Data-driven marketing is great…until it starts to interfere with social media users’ privacy. Check out the news you need to know about Twitter’s security breach, the latest ad campaigns and more in our Weekly Must Reads.

Twitter Leaks User Info for Targeted Ads

At this point, we’re all used to hearing about Facebook’s privacy scandals. However, Twitter has been quickly catching up this year. After suffering a number of security lapses this year, the social network site disclosed last week that phone numbers and emails provided for two-factor authentication had been used to serve users targeted ads. Twitter offers advertises a tailored audiences feature, which is supposed to allow companies to target their ads to their own marketing lists. Instead, Twitter accidentally matched these companies’ lists to Twitter users who provided emails and phone numbers to set up two-factor authentication.

Facebook faced a similar problem last year, resulting in a $5 billion fine from the Federal Trade Commission. How can Twitter learn from Facebook and other social networks to turn their recent privacy struggles around? Find out more details here: https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/08/twitter-admits-it-used-two-factor-phone-numbers-and-emails-for-targeted-advertising/

Escape to the Lisa Frank Flat

‘90s kids can enjoy a stay in the penthouse of their dreams, thanks to Hotels.com. The booking site and Los Angeles hotel Barsala are now renting out nightly stays in a Lisa Frank pop-up penthouse, featuring colorful room accents, Lisa Frank bedding and a kitchen stocked with old-school lunchbox treats. According to a press release from the companies, the experience will feel like visitors have stepped into Lisa Frank notebook, allowing them to escape everyday life and revisit their childhood.

The pop-up hotel room combines two major advertising trends: nostalgia and experiential marketing. Do you think millennials will respond to this campaign? And do you think it could help Lisa Frank stage a comeback? Read more here: https://www.adweek.com/digital/lisa-frank-90s-kids-dream-hotel-room-nostalgia-travel/

Smirnoff’s “Infamous” New Campaign

Vodka brand Smirnoff has been around for more than 155 years, and to promote their storied past, they’ve rolled out their first global ad campaign in 25 years. The campaign centers on a one-minute video, titled “Infamous Since 1864,” which depicts Smirnoff’s adventure across Europe before landing in the US in the 1950s. According to the ad, Smirnoff has been hidden, exiled, traded and smuggled in its journey to become the world’s best-selling vodka brand.

In addition to the first video ad, the campaign will include TV, digital, social, print and out-of-home pieces. Watch the video and learn more here: https://www.thedrum.com/news/2019/10/08/ads-we-smirnoff-s-first-global-campaign-25-years

AT&T’s New Hit Song

If you tuned in to any live TV this summer, you surely noticed the AT&T commercial featuring the “just OK” boy band who doesn’t dance. You might have even had their song “Summertime Lover” stuck in your head for a few days. Some viewers certainly did – after hundreds of requests, tweets and even petitions, AT&T actually produced a full-length version of the song for listeners to enjoy.

AT&T’s agency worked with a music company to produce a full track and music video of the band, now called “300 Likes.” Watch the original ad and find out more about the phenomenon here: https://adage.com/creativity/work/att-summertime-lover/2204081?CSAuthResp=1%3A%3A5190163%3A0%3A24%3Asuccess%3AC4C79D7113B40308A8C1783CAD0BDABF