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Bans on outdoor junk food ads derailed by industry lobbying

A recent investigation reveals how the advertising industry is targeting councils with warnings of financial losses if they restrict junk food ads, leading to some councils shelving their plans. Experts are urging a national ban on out-of-home HFSS advertising to combat childhood obesity rates projected to increase by 50% by 2050.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeNews article·DateApr 8, 2025

UK gambling industry is using Big Tobacco tactics to downplay harms and influence the public argues new analysis

A recent study published in the BMJ reveals that the UK gambling industry is employing similar tactics used by Big Tobacco to downplay the harms of gambling. The authors call for urgent action to protect public health from the devastating effects of gambling addiction, including financial distress, family breakdown, and even suicide.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalBMJ·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 13, 2025

Offline versus online promotional media: Which drives better consumer engagement and behavioral responses?

A field experiment found that offline promotional coupons resulted in higher redemption rates and greater sales compared to online-only coupons. Cognitive engagement was a key factor in the coupon redemption behavior of consumers. The study highlights the importance of designing targeted promotional strategies for marketers.

SourceSophia University·JournalJournal of Advertising Research·TypeSurvey·DateJan 23, 2025

Study shows positive impact of anti-junk food ads during sports broadcasts

A new Edith Cowan University study found that anti-junk food advertisements during Australian national sporting broadcasts reduced both cravings and consumption intentions, particularly in healthy BMI participants. In contrast, junk food advertisements were largely unregulated and had minimal to no impact on inclinations to eat junk food.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalHealth Promotion Journal of Australia·TypeObservational study·DateJan 20, 2025

Study calls for city fashion waste shakeup

A study published in Nature Cities analyzed textile waste in various cities, finding that most donated clothes are exported or thrown away. Experts call for a change in how cities handle fashion waste, suggesting the need for local recycling and reuse facilities.

SourceRMIT University·JournalNature Cities·TypeCase study·DateNov 20, 2024

New study uncovers evolutionary roots of conspicuous consumption

A new study led by Dr. Jim Swaffield challenges the assumption that conspicuous consumption is irrational, instead showing it's driven by an interaction between environmental conditions and one's evolved biology. The researchers found that financial and physical safety conditions can affect the desire for signalling products.

SourceAthabasca University·JournalBehavioral Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 5, 2024

Introduction to the World Urine Project

Researchers from China, UK, and US formed the World Urine Project to explore urine's potential as an early warning system for diseases. The initiative establishes a shared database for accurate and personalized diagnosis, aiming to transform reactive medicine.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalAdvances in Biomarker Sciences and Technology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 30, 2024

E-cigarette brands are skirting the rules about health warning labels on Instagram

A new study by Boston University researchers found that the majority of social media posts from e-cigarette brands left out health warnings, despite a federal requirement to include them. The study used AI to analyze over 2,000 Instagram posts and discovered that only 13% complied with FDA health warning requirements.

SourceBoston University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 13, 2024

Concern for children is key driver of advertising complaints

A study found that 46% of advertising complaints were due to concerns about the wellbeing of children, while graphic portrayals accounted for 20%. Researchers call on advertisers to test their ads with vulnerable groups and regulators to consider different management strategies. Charities had the most complained-about adverts, followed...

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalJournal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing·DateAug 8, 2024

Risky drinkers most at risk: Ads from sports broadcasts significantly increase alcohol urges

New Edith Cowan University research shows that exposure to alcohol advertisements during national sports broadcasts significantly increases cravings in people with risky drinking behaviors. The study found a significant increase in alcohol cravings among risky drinkers, particularly those with a preference for the advertised beverage.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalHealth Promotion Journal of Australia·TypeSurvey·DateJul 9, 2024

The evolution of firefly lights

A genomic analysis overturned the leading hypothesis on firefly light origin, revealing that lucibufagins, a toxic compound, evolved after bioluminescence development. Fireflies' ancestors diversified during a period of rising atmospheric oxygen levels, suggesting a similar path to glowing millipedes.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateJun 25, 2024

Marketers can manage 'feature creep'

A study found that consumers prefer products with interrelated features, which are easier to use and perform well. Companies can increase sales by highlighting these connections, while reducing dissimilar features. Product developers should focus on adding value through functional connectivity rather than numerous new features.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of the Academy of Marketing Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 28, 2024

USF research: Stars outweigh numbers in online review ratings battle

A study by the University of South Florida found that consumers perceive a 3.5-rated product as higher and better when the score is illustrated in shapes like stars, circles, and bars, versus numbers. This phenomenon, known as left-digit anchoring, affects consumer behavior in online marketplaces. Researchers recommend using visual rat...

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 7, 2024

Gun manufacturers’ ads appeal to women as ‘serious students’ of firearms to boost sales

A new study reveals that gun manufacturers have shifted their marketing strategy to appeal to women, portraying them as responsible and capable gun owners. The study found that the 'serious student' framing became popular between 2016 and 2020, depicting armed American women as pursuing expertise with firearms through focused training.

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Macromarketing·TypeContent analysis·DateMar 12, 2024

Who benefits from direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising?

A UMass Amherst study found that government vaccine recommendations can benefit drugmakers like Pfizer, while also increasing vaccine uptake among seniors. However, the study suggests that direct-to-consumer advertising did not lead to a significant reduction in infection and mortality rates from pneumococcal disease.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJournal of Policy Analysis and Management·TypeObservational study·DateMar 12, 2024

WVU researcher determines ADHD gives entrepreneurs an edge

A study by WVU researcher Nancy McIntyre reveals that individuals with ADHD tend to use routines and patterns to store stimuli from their environment, allowing them to make connections and file away resources for future use. This helps entrepreneurs with ADHD excel in qualities such as alertness, adaptability, and entrepreneurial intent.

SourceWest Virginia University·JournalInternational Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research·DateFeb 6, 2024

Study examines how ad strategies of the Great Depression can inform today's crisis communications

Researchers studied newspaper ads from Dust Bowl states in 1934 to understand how businesses and companies reached consumers during a dual crisis. The study found that essential services used informational approaches while nonessential services relied on sensory appeals, offering valuable lessons for current mass media during emergencies.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalJournalism History·TypeContent analysis·DateJan 16, 2024

Job ads with wide pay ranges can deter applicants

A Washington State University study found that job ads with very wide pay ranges evoked less favorable impressions of employers. Participants viewed these ads as less trustworthy and doubted the organization would offer high salaries to employees. However, some saw the large range as a positive sign of possible 'room for growth',

SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateJan 3, 2024

Shaping tobacco control messages for the Chinese lunar new year through effective short videos

A new study evaluates effective short video concepts for tobacco control during the Chinese Lunar New Year, finding that certain designs can change behavioral intentions and cultural appropriateness. The most suitable design was a 'Gamified couple at home' style video, while another option showed promise in personal motivation but was ...

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalGlobal Transitions·TypeObservational study·DateDec 6, 2023

Colored by numbers? Pack images get tick of approval to make product varieties stand out

New research from the University of South Australia found that images are more effective at signaling product variety than colors, with only 56% of color choices matching customer expectations. The study analyzed consumer perceptions of 576 products and recommended using images to convey variety and protecting master brand colors.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalInternational Journal of Market Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 15, 2023

‘Crowding out’ the competition: Study reveals surprising livestream chatting and tipping behavior

A new study by the University of Notre Dame found that viewers tend to tip less and chat more when they see others receiving higher tips, leading to a 'crowding-out' effect. This behavior is driven by the pursuit of social status and can be mitigated by splitting crowded livestreams into smaller virtual sessions.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalProduction and Operations Management·DateNov 7, 2023

Hundreds of clinics may be guilty of false or misleading claims in ketamine advertising

Researchers at CU Anschutz Medical Campus and Johns Hopkins University found that hundreds of ketamine clinics make false or misleading statements about their treatments. The study highlights the need for accurate and balanced information about potential risks and benefits of these therapies, especially given the high financial costs i...

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateNov 7, 2023

Unveiling real-time economic insights with search big data

A team of Japanese researchers created a big data-driven model that accurately forecasts key economic indicators in real time, eliminating the need for aggregated semi-macroeconomic data. The approach leverages search engine query data to identify highly correlated queries and provides timely insights into economic trends.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalThe Journal of Finance and Data Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 16, 2023

Alcohol 'promotion' detracted from success of Women's World Cup

Alcohol promotion detracted from the success of the record-breaking Women's World Cup tournament, say researchers. The 'thorny issue of alcohol' was highlighted in a broadcast of the final match between England and Spain, where a fan celebrating with beer was featured.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateSep 28, 2023

New study sheds light on the impact of in-stream video advertising on ad information encoding

A recent study published in Journal of Advertising sheds light on the effects of in-stream video advertising on ad information encoding. The research found that mid-roll ads elicit negative emotions but do not affect viewers' purchase intention. In contrast, pre- and post-roll ads have a significant impact on memory formation, highligh...

New research sheds light on how gender inequality in the media industry impacts job satisfaction

A new study by City University of London researchers found that lower perceptions of gender equality and workplace sexual harassment significantly impact job satisfaction in newsrooms globally. The study highlights the need for structural changes to combat inequalities affecting women in the industry, including policies to address all ...

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalJournalism Practice·TypeSurvey·DateAug 29, 2023

AI recommendation vs. user subscription: analyzing in-feed digital advertising performance on platforms like Twitter, Google News, and TikTok

Researchers found that subscription channels have greater source credibility and content control, leading to higher conversion rates despite perceived ad intrusiveness. In contrast, AI-recommended channels elicit more clicks but with smaller proportions of genuine interest and purchases.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateAug 23, 2023