Meera Nair
Meera Nair is a contributing writer at Ad Pulse, focusing on marketing, technology, and ethics. She explores how data compliance and ethical considerations shape today’s AI and tech industries.
Cowmaxxing, Real-Food, and Avocado Oil Reform the F&B Marketing
The food and beverage industry is going through a phase where consumers push for ‘real food’ on their plates, and that’s how the Cowmaxxing era is blasting the food aisle. Not just ‘cowmaxxing’ but also the inclusion of avocado oil, removal of food dye, and a wave of “clean label” demands have put marketers in…
AI Personalization: The New Determiner in Holiday Shopping for Gen Z Consumers
The holiday shopping season is usually the retail industry’s comfort blanket—a reliable fourth-quarter surge to cover up weaker months. In 2025, that blanket feels thinner, and retailers are bracing for a chill. Sales are expected to grow just 1.2% during November and December, according to eMarketer’s May forecast—below the year’s 1.5% growth rate. Consumers are…
AI Just Changed Social Media Challenges Forever—Here’s How
Social media challenges have long relied on the enthusiasm of creators and the encouragement of algorithms—which makes AI emergence even more exciting. Rather than merely being tools that enhance trends. AI is actively shaping the trends, that is, creating viral moments from scratch and recontextualizing what a “trend” means. By 2025, everyday users are not…
Comedy, Adtech, Live TV: The Kingmakers at TV Upfronts 2025
The 2025 TV Upfronts marked a defining moment for advertisers, publishers, and brands. Why? Because new heroes, undercurrents, and kingmakers were revealed—and there’s no excuse anymore for brands to shy away from understanding their importance. TV continues to hold a prominent place in every marketing strategy. Professionals and brand custodians cannot escape the truth: television…
Cannes Lions 2025 and the New Era of Advertising Risk
Can you recall the last ad that you found interesting enough to stop scrolling, laugh out loud, or send the link to a friend? You will likely realize it was not the ad with the safe, predictable approach that grabbed your attention, but the bold ad. Maybe it was even a little risky. At Cannes…
Rage baiting: New Creative Drivel or a Misguided Front?
Advertising has always been about grabbing attention. It’s about creating conversations, shaping perceptions, and influencing decisions. But somewhere along the way, the quest for attention, visibility, and rapid growth has led some brands into murky waters. The line between thoughtful creativity and manipulative outrage — or rage baiting — is becoming harder to distinguish. In…
FAST Channels Are Booming—But Is the Attention Span There?
With subscription fatigue, viewers anticipated that the streaming wars would come to an end. Instead, they have taken a new direction, and that model has become ad-supported. Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) channels are experiencing a boom in viewership and engagement from brands. Roku, Samsung TV Plus, and Amazon’s Freevee are all buying into the boom,…
TikTok Marketing: Why This Is the New Prime Time for Brands
Prime time once meant families huddled around the TV at 8 p.m., waiting for cliffhangers, jingles, and big-budget ads. It was more than entertainment—it was a cultural ritual, sparking playground jokes and watercooler chatter. Today, that same cultural gravity has shifted to TikTok. It was once the squishable destination of attention for brands, who embraced…
Navigating CTV Measurement Without Nielsen: The Great TV Currency Shift
Nielsen’s panel-only currency is on borrowed time. By the end of 2025, it will be retired, marking one of the most consequential shifts in TV and CTV measurement in decades. With connected TV (CTV) expected to account for 40.2% of the $83.25 billion advertisers will spend on linear and CTV combined this year—and nearly a…
CTV vs Linear TV: How to Choose the Right Ad Spend Strategy in 2025
Some of us may remember a time when a family movie night meant arguing over who would get the TV remote control. One screen, one time, one decision for all. Jumping to now, and living rooms do not look the same: one person is streaming Netflix from the bedroom, another is binge-watching a YouTube series…