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Your ATTN Please || Friday, 4 April

Your ATTN Please || Friday, 4 April

April 04, 2025

In amongst the April Fool’s madness, one outrageous product announcement is actually legit.

No, you can’t actually get LSKD leggings that change colour with your mood. And a “quiet” Crunch bar filled with cooked rice is not really a thing (thank goodness). But KFC and HiSmile have actually created a fried chicken flavoured toothpaste. Not sure my smile needs to be “extra crispy,” but nonetheless, well played guys.

- Charlotte, Editor ♡

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MARKETING TODAY?

April Fool’s doesn’t fool anyone, True Religion jeans are back & X and Telegram join forces

Put down the April Fool’s promos, everyone.

It’s so unfunny and I’m so over it. Every year, an onslaught of brands think they’re clever by posting some ridiculous product offering or collaboration that is clearly not going to happen. And we all know that, because we know the date is freaking April 1st. Get a new bit, guys. This one’s dead. HOWEVER. Some brands made some clever moves this year, I will admit. Dude Wipes and Manscaped created a fake butthole groomer that was almost believable, considering the two brands are well-known for being out-of-pocket.

Grindr and One/Size made a “hook-up proof” makeup setting spray that is actually a freaking genius idea. However, it's not for sale. Reece’s pranked fans with Reese’s Chocolate Bread, meant to be paired with Reese’s Peanut Butter and your favourite jelly for an ultimate PB&J. Also a genius idea and lowkey needs to be made? Dunkin’ released a THISISNOTAJOKE promo code that rewarded customers with a free coffee. No, actually. Aside from that, everything else was very much the same – uninspiring and unbelievable. YAWN.

True Religion denim makes a comeback.

The iconic jeans of the early 2000s have returned to pop culture after 20 years and two bankruptcies. And they’re taking over the rap girlies’ wardrobes. The newest ads from the brand star Sexyy Red as part of the brand's ongoing campaign, “Own Your True.” These follow similar ads from February with pop star Anitta and a holiday push with Megan Thee Stallion.

The jeans still tout the distinctive horseshoe stitching, with a revived slightly modernised twist. And I’m so here for it. I’m also here for the fact that the price tag is no longer a steep $400. Because I don't care how iconic your jeans are. In this economy? I don’t think so.

X Integrates Grok AI Chatbot With Telegram

X is looking to expand the reach of its Grok chatbot by partnering with messaging app Telegram. Which basically means if you’re subscribed to both Telegram premium and X premium, you can chat with xAI’s Grok AI chatbot within your Telegram streams. This provides another way to get answers from Elon’s “non-woke" chatbot. Partnering with Russian-founded Telegram is an interesting choice. Doesn’t do much to counter allegations that Trump and Musk are more sympathetic to Russia and its government’s agenda. Just sayin'.

-Sophie, Writer

DEEP DIVE

The dark side of meme culture (& why you should care)

Once upon a time, political discourse was shaped by debates, newspaper op-eds, and meticulously crafted campaign ads.

But today a well-timed meme can literally do more for a politician’s image than any policy platform ever could. Political messaging has really gone chronically online. Short, snappy, and shareable, perfectly optimised for engagement. And as memes shape our political reality, brands are right there, cashing in and co-opting the movement for clout.

We’ve entered an era where the line between organic meme culture and engineered propaganda is practically nonexistent. A strategically placed meme isn’t just a joke—it’s a tool, a weapon even. So, are we all just being played?

Memes have always been a grassroots form of communication, a way for the internet to collectively process news, trends, and cultural shifts.

But their power isn’t lost on those looking to control the narrative. A meme can simplify a complex issue. It can turn a candidate (or killer) into a folk hero (or a laughingstock). And it can spread that message faster than any traditional campaign ever could. That's exactly why political operatives and digital strategists now engineer memes as a form of influence.

The rise of meme stocks like GameStop? Redditors memed it into a financial revolution. The transformation of "Dark Brandon" from an insult to a full-fledged pro-Biden movement? A masterclass in how meme culture can be hijacked and repurposed. The humour disguises the persuasion, making it all the more potent.

And brands? They’re watching closely, learning how to wield the same tactics.

Because brands are political players, too. None of us just sell products anymore. We also sell values, ideology, and carefully curated internet personalities. Some brands lean into political meme culture to make a statement (Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia). Others clumsily attempt to ride the wave (Pepsi’s disastrous Kendall Jenner protest ad). But the goal is the same: relevance.

But when does engagement turn into manipulation? Take Balenciaga’s hyper-controversial ad campaigns or brands inserting themselves into trending social movements with aestheticised activism. Are they actually contributing to the discourse? Or are they just capitalising on the meme-ification of politics? And if consumers can’t tell the difference between a brand’s genuine stance and a marketing play, does it even matter?

So, does having the best memes now matter more than having the best policies?

Politicians are leaning into meme culture harder than ever before. They understand that, in a world of short attention spans, a viral moment beats a well-articulated plan. Trump has an army of posters turning his every move into a meme. AOC effortlessly plays the game, making progressive politics feel as digestible as a TikTok trend.

RFK Jr. has tapped into some deeply weird internet subcultures to build his own base. Don’t even get me STARTED on Kamala. Political messaging today isn’t about convincing—it’s about vibing.

If you think meme politics is dystopian now, just wait until AI enters the chat.

We’re already seeing AI-generated political content flood social media, blurring the line between organic internet humour and highly calculated disinformation (uhhh Trump's weird-as-hell Gaza video??). Imagine a future where your feed is filled with hyper-personalised political memes designed to sway you specifically. Using AI to target your beliefs, insecurities, and digital footprint. Scary? Yeah. Inevitable? Also yeah.

Brands, politicians, and bad actors alike are already using AI to mass-produce memes that manipulate public opinion. And in an era where even real information feels fake, how do we even begin to tell what’s engineered and what’s authentic?

Wait so, if you’re vibing and I’m vibing, who’s flying this plane!???

Memes are shaping elections, cultural movements, and consumer behavior. While we laugh, engage, and share, there’s a whole system of strategists, brands, and operatives pulling the strings, using the internet’s most beloved communication tool as a Trojan horse for influence.

Therefore, young Skywalker, it would be wise to engage in some critical thinking skills when interacting with such content. In other words - nip that sh*t in the bud before the bud becomes an overgrown political plant and takes over your brain 😊 hehe

-Sophie, Writer

TREND PLUG

I just don't think at this age, I'm meant to live an uncomfortable life

We're back with another White Lotus banger, once again coming from our entitlement queen Victoria Ratliff (played by Parker Posey).

While the other trend she inspired is about escaping your issues, this new one is all about confronting them - not by solving them, but by making them meet YOUR standards.

In what looks like a big monologue moment for her (I still haven't watched the show, please don't hunt me down), Victoria states, "I just don't think at this age, I'm meant to live an uncomfortable life... I don't have the will." Speak your truth, queen. Whether you're asked to go to a recliner-less movie theatre or you're justifying your seated concert ticket, this sound perfectly captures the sentiment of "I'm too old for this sh*t".

How you can jump on this trend:

Grab this sound, put the camera on yourself and lipsync with Victoria's parts. Add some OST describing a time where your comfort came under threat and you had to stand up for yourself. The more minor the inconvenience, the better!

A few ideas to get you started

When you're asked why you drive to work when you live a 10 min walk away
Explaining to your boss why you need a personal office more than Janet does
When you buy $7 coffees instead of drinking the free boiled dirt water in the lunchroom

-Devin, Copywriter

FOR THE GROUP CHAT

😲WTF: 25 HOUR LONG SPEECH?!
✨Daily inspo: there’s no wrong way
😊Soooo satisfying: this is the perfect loop!
🍝What you should make for dinner tonight: Super easy chicken wraps!

TODAY ON THE YAP PODCAST

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Want even more “YAP”ing? Check out the full podcast here.

ASK THE EDITOR

How do I manage marketing for several companies within a group and their multiple channels with very limited resources? -Erin

Hey Erin,

My suggestion would be to create a content system that helps you create and post content efficiently. For each brand, come up with a few easily repeatable content styles. These could be things like team stories, a behind-the-scenes look at the business, or useful tips around your area of expertise (just for example). This means when you go to create content, you already know what you're doing rather than trying to come up with a new idea each time.

You may decide to create a month's worth of content at a time for each brand. You can also add in more time-sensitive pieces of content throughout the month, but having a few go-to styles and time blocking your content creation should help you be more efficient! Lastly, be realistic about what you can achieve with the resources you have. It's better to do less and be consistent than it is to try to do way more than is achievable.