It’s almost Halloween. Have you got your costume ready? Either way, let’s take a look at this week’s digital news round-up. Hopefully these stories won’t be too frightful.
Dove Accused of Racism After Controversial US Ad
Beauty giant Dove has been forced to make a public apology after releasing an ad in the US which many have claimed is racist.
First pointed out by an American make-up artist on Facebook, Dove intended for the ad which features a black woman removing her t-shirt and transform into a white woman to show its body wash was suitable for every skin type and beauty of all ages, ethnicities, shapes and sizes.
In a statement, Dove said:
“An image we recently posted on Facebook missed the mark in representing women of color thoughtfully. We deeply regret the offense it caused.”
“As a part of a campaign for Dove Body Wash, a 3-second video clip was posted to the U.S. Facebook page. This did not represent the diversity of real beauty which is something Dove is passionate about and is core to our beliefs, and it should not have happened. We have removed the post and have not published any other related content. We apologize deeply and sincerely for the offense that it has caused and do not condone any activity or imagery that insults any audience.”
Google ‘discovers Russia-linked ads’ Related to the US Election on YouTube and Gmail
The relationship between President Trump and Russia has long been under scrutiny, however the controversial story has been highlighted again after Google reportedly discovered evidence that Russia used its platforms to influence the 2016 US presidential election.
The Washington Post has reported that Google has found Russian operatives spent thousands of dollars on ads that featured on YouTube, Gmail, and SERPs. However, Google are yet to release a public statement.
Study Finds Netflix as Most Positively Talked About Brand Among Millennials
In YouGov’s annual BrandIndex, which is compiled based on 2.5 million consumer interviews, it was revealed that the technology sector was particularly admired by people aged 18 to 34 years old in the UK. Netflix came out on top, with Facebook, Apple and Airbnb in close succession.
Amelia Brophy, Head of Data Products at YouGov, said:
“Netflix continues to be extremely popular with a younger generation of viewers who remain drawn to the service thanks to a range of original and exclusive content”.
Snapchat Introduces Context Cards
On Tuesday, Snap Inc. announced the launch of context cards.
What are these cards? Swipe up on a snap and you’ll see one. This will display information about the Snap you’re viewing, as well as options to take action such as reserving a table or booking an Uber through Snapchat’s many partners. Stories will also be integrated in context cards so you can view these by specific areas.
For more news updates, guides and opinion pieces, take a look at a few more of our articles.