Be in The Know
😬 Sam Altman addresses the “bumpy” GPT-5 rollout and bringing GPT-4o back.
🔍 And ChatGPT is using Google Search, multiple tests suggest.
🫧 Olipop drops a squeaky new flavor and scavenger hunt for The SpongeBob Movie: The Search for SquarePants.
📺 What Disney’s NFL, WWE deals mean for the future of streaming ads.
🏒 Barbie joins the hockey team with an assist from Tim Hortons and PWHL.
📞 Laffy Taffy enlists Damon Wayans, Jr. to staff a toll-free “Laff Line.”
Instagram’s New Friends Map
Instagram has officially rolled out Friends Map in the US, giving us a new way to connect and discover location-tagged content.
Just like Snap Map, Friends Map lets you share your last active Instagram location with select friends. It’s opt-in, and you can choose to share your location with Close Friends, followers you follow back, or a custom list.
Even without location sharing, users can still see:
- Location-tagged Reels, posts, and Stories from people you follow (live for 24 hours)
- Notes from mutual followers
- Local spots highlighted by creators and friends
And for creators and brands, Friends Map means more marketing opportunities:
- Boost discoverability with location-tagged content appearing on the map.
- Host IRL events or pop-ups and encourage attendees to opt in for exclusive map visibility.
- Enhance brand partnerships with creators by leveraging map appearances rather than just feed posts.
- Drive Story and Notes engagement, since they gain an extra layer of visibility.
Check out Buffer’s guide for more.
Q for You
How are you liking Instagram's Friends Map?
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Classifieds
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Fashiontainment
Banana Republic is leaning into its heritage and mining its 1980s archive. Think safari jackets, travel diaries, and a spirit of wanderlust.
First, the Banana Republic x White Lotus capsule merged resort-chic apparel with thei hit HBO show, generating 3 billion impressions and instant sellouts when pieces appeared onscreen.
Then, the Endless Summer campaign channeled glossy Hamptons editorials, blending influencer content with aspirational lifestyle imagery.
The strategy is fashiontainment, a fusion of product, storytelling, and cultural moments, using everything from micro-influencers to in-show placements. Let’s see if it catapults Banana Republic back to its premium status.

Ad From The Past
Morton Salt, 1954

