Social bots and brand crises—how to fight fake accounts, with Erika Wheless
Ad Age Insider17 Okt 2025

Social bots and brand crises—how to fight fake accounts, with Erika Wheless

Ad Age marketing reporter Erika Wheless describes the growth of AI-generated bot networks that fuel large percentages of current brand controversies. In the episode, Wheless breaks down how to identify fake social media accounts, tools brands can use to measure bot impact and how to prepare for potential fake outrage.

Plus, Ad Age's 2025 Brand Report breaks down the numbers behind the world's largest advertisers. And TikTok is making aggressive pushes to up ad commitments, despite uncertainty over the platform's future with the Trump administration's planned spin-off.

Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode:

~Inside the social media bot crisis

~Listen to marketing takeaways from American Eagle and Cracker Barrel's recent controversies

~What Elf Cosmetics got wrong with its comedian collab

~Buy tickets for Ad Age's AI Marketing Playbook conference

~Listen to Ad Age's Marketer's Brief

Episoder(185)

AI in 2026: What's hype vs. what's real, with Garett Sloane

AI in 2026: What's hype vs. what's real, with Garett Sloane

Ad Age Chief Technology Reporter Garett Sloane discusses how to separate artificial intelligence noise from real utility, the state of chatbot shopping, AI brand readiness and tools marketers are crea...

21 Nov 202525min

Starbucks' Bearista cup and viral drop strategy, with Gillian Follett

Starbucks' Bearista cup and viral drop strategy, with Gillian Follett

Ad Age reporter Gillian Follett breaks down why brands are leaning into the limited-edition strategy, the elements of a successful product drop strategy and more holiday social media trends. Plus, wha...

14 Nov 202523min

AI and entry-level ad roles—how marketers, educators and junior talent are adapting, with Lindsay Rittenhouse

AI and entry-level ad roles—how marketers, educators and junior talent are adapting, with Lindsay Rittenhouse

Ad Age Senior Reporter Lindsay Rittenhouse explains how AI is automating work typically done by entry-level talent, and how marketers and educators are responding by training students and junior staff...

7 Nov 202522min

Can RFK Jr. ban pharma ads? What it means for marketers, with Jack Neff

Can RFK Jr. ban pharma ads? What it means for marketers, with Jack Neff

Ad Age Editor-at-Large Jack Neff explains why pharma ads can't be banned, and how the Trump administration is cracking down on marketers. Plus, what stricter regulation would mean for creatives and ho...

31 Okt 202524min

Best Halloween ads 2025, with Tim Nudd

Best Halloween ads 2025, with Tim Nudd

Ad Age creativity editor Tim Nudd crowns the top spooky season marketing campaigns in the first-ever Halloween Marketing Awards. He also digs into the trends behind October's best work, including why ...

24 Okt 202525min

Bad Bunny and brands: Hispanic engagement lessons, with Adrianne Pasquarelli

Bad Bunny and brands: Hispanic engagement lessons, with Adrianne Pasquarelli

Ad Age senior marketing reporter Adrianne Pasquarelli breaks down takeaways from the controversy surrounding the NFL's Bad Bunny pick for 2026's Super Bowl Halftime Show. Listen to hear data on U.S. H...

10 Okt 202521min

Agencies under pressure—who survives, who shifts: Ad Age Future of Advertising 2030

Agencies under pressure—who survives, who shifts: Ad Age Future of Advertising 2030

Ad Age reporters go deep on the future of marketing agencies, from consolidation to AI in-housing. Listen to hear more on the potential demise of mid-size agencies, resurgence of social media agencies...

3 Okt 202514min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
i-retten
stopp-verden
forklart
popradet
det-store-bildet
nokon-ma-ga
dine-penger-pengeradet
fotballpodden-2
rss-gukild-johaug
aftenbla-bla
hanna-de-heldige
rss-ness
bt-dokumentar-2
frokostshowet-pa-p5
e24-podden
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk