Snapchat Scan Makes Logos Come Alive: Snap just launched new functionality where users can scan logos (e.g., Coca-Cola) to unlock exclusive content. It may seem trivial to train a machine learning algorithm to identify their logos on various products with high precision just to unlock AR polar bears, but this is a big step in mainstreaming the behavior of looking to “brands” to unlock brands.
Nieman Lab’s 2020 Predictions: The Nieman Journalism Lab published a comprehensive list of predictions expected to impact journalism worth skimming. For example, a slow-moving tech backlash among young people, podcasting finally creates another mega-hit show, lies get further normalized, and a big year for little newspapers.
Facebook in the Super Bowl: This will be Facebook’s first year advertising in the Super Bowl, with a continuation of its ‘More Together’ campaign focusing on Facebook Groups.
Insta of the Week: @DudeWithSign features a guy holding up hilarious cardboard box signs in NYC crowds, like “’See you next year’ isn’t a funny joke,” “Stop standing up when the plane lands” and “Stop having 1:1 convos in the group chat.”
Twitter of the Week: @Seinfeld2000 imagines that Seinfeld was never canceled and attempts to stay topical with modern trends like Cats, Apple Airpods and Old Town Road.
Podcast of the Week: Mobituaries S2E4 features The Rural Purge: Death of the Country Broadcasting System chronicles when CBS canceled its entire slate of country-themed programming in the early 1970s, including: The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, Hee Haw, Lassie and more. These rural versus urban forces at work 50 years ago still echo into today’s entertainment options.
The Next “The Dress” Social Event: Which way is this person swinging? Facing the building or the camera? Some people spent their entire holiday break working out the physics of the visual trick meme.
GREG SWAN 