The Daily Carnage

The savvy marketer's hub for industry news, insights, resources, and culture.

Today’s Issue

TikTangled

TikTok US is off to a bumpy start.

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IRL, Chat?

Most of us live in our group chats (94%), but don’t see each other as much as we’d like (only 29% of Americans meet up monthly).

Heineken’s “Group Chat Bar” pop-up is inspired by NBA player Josh Hart’s own chat, Cold Water.

The effort supports Heineken’s #SocialOffSocials brand platform.

Facebook Status Update

After a four-year pause on brand campaigns, Meta has revived Facebook’s emotional appeal with “A Little Connection Goes a Long Way” from Droga5.

The 60-second spot follows a group of friends reuniting on Thanksgiving Eve through a Facebook message, all set to Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash’s “Girl from the North Country.”

It’s a pivot from Meta’s heavy AI push in an effort to attract Gen Z and millennials back to the platform.

Bot Breakup

Tinder is getting rid of bots. So, why not put out a breakup album?

In an effort to promote its new “Face Check” verification feature, Tinder released Bot Ballads, a six-song EP told entirely from the bots’ perspective.

Each track, from the country “Didn’t Know I Had a Heart… Until You Broke It” to the 80s-inspired “You Ctrl Alt Deleted Me,” laments the digital rejection.

Available on Spotify, Bot Ballads hides promo codes for a free week of Tinder Gold within its lyrics. Like Taylor Swift or something.

Duck Face

Pringles is running back one of the most iconic snack slogans of the ’90s.

Say it with us: “Once You Pop, The Fun Don’t Stop!” 70% of consumers still recognize the slogan.

In a new campaign from FCB New York called “Duck King,” directed by Thomas Ormonde, a young man is crowned leader of (real) ducks after wearing his Pringles as duck lips.

Fun fact: They left the duck talent at the park.

Goin’ Out Tonight 🎺

Uber Australia scored a mega feature from Shania Twain and Australian comedian-musician Tom Cardy for a new campaign.

The film opens with Cardy jamming in an Uber before Twain magically appears beside him for a little duet, reminding us that solving a Wordle, applying lipstick, or nailing a trombone solo just can’t be done behind the wheel.

Let’s go, friends! 🤠

Cranpus

Ocean Spray has gifted us a new nightmare before Christmas in the form of Bryan Cranston as Cranpus.

In a dark new cinematic spot by Piggyback, the “Just Add Cran” brand platform returns with Cranpus stealing sauces, juices, and craisins from all the merrymaking, like a becloaked and behorned Grinch.

It’s perfect and we’re sat for the movie franchise.

Cranpus

Ocean Spray has gifted us a new nightmare before Christmas in the form of Bryan Cranston as Cranpus.

It’s perfect and we’re sat for the movie franchise.

Unpunch

Capri Sun has made an impossible-to-pierce pouch (this time on purpose) for Halloween.

The new limited-edition “Trick & Treat” pouches are intentionally un-openable, made from high-strength ripstop nylon and sealed from the inside for maximum frustration.

Each set, available in daily drops on Walmart.com (Oct. 21–23), includes one trick pouch, one regular pouch, and a pack of straws.

Created with Mischief, The Kitchen North America, and Carst.

Will the Real Tilly Norwood Please Stand Up?

Mint Mobile wasted no time finding a real person named Tilly Norwood (as opposed to the controversial AI-generated actress making headlines right now) and getting her signed up as a customer. Props.

The campaign, called “MINTernet,” highlights the brand’s new 5G service at $30/month. Ryan Reynolds, (w)ry as ever, interrogates Norwood about her humanity, drawing contrast between all the AI hype and Mint’s real value.

Consensus is clear: Carbon-based organisms only.

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