Short reads for short attention spans

Advertisers push for greater transparency in ad auctions / auction mechanics under scrutiny

There’s growing pressure on the major platforms (Google, Meta, Amazon) to open up the black box of digital ad auctions. The Media Rating Council (MRC) has proposed standards requiring disclosure of auction types, pricing logic, winner determination criteria etc. 

Why it matters:

• It may force platform providers to become more transparent about how they price and prioritise ads, which changes how we plan and optimise bidding strategies.
• Could shift power toward platforms that adopt transparency earlier or more rigorously (as clients demand accountability).
• Opens a window for agencies to push for auditability and contestability.

Further reading at the WSJ:

Advertisers Push Big Tech to Adopt Standards for Transparency in Ad Sales

Reddit makes a strategic agency hire as ad business accelerates

Reddit has hired Sharb Farjami (former CEO of WPP Media North America) to strengthen its agency relationships and scale its ad business.  Their ad revenue reportedly grew ~84% YoY in Q2 2025 to about $465 million. 

Why it matters:

• Reddit is signalling that it wants to be taken seriously as a premium ad channel, having a senior exec with agency credibility helps in securing large-brand investments.
• It signals that niche / community-driven platforms are doubling down on ad revenue growth, competing for budgets more aggressively.
• It means revisiting whether Reddit (or forum-based platforms) should be part of your media mix or at least on the radar, especially if your brand is targeting younger / engaged audiences.

Further reading at the Business Insider:

Reddit raid Madison Avenue

Meta doubles down on Reels as Facebook pivots further towards short-form video

Meta is transforming Facebook into a more video-driven experience, shifting focus away from static feed content toward Reels and friend-centric features. The platform is refining its recommendation engine to compete more directly with TikTok, surfacing more video content from outside users’ immediate network while experimenting with “friend bubble” overlays to maintain social relevance.

Why it matters:

• Meta is clearly positioning Reels as the central format for engagement, meaning advertisers will need to pivot creative towards short, dynamic, and vertically-framed storytelling.
• Expect feed performance to decline as more inventory and algorithmic energy move towards Reels, important for both targeting strategy and creative testing.
• This represents a broader shift in social consumption habits: people are engaging less with traditional news feed posts and more with immersive, entertainment-driven content, which may require revisiting placement budgets across Meta platforms.
• For agencies and advertisers, this is a signal to optimise video production pipelines and ensure Reels-ready assets are part of every campaign plan.

Further reading at the The Verge:

Facebook is turning into TikTok