Skip the cornstarch - the ultra-processed food plot’s thickened. Consumers have voiced their concerns about UPF, and one of the UK's top supermarkets has heard them. It's offering one-ingredient corn flakes and five-ingredient bread rolls. Rather than innovative flavors and quirky designs, some people want their food without the frills.
Scroll down to read about messaging apps, mousse, and political media.
Stats to power your week
🟠 The Dragon Ball Z franchise is older than you think - older than The Simpsons even. But it’s having a bit of a renaissance lately, with 22% year-on-year growth in people playing its games, and 30% YoY growth in those who follow it as an esport. A few things could be behind this: a new arena fighter game, a new anime series, and perhaps people feeling sentimental after the death of its creator. GWI Gaming
🎙️ The podcast boom isn’t just about true crime and celebrity gossip - political content is taking its slice of the pie. Fox News viewers, for example, are over 20% more likely to be daily podcast listeners than your average American, clocking in at around 1 hour and 25 minutes a day. It’s a sign of how political media is evolving - with headphones in. GWI USA
📺 Social media may dominate kids’ attention, but TV is also in the picture. When asked how they find products they want, 12-15 year olds cite social platforms most. For younger kids aged 8-11, TV leads to the most discoveries. So, the screen wars have different winners depending on the age bracket. GWI Kids
💊 The use of weight loss supplements like GLP-1 isn’t just a trend among women. In fact, more millennial men (8%) report using them in the past year than millennial women (6%). GWI Zeitgeist
What’s on our radar
Utah is the first US state to pass a law requiring app stores to verify user age and obtain parental consent from minors before downloading anything. At the same time, Spain’s under 16s may soon need permission from parents to use social media apps.
Alongside efforts to improve teens’ financial literacy, there’s now a video series aimed at helping them understand and use AI responsibly.
Google’s rolling out new vacation-planning features to Search and Gemini, while Apple is reportedly revamping its health app to include an AI coach.
Global stock markets took a nosedive after Donald Trump announced plans to put new tariffs on goods from, well, almost everyone. Experts are now concerned the US could fall into a recession if pricier imports slow down consumer spending.
Foreign-language movie “Watch the Skies” will hit US theaters soon, setting a precedent by being fully dubbed using AI. Actors' voices and lip movements were altered to make the Swedish film look like it was shot in English.
Nintendo’s tapping into growing demand for immersive fan experiences with its new app, Nintendo Today. The app offers a mix of videos, comics, and updates about beloved characters and titles - it even served as the platform to announce the “Legend of Zelda” movie release date.
Xiaohongshu, or “RedNote”, has been turning heads of late. And now, the Chinese platform is expanding internationally, with new features and ecommerce pilots.
According to a South Korean chain’s latest sales figures, K-probiotics and beauty products are smashing it with global consumers. A South Korean manufacturer has also partnered with eBay to help the nation’s beauty brands enter other markets.
Chart of the week
Choosing a messaging app isn’t just about features; consumers consider everything from privacy and design to clout. And whether you realize it or not, your choice says a lot about you.
For starters, it hints at your area of work. Software developers - who are more likely to be gamers - stand out most for using Discord, with its robust features fitting seamlessly into their workflows. Government workers lean on Facebook Messenger more, which could be explained by the countless neighborhood groups on Facebook - a great tool for engaging with the wider community. Meanwhile, Signal is most distinct among those in the armed forces. With all the current chatter around private comms right now, that one tracks.
The takeaway? Apps have their own unique vibe and use cases. If B2B brands want to meaningfully connect with workers, they’ll need to tailor their content, tone, and format to reflect each audience’s priorities.
Local lowdown
The hold standard
No one’s slicking their hair back or spiking it up more than Mexicans. They’re more likely to use hair styling products weekly than consumers in any other market; gel and mousse, in particular, are staples.
Style matters a lot here, and hair’s a big part of that. Mexicans are 15% more likely to say they take care of their appearance than the global average.
Pop culture inspires them to up their hair game too. Telenovelas and pop bands like Timbiriche, and later RBD, made the sleek look trendy. And today, hair styles popular in Mexican fashion and media often call for styling products. Cholombianos, which means Colombians in Spanish, is a subculture that’s caught on among Mexican teens, with its sculptural hairstyles being the most eye-grabbing part.
In short, hair isn’t just a fashion choice in Mexico. It’s also a social marker, or a “sign of rebellion”.
