Each day, New Digital Age gathers the most interesting digital marketing industry news from around the web…
AD SPEND
Performance Marketing World – Bethany Lee, 8th October
Marketing budgets are rising by 10%, but 81% still fail to reach new audiences – report
Taboola’s Data Advantage report, based on a survey of more than 300 senior marketing and advertising leaders, found that advertisers’ budgets are increasing, with 30% citing new audiences as a top priority for additional budget allocation.
BIG TECH
Marketing Brew – Jasmin Sheena, 8th October 2026
How media buyers are navigating higher ad prices on Meta
Some plan to buy during the “Q5” period rather than spend on holiday campaigns.
AI
Modern Retail – Gabriela Barkho, 9th October 2026
Why ChatGPT ads won’t likely impact holiday sales in a major way this year
Brands don’t expect ChatGPT ads to gift them significant sales this holiday season, as the initial wave of excitement shows that AI platform ads are still in their infancy.
DIGEST
ExchangeWire – 8th October 2026
Digest: OpenAI Launches Visual Ads in ChatGPT
In today’s Digest, we discuss Brussels eyeing Big Tech through a broad levy on large corporations, OpenAI launching visual ads alongside ChatGPT image generation, and pubX raising USD$5m (£3.75m) as it acquires Compliant.
BARB
Performance Marketing World – Robin Langford, 8th October 2026
Amazon Ads brings Prime Video into UK TV measurement – first streamer to join BARB CFlight
The tech giant is turning Prime Video into a more measurable media channel, while giving brands new ways to target untapped regional demand with a new Geographic Insights and Activation (GIA) tool.
SOCIAL MEDIA
TechCrunch – Lauren Forristal, 7th October 2026
Meta rolls out new AI tools to detect ads that secretly lead to child sexual abuse material
Meta announced that it took action against 33.2 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content on Facebook and Instagram in the first half of 2026. The company is rolling out new AI tools to find ads and accounts that may be used to secretly direct people to illegal child abuse material.
AI
TechRadar – Sead Fadilpašić, 7th October 2026
ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude imitated in fake ads that steal credentials and MFA codes
Cybercriminals are offering fake AI-powered products for advertisers and marketing managers, in an attempt to steal their Google business accounts.
CTV
Financial Times – 7th October 2026
Best Buy Ads expands reach with LG TV advertising partnership
Best Buy Ads is expanding its reach beyond the retailer’s own properties through a partnership with LG Ad Solutions that will give advertisers access to LG’s connected-TV inventory, including its Home Screen, in the U.S.
ANTI-TRUST
The Guardian – Gaya Gupta, 7th October 2026
McDonald’s sued for allegedly using AI tool to determine pricing for franchises
McDonald’s is facing a lawsuit in federal court over its alleged use of an AI tool to determine pricing across independent franchises, which prosecutors say violates antitrust laws and has unfairly inflated menu prices for Americans.
AD SPEND
Mediashotz – Mark Johnson, 8th October 2026
Global ad spend to hit $1.34 trillion after 11.9% surge – WARC report
Global ad spend is forecast to grow 11.9% to $1.34trn in 2026, according to the latest data from WARC Media.
HOLDCOS
Adweek – Lauren Johnson 7th October 2026
MSQ Group Acquires January Digital to Build Out Media Offerings
The deal completes the U.K. firm’s big U.S. expansion plan.
