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The Daily Carnage

august 10, 2025

Redrawing The Map

Instagram's latest feature.

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.

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Banana Republic x White Lotus

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.

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Morton Salt, 1954
Ads From the Past

Ad From The Past

Morton Salt, 1954

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