Purchase intent jumps 40% when ads appear in premium media: study
New research from PA Consulting and The Trade Desk finds that ads placed in premium media environments drive a 40% increase in purchase intent. The study links trusted, high-quality content settings to stronger brand impact and better ad performance. Read more from The Current.
Meta tightens safeguards for teens with PG-13 style content filters
Instagram will now default teen accounts to PG-13-style content settings, limiting exposure to mature posts and applying those filters to Meta’s AI tools. The update, rolling out in several countries by year-end, comes amid growing legal and public pressure over teen safety. Read more from Reuters.
Walmart and its new e-commerce partnership with ChatGPT
Walmart is teaming up with OpenAI to allow users to shop Walmart and Sam’s Club directly through ChatGPT. The Instant Checkout feature is part of what Walmart calls “agentic commerce,” offering proactive, AI-powered shopping assistance as part of a broader digital transformation. Read more from MediaDailyNews.
Google redesigns how search ads are labeled
Google is changing how it displays search ads, grouping them under a persistent “Sponsored results” header with an option for users to hide the ad section. While ad placement mechanics stay the same, the new design could affect click-through rates and user behavior. Read more from Search Engine Journal.
MLB postseason TV ratings surge to highest level since 2010
MLB’s 2025 postseason has delivered its best TV ratings since 2010, with average per-game viewership up 30% year over year. Highlights include 8.72 million viewers for a dramatic 15-inning ALDS Game 5 and strong early numbers for the ALCS. Read more from Front Office Sports.
