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Shhhhh. Innovation is coming to the product review. Imagine HSN but instead of someone telling you abut the products you see, the host just stares, makes facial expressions and points? Well that’s now officially a thing! We talk more about this phenomenon taking mobile shopping by storm below. |
In other news…Millennials are so broke they can’t live in cities, sports betting is how you make friends in college and you can’t escape Stanley.
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Top Trends
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CULTURE |
 | Bargain burbs // Illustration by Kate Walker |
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Millennials can’t afford to live in cities |
The Future. Millennials flocked to cities more than previous generations did, but rising housing costs and mortgage rates are sending them back out to the suburbs. Many are upset with the relative lack of amenities, but millennials could change that if they push for zoning reform. |
No place like home
Financial woes have forced millennials to exchange urban living for the deep suburbs. |
City living — which already cost a third to a half more than suburban arrangements did — is pricier than ever, with some landlords raising rent by 30% just last year. That’s forced millennials to flee cities, pass through unaffordable exurbs, and settle in deep suburbs with almost no amenities. Those who exchanged cities for suburbs during the pandemic can’t come back because mortgage rates have risen even as their homes have depreciated in value.
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Suburban re-form
We can’t make houses cheaper. But millennials could create amenity-rich environments in the suburbs via zoning reform, which would allow more businesses to open in the suburbs. The hurdle is outnumbering the older residents who vote in force and typically oppose urbanization. |
So, get out that vote. |
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SPORTS |
 | Pick your poison |
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College students are addicted to sports betting |
The Future. As legal sports betting has exploded in the US, gambling has spiked on college campuses, particularly among men. Many say they enter sports betting as a means of social connection, but many also get addicted — and without regulation, they’re unlikely to stop. |
Dangerous game
Legal sports betting and similar alternatives have infiltrated the fabric of male social life. |
Young men report that they participate in sports betting as a social activity, either to form new friendships or maintain old ones over distance. But sportsbooks and gambling services like ESPN Bet and Caesars Sportsbook try to lure and hook users with cash bonuses and deposit matching. Daily fantasy and sweepstakes, like Fantasy football and Fliff, take advantage of men under 21 by offering betting services that feel like sportsbooks and offer real cash rewards and incentives to keep gambling.
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That sports broadcasting and news advertise for these services further legitimizes them. |
Where’s the ref?
Young men are unusually bad at assessing risk. As sports betting gets further entangled with their social lives, they’re unlikely to stop gambling unless regulators intervene. |
When two teams are on the field, it’s easy to forget that the house always wins. |
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TOGETHER WITH NIFT |
There’s a better way to find new customers |
And it has nothing to do with social media or typical ads that people just ignore. |
Meet NIFT. A performance platform of over 40 million people that introduces new goods and services as a ‘thank you’ gift within premium consumer apps. |
Here’s how it works: Top-notch companies like Tinder, Mindbody, Afterpay and TeamSnap share thank-you gifts with their members at key lifecycle moments. Then Nift’s AI matches each person to the products they’re most likely to adopt — helping top DTC brands like Wine Insiders, Hello there, and PACT clothing acquire new customers at or below target CAC (Hint: This could be your brand!) |
And guess what? This genius tactic is outperforming paid social! 📊 |
Explore Nift’s case studies or book a demo with a Nift rep! |
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BUSINESS |
 | Tumbler-mania // Illustration by Kate Walker |
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Stanley’s cup craze |
The Future. Stanley (yes, the water bottle maker) has been making waves across the US, with people camping out at Target to lock down limited-edition versions of its “Quencher” tumbler. The craze is all thanks to clever moves from Global President Terence Reilly, who’s been leading an absolute master class on how to leverage social media marketing. |
The Quencher
Stanley’s latest cup, the “Quencher,” is taking TikTok by storm. |
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Since then, creators on TikTok have been filming unboxing videos, collecting different colors, and selling customized tumblers for hundreds of dollars.
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Marketing master class
How did a simple water bottle drive Stanley’s annual sales from $75 million to a whopping $750 million in a single year? Well, since Reilly joined in 2020, he’s leaned heavily into influencer marketing — collabs with brands and celebrities, as well as releasing new colors with limited-edition drops. Stanley has now sold more than 10 million Quenchers, and demand doesn’t seem to be waning anytime soon. |
So, now we want to hear from you… |
YOUR DAILY POLL |
We ask the hard-hitting questions. |
Do you own Stanley Cups? |
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62.9% of you voted No in yesterday’s poll: Do you have any interest in going to the moon? |
“Although I’ll reevaluate if Earth becomes uninhabitable.” |
“Let’s not pretend like we’re smart enough to colonize outer space. Leave it alone. Focus on our planet.” |
“I’ll think about it after thousands of people have gone/come back safely…” |
“I’m happiest on terra firma, and the training required for a moon trip would be a burden on my family, as well as the risk of not returning... I’m a chicken when it comes to transatlantic flights.” |
“Been there. Done that.” |
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TOGETHER WITH RUNDOWN AI |
Learn AI in 5 min a day. |
How do you stay up-to-date with the insane pace of AI? Join The Rundown – the world’s fastest-growing AI newsletter with over 500,000+ readers learning how to become more productive using AI every morning. |
1. Our team spends all day researching and talking with industry experts. |
2. We send you daily updates on the latest AI news, tools, and tutorials. |
3. You learn how to become 2x more productive by leveraging AI. |
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Highlights |
The best curated daily stories from around the web |
Media, Music, & Entertainment |
21 Savage is back, and he’s recruited Donald Glover and Caleb McLaughlin (from Stranger Things) to play him in a trailer teasing a new film. Read More → variety Billie Eilish won Best Original Song — Motion Picture for “What Was I Made For?,” her song from Barbie. Read More → rollingstone The Weeknd is teasing his long-awaited third and final release to the After Hours and Dawn FM trilogy. Read More → hypebeast
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Fashion & E-Commerce |
Miu Miu’s latest collection features a capsule of repurposed fabrics, mainly discarded denim. Read More → highsnobiety Kellogg’s new vegan cereal is oriented towards Gen Zers and “Zillennials.” Read More → greenqueen Amazon wants to use AI to help make virtual fitting rooms. Read More → wwd
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Tech, Web3, & AI |
In partnership with Humango |
OpenAI defends itself against The New York Times infringement lawsuit, claiming it’s without merit. Read More → deadline Apple’s Vision Pro is going on sale in the US at the beginning of February for $3,499. Read More → engadget National disasters are making it impossible to buy home and auto insurance. Read More→ wsj
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Beat the January 17th slump with Humango. Don’t let “Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day” be your story. The AI-powered app ensures your goals last way past the statistics. Whether you’re a runner, cyclist, or triathlete, Humango adapts to you, making every session count. Crush those resolutions with precision training that evolves with your journey. Download Humango now and stay committed to a stronger you. |
Creator Economy |
Business Insider is seeking nominations for top founders who are innovating in social media. Read More → insider A YouTuber built a Nintendo PlayStation — and saved $300,000. Read More → gamespot Silent reviews of products, from books to perfume, are trending on TikTok. Read More → insider
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Today’s email was written by Luke Perrotta and Melody Song.
Edited by Boye Akolade. Copy edited by Kait Cunniff.
Published by Darline Salazar. |
