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Nike Self-Bricking Shoes; a New YouTube Revolt?; Samsung Folds Fine (for $1,980) |
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Self-tying, smartphone-controlled shoes may our best evidence that the future is finally on its way, but new tech brings new risks—like “bricking” products never before bricked. Owners of Nike Adapt BB have been complaining that a software update is causing errors when they try to pair the app with their shoes. “App says left shoe is already paired with another device whenever I try to reinstall,” reads one review in the Google Play store, Mashable reports, calling it "the future we deserve.” (You can still tie the motorized laces using buttons on the side.)
Separately, top NBA draft prospect and Duke star Zion Williamson injured his knee last night as the (non-motorized) Nike on his left foot blew apart seconds into a rivalry game; Nike called it “an isolated occurence” and said it is “working to identify the issue.”
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PHOTO: JAAP ARRIENS/ZUMA PRESS
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Stop me if you’ve heard this one... actually, nobody seems able to stop it. Nestlé, McDonald’s and “Fortnite” publisher Epic Games have yanked advertising from YouTube after reports that their ads—along with those from Maybelline, Fiat, Grammarly, Peloton and others—appeared on content popular with pedophiles.
The videos aren’t inherently as offensive as the offensive content that YouTube was found serving ads on in 2017, sparking a brand revolt that lasted into this year. But lurkers’ comments on the videos, which show young girls in activities like gymnastics, and YouTube’s eager recommendation of similar clips are combining to dangerous effect. “Any content—including comments—that endangers minors is abhorrent and we have clear policies prohibiting this on YouTube,” the company said. “We took immediate action by deleting accounts and channels, reporting illegal activity to authorities and disabling violative comments.”
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PHOTO: SAMSUNG VIA REUTERS
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“I don’t think people are going to be that psyched about not seeing ads, but then not having different controls over how their data is used.”
| — Mark Zuckerberg, arguing that an ad-free version of Facebook wouldn’t work until the company comes up with a way to let people opt out of its data collection entirely |
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Anheuser-Busch InBev answered a moribund beer business by acquiring Cutwater Spirits, adding Old Grove Gin, Three Sheets rum and 14 canned cocktails to AB InBev’s Beyond Beer unit. [Brewbound]
Thinx, which sells period-proof underwear online and is moving into retail, is seeking a CMO. [LinkedIn]
They call it “DrainerBot”: A mobile ad-fraud scheme not only showed ads that nobody could see but used up data and drained batteries in the process. [MediaPost]
Makers of ad blockers and privacy plug-ins for Chrome have published a wish-list of the ways they want Google to protect their services from upcoming changes in the browser. [The Register]
CBS is using AI to parse the answers to open-ended questions in thousands of viewer surveys about its shows more quickly and, it says, better than people can. [Variety]
Adidas wants to make hiking cool. [Marketing Week]
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We bring you the most important (and intriguing) marketing news every day. Write me at nat.ives@wsj.com any time with feedback on the newsletter or comments on specific items. We want to hear from you.
And follow the CMO Today team on Twitter: @wsjCMO, @natives, @alexbruell.
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