When Platforms Panic, Ads Follow (525)

This week, Joe opens the show with a quick take on the banning of “AI Fruit Love Island” and can’t believe Robert isn’t already a loyal subscriber.

Joe and Robert then dig into a landmark legal verdict against social media platforms, focusing on Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube. The big shift? Instead of the usual failed arguments around Section 230, these new cases are targeting platform design itself, claiming the products were intentionally built to be addictive. Joe and Robert discuss whether this could become a true “big tobacco” moment for social media, with larger legal and financial consequences ahead.

Next up, OpenAI shuts down Sora after the Disney deal. Is this a warning sign for OpenAI’s long-term strategy, or just a simple business decision to cut a product that wasn’t generating revenue and was draining resources? Joe and Robert break it down. Plus, OpenAI hires a new ad chief (which is always a good sign, right?).

Finally, TikTok rolls out new video advertising programs at NewFronts, and Joe and Robert see it as more evidence of a race to the bottom in digital media.

Marketing Losers of the Week
Robert looks at the Publicis versus The Trade Desk battle.
Joe calls out Apple for confirming that ads are coming to Apple Maps.

Rants and Raves
Robert shares thoughts on courts temporarily allowing Perplexity AI shopping agents on Amazon.
Joe raves about the greatness of Rick Rubin and why his approach may tell us something important about the AI future.

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Get all the show notes: https://www.thisoldmarketing.com/

Get Joe's new book, Burn the Playbook, at http://www.joepulizzi.com/books/burn-the-playbook/
Subscribe to Joe's Newsletter at https://www.joepulizzi.com/signup/.

Get Robert Rose's new book, Valuable Friction, at https://robertrose.net/valuable-friction/ 
Subscribe to Robert's Newsletter at https://seventhbearlens.substack.com/

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This Old Marketing is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network: https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork