KitKat Gives Social Users a Break by Erik Sass

KitKat's advertising message has always centered around the idea of giving the hapless, stressed-out worker a "break" in the form of delicious, chocolate-covered wafers. Now KitKat maker Nestle is extending the concept to providing social network users with a "social" break, wherein KitKat shoulders the burden of staying constantly connected with everyone in your social network by posting random, spurious updates to social networks at random. ...Read the whole story

  • Facebook Ads Strike Chord With Consumers by Laurie Sullivan

    The percentage of Facebook budgets allocated toward social ads rose to 23% -- up from 5% in the past 12 months, according to data released Monday -- but a look at the change in corporate firewall policies could influence a shift in budget allocations to mobile by the end of this year. ...Read the whole story

  • Flurry: Photo/Video Fastest-Growing App Category by Mark Walsh

    In the wake of Facebook's $1 billion deal for Instagram, the spotlight has fallen on a new crop of video-sharing apps moving up the charts like Viddy and SocialCam. The photo and video category as a whole has been the fastest-growing in apps time spent per active user between October and March, up 89% to 231 minutes. ...Read the whole story

  • Social's Limited Marketing Might by Gavin O'Malley

    Social may have established itself as a brand-building requirement, but -- as some marketers have learned the hard way -- it can't yet replace other channels. As Forrester analyst Tracy Stokes lays out in a new report, social can help brands build consumer trust, differentiate themselves through emotional connections with consumers, and exploit the loyalty of dedicated fans. ...Read the whole story

  • CBS Looks To Centralize Social Media Interaction by David Goetzl

    CBS is trying to establish a social media locus for conversation and interaction related to its programming across all dayparts as networks look to establish second-screen applications. "CBS Connect" looks to aggregate tweets and Facebook updates for programs ranging from "Price Is Right" to "Person of Interest." ...Read the whole story

  • packaged goods Kotex Natural Balance Takes On Cliches by Karl Greenberg

    Kimberly-Clark's Kotex Natural Balance brand is standing up for what's real. The feminine hygiene brand is tapping comedienne Heather McDonald to star in a series of online videos extending an integrated effort that launched in February. ...Read the whole story

Is Reality Broken? by David Berkowitz

Is reality broken? I've been grappling with the idea ever since reading "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal, who argues that games provide a better, more motivating version of life than reality. Almost inherent in her description of gameplay is the social component, as the vast majority of her examples involve games people play together -- usually virtually. ...More