that traditional, post-40 panic — just a few years later than usual — or maybe, with all the real chaos happening in the world, there's just not time or money for Millennials to have a midlife crisis.

SPOTLIGHT: WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

International Women's Day has a history of brands making hypocritical, token gestures. Articles like this one or this one are proof that consumers have had enough of performative gestures in the absence of real support. While most brands have us rolling our eyes this year, there are a few standouts who seem to understand what matters most — action.

• Miller Lite turns old, sexist beer ads into fertilizer for Women's History Month, and atoning with a campaign called, "Bad $#!T to Good $#!T."
• SheSays featured resignation letters from women and nonbinary people in the creative industry in a Women's Month campaign, shedding light on a trend of departures that are linked to aging and mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and depression.
• Athletic Brewing relaunched its Trailblazer non-alcoholic beer for the third year in a row with a new partner: Ladies Who Launch, a nonprofit that helps women and non-binary small business owners and entrepreneurs sustain and grow their own businesses. The brand says 100% of profits from the hoppy Helles brew will be donated to nonprofit organizations uplifting and empowering women and non-binary entrepreneurs in brewing and business.

TREND LIBRARY — SOUNDS, FILTERS, AND TOPICS

In the age of recommendation media, grounding your content strategy in trending sounds, topics, and filters is more important than ever.

Eating a sandwich
What is it: A clip of Pedro Pascal patiently eating a sandwich. The humor usually connects back to being unbothered or regretful.
Example: Example #1, Example #2,
Brands using it: Footlocker, Quizlet

Nick Cage Joy Ride
What is it: A clip of Nick Cage and Pedro Pascal from 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent'. Pedros crazy-looking grin is usually the punchline of the meme.
Example: Example #1, Example #2
Brands using it: Syracuse Zoo, DeAndre HopkinsDon't Look For Me in

Sunsets
What it is: A way to share an item, thing, place, food, etc. that represents you. This is a great way for brands to share fan favorites or give a peak into something employees love.
Examples of Brands Using It: Olipop, Bauer Hockey

Hey! Just Wanted to Let You Know…
What is it: A funny way to let your audience in on a plan or confession. This trend uses a CapCut image template that rotates around a single image with overlaying text.
Examples: Example #1, Example #2
Brands using it: Duolingo

ITYSL "i didn't do f***ing sh*t"
What it is: A funny clip cut from the show "I Think You Should Leave" cut out using the CapCut app and green-screened onto content about denying/not doing something
Examples: Example #1, Example #2
Brands using it: Arizona Iced Tea, Scrub Daddy

Moon Phase Soulmates
What it is: A trend where couples put their birthdays into this site to see how compatible their moons are. The couple with phases that create a full moon are supposedly soulmates.
Examples: Example #1, Example #2
Brands using it: TSA

Bold Glamour Filter
What it is: This new beauty filter is changing the game in TikTok because of how natural it looks. Unlike old filters where the filter sits on the screen and can be disrupted by movement, this filter utilizes AI and seamlessly filters one's face.
Examples: Example #1, Example #2

Brands taking a stand against it: Dove has taken a stand against the beauty filter with their #TurnYourBack campaign. In a statement earlier this month they said "When young people distort their images, they distort their minds too…We are calling on our community to join us to turn their backs to the toxic Bold Glamour filter and stand up for real beauty."