Edition 94.

Nobody reads ads, a new 45-page report reminds us.

But a platform shift is reshaping brand discovery, and *this* three-hour masterclass is commanding views in a swipe-first world.

5 brand bytes to inform and inspire you this week:

1. The “Algorithmic Era” is here.

Dentsu, a global ad and media network, released its 2026 forecast.

The report distills its findings into these three truths:

👉 We crave simplicity
👉 We crave connection, and
👉 We tune out ads.

It maps how AI, search, commerce, and entertainment are evolving across global media platforms, streaming environments, retail ecosystems, and even messaging apps.

(All informed by dentsu’s proprietary consumer research, global client access, and large-scale studies.)

But the bigger point?

Platforms change. People don’t.

Here‘s what we need to know:

The “Algorithmic Era” is a media landscape where algorithms shape what gets seen, searched, recommended, and purchased.

The current ‘algo era’ landscape is this:

• Search is conversational.
• AI agents can shop.
• Feeds optimize for engagement (and earnings).
• The platforms decide visibility.

But here’s the real play:

Even as algorithms control distribution, humans still control meaning.

The brands that win create for *both* (algorithms and humans).

So, understand the digital ecosystem.

But don’t forget the crowd.

(I’ll share an example I’m loving in #5 below...)

2. “We don’t read ads.”

Another gem from the report was this quote with a twist:

”Nobody reads advertising, people read what interests them; and sometimes it’s an ad.”

While that quote was from an renowned ad guy in the 1960’s, it was revived to prove this point—

In 2026, attention is stretched thin.

Feeds are crowded.

AI content (“slop” as some call it) is multiplying.

Brands are spending more *just* to maintain visibility.

More is not better.

Saturation is not a strategy.

So, the shift?

Compete on quality, not volume.

Maintain sharper insights on your audience to guide smarter, more aligned creative and content.

And if you’re not sure of what your audience wants or is into, ask.

(Think polls, personal notes, etc.)

3. AI-generated audiences - it’s a thing.

Now this was the part I teased last week.

The term that really got my brain churning: AI-generated audiences.

Here’s what I learned after reading (and re-reading) the report:

• Traditional ad targeting is on shaky ground.
• Old-school focus groups (you know, the ones behind the see-through glass); that process is slow.
• Internet cookies are getting blocked and rejected.

It’s harder for marketers to gauge and track consumer behavior.

Enter AI-generated audiences 🤖

These are simulated consumer profiles that *mirror* real-world attitudes and behaviors.

So big brands can test messaging before launch, run virtual focus groups, refine creative, and adjust media plans in real time.

All based on how their “AI audiences” react.

It’s a fascinating media & ad evolution worth noting.

4. Citation tug of war: YouTube vs. Reddit.

Once I finally put down the 45-page report, I read about a new battle: citations.

It’s what gets sourced (and cited) when people ask AI a question.

To deliver answers, here’s how it works:

AI pulls from sources it can access, understand, and cite.

I call it citation tug of war.

And right now, YouTube is winning.

New data shows YouTube has overtaken Reddit as the most-cited social platform in AI-generated answers.

Over the past six months, YouTube appeared in 16% of large language model responses versus Reddit’s 10%.

Why does this matter?

AI can now “read” YouTube.

Transcripts, captions, and detailed descriptions make videos searchable and scannable.

Here’s the bigger point: the new SEO isn’t just about ranking on Google.

It’s about showing up *inside* generative answers.

Brand discovery has changed.

(And there’s a reason why all the course gurus are moving to YouTube, as I shared in Edition 91.)

If your expertise lives in fleeting Stories or gated platforms and courses, AI likely *cannot* see it.

Which means it can’t cite, recommend, or refer people to you or your brand.

So, the takeaway is this—

Brands should build where the algorithms are looking.

Because visibility now means being quoted, not just clicked 💡

5. The 3-Hour Creator Flex.

One creator adjusting beautifully to the content and brand discovery times?

Modern Millie.

Last month, she dropped a 3-hour full masterclass on YouTube.

With 182K views in one month, it’s already her highest-viewed video of 2026 and among her top performers of the past year.

The production is sharp.

The delivery is clear and structured.

It feels like she’s the professor and your lecture hall just happens to be your living room.

Millie calls it her “longest, most in-depth breakdown.”

The topic: becoming a content creator in 2026.

From this longest of long-form pieces, she drives viewers to another freebie (a workbook download) as her primary next step, with paid products earning subtle nods in the caption.

Email, captured. Funnel in motion.

And the comments on the video tell the story:

• “I feel like I’m in class with my professors who have doctorates. You are at the same level.”
• “Wish I could like this video a thousand times”
• “Watched till the end. This is the very first time am watching a video this long”
• “She did not gatekeep at all”
• “I honestly can't believe this is free content. The amount of value packed into this 3-hour masterclass is insane!”

Three hours of content positions her as a clear authority in social media and content creation, gives ample ammo to the algorithms, *and* builds real trust with her audience.

Millie is winning. And inspiring.

I’m not saying you need an hours-long video.

(Though I have seen other creators begin to follow this same 1-3 hour-long format, with similar thumbnail designs, too.) 👀

I’m sharing an example of a creator giving boat-loads of value upfront, capturing emails, and likely being rewarded with trust.

Sales, speaking gigs, all the things, follow.

I’m taking notes.

More brand bytes next Sunday at 5!