Out of Scope Issue 115: Summer of Solidarity
Plus: Dark days for Eat, Pray, Love fans and the rise of the Dadfluencer
Happy Friday.
The summer of our righteous discontent continued this week, as protests wrapped at Insider and began in the Reddit community. Elsewhere, Oakland A’s fans organized a reverse boycott in an effort to hold on to their home team. But first…
📡ON OUR RADAR:
Fans are reacting to Lady Gaga’s recent endorsement deal with Pfizer to help promote migraine drug, Nurtec. A flurry of comments flooded her Instagram post, criticizing her decision to team up with a Big Pharma brand. As influencer marketing continues to serve as a tactic for brands to promote products and services, consumers are simultaneously calling on talent to team up with companies that align with the celebrity’s personal brand. Now more than ever, authenticity is a key ingredient for building trust with consumers and ultimately executing a successful campaign.
As it turns out, dads can be influencers too. “Dadfluencers” have slowly been taking over the internet, as you and your TikTok feed may have noticed. Partially sparked by the pandemic and increased time spent at home with their families, creators like @fitdadceo, @DadVGirls, @growingupwithdads, and more have seen growing subscriber bases across social platforms. And while much of the content they publish is undoubtedly funny, it’s not all about the dad jokes. Dadfluencers provide a new and powerful avenue to reach a consumer base that isn’t traditionally influenced by… well, influencers. The best part? Thanks to the candid nature of dadfluencer content, viewers may not even realize they’re being influenced until it’s already happened. Needless to say, advertisers everywhere are taking note.
So long to The Snow Forest. Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert opted to pull her upcoming novel from the publication calendar after a flood of negative Goodreads reviews. As the war in Ukraine continues, critics took issue with the title’s 20th-century Russian setting. The decision drew widespread condemnation from PEN America and others, and served as a reminder of how quickly nuance can get lost when dealing with sensitive subjects.
💡ON OUR MINDS: Summer of Solidarity
A narrative of collective empowerment is shaping the news recently as protests, strikes, and boycotts take over headlines. While these movements are not necessarily new, the fairly recent power of social media has certainly amplified and accelerated people’s efforts.
As for specific examples, this week, the longest-ever digital media strike ended, as the Insider union and management reached an agreement. Thousands of Reddit users organized a protest in response to the company’s announcement to charge for access to its application programming interface (API). And in an interesting reverse boycott, Oakland A’s fans are urging the MLB team’s owner John Fisher to sell the team. Whether for their livelihood or fandom, people seem to be more united than ever in their endeavors to make substantial change.
Leaders have not shied away from making their voices heard, from Reddit CEO saying his straightforward thoughts, "We made a business decision that upset them," to Insider Editor in Chief removing union posters, stating the strike is “frustrating.”
Our takeaway? Active listening, empathy, and open dialogue reign supreme, no matter the situation of conflict.
🥊QUICK HITS:
In case you missed these reads.
Some remote workers find livestreaming their workday – a practice called “body doubling” – a helpful way to stay focused outside of the office.
Google Shopping announced new AI features, allowing users to search for clothes in closer detail and visualize clothing on different body types. Early adopters of the new tech include, H&M, Anthropologie, Everlane, and more.
We’ll hear one last Beatles record later this year, thanks to AI.
Thanks for reading,
HL
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