The top September 2018 media ideas explore the many new ways in which people of all ages are being invited to consume content, specifically with a focus on interactivity and bite-sized formats.
Short attention spans and the ease with which content can be consumed has created a demand for snackable content, which is exemplified by GIF film festivals, short-form video apps and text-based storytelling formats that offer a convenient alternative to reading a book.
In the same way that kids have been able to consume content from Barbie as a vlogger on YouTube, Hello Kitty recently launched her own channel as a new positive role model for kids sharing words of inspiration and motivation. The rise of the digital influencer can also be seen in Balenciaga's Virtual Army, which introduces diverse CGI supermodels.
Top 25 Media Ideas in September
From Cartoon Vlogger Influencers to Short-Form Video Apps:
Laura McQuarrie — Sep 29, 2018 — Pop Culture
25
Empowering Lifestyle Entertainment Companies
Kin Delivers Content to Motivated Women
24
Nostalgic Cartoon Street Apparel
ASOS Design and The Simpsons Joined for a Collaborative Range
23
Online Encyclopedia-Inspired Apparel
The Wikipedia Collection by Advisory Board Crystals is Chic
22
Home-Style Movie Events
Bumble and HBO's 'Stay Home' Activation Played Up Indoor Comforts
21
Wizardly Home Decor Collections
Pottery Barn's New Harry Potter Collection is Magical
20
Virtual Luxury Fashion Models
Balmain's 'Virtual Army' Features Diverse CGI Supermodels
19
Intergalactic Theme Park Cantinas
Oga's Cantina is Set to Serve Booze and Otherworldly Dishes
18
AR Cartoon Home Experiences
Samsung's 'Doorways' Shows Smart Products in the Family Guy Home
17
Motivational Male-Focused Digital Platforms
The BroBible is a Community-Driven Platform for Males
16
Short-Form Video Apps
TikTok and Musical.ly Build a Platform That Enables Creativity & Expression
15
TV-Inspired Browser Extensions
The Good Place Chrome Extension Lets Fans Enter 'The Good Place'
14
GIF-Centric Film Festivals
The GIPHY Film Festival Explores Stories Told in Just 18 Seconds
13
Politically Informed Fashion Ads
SHOOP's Collection is Accompanied by a Playful Fake News Ad
12
Engaging Digital Book Alternatives
Yarn Offers Entertaining Chat & Text Stories to Digital Nomads
11
Mouse Ear Ice Creams
Ample Hills is Rolling Out Three New Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Flavors
10
Villainous Halloween Tea Parties
Disneyland’s Steakhouse 55’s Halloween Tea is Based on Villains
9
Inclusive Content Digital Platforms
The Uproxx Site Caters to the Digital Male Demographic
8
Cartoon Vlogger Influencers
Sanrio's Hello Kitty Just Got an Incredibly Adorable YouTube Channel
7
Theatrical Open-Air Festivals
Secret Cinema's 'Secret Festival' is a 5,000-Person, Five-Hour Event
6
Traditional Pasta-Making Webseries
'Pasta Grannies' on YouTube Makes Authentic Recipes Accessible
5
Behind-the-Scenes Beauty Commercials
In Its New Ad, Dove Gives a Shout Out to the Women Off-Screen
4
Music Streaming Service Podcasts
Spotify is Launching Its Own Branded Podcast, 'Ebb & Flow'
3
Portable Comic Readers
The InkyPen App Will Let Nintendo Switch Owners Access Plenty of Comics
2
Craft Beer Networks
BrewDog Launched Its Own Beer-Centric TV Network and Subscription Service
1
On-Demand Streaming Experiences
The Top-Rated PlayStation Vue Allows for a Multi-Device Stream
Related Ideas
Movie-Themed Kids Meals
Super Mario Galaxy Happy Meal Launches with Collectible Toys
Virtual Fashion Contests
Bratz and ZEPETO Launch a Four-Week Avatar Styling Challenge
Video-Editing App Updates
Google Photos Launches a Slew of New Video Editing Tools
Gen Z Storytelling Campaigns
Coach is Running the 'Explore Your Story' Campaign for Spring 2026
Gen Z Advertising Initiatives
Tubi Targets Younger Viewers with Ad Innovations at IAB NewFronts
Social Media-Inspired Retail Apps
Depop Outfits Lets Users Create Moodboards and Collages
Festival-Inspired Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Burberry Celebrates the Energy of British Music Culture
AI Video Creators
StoryShort AI Generates Short-Form Videos From Simple Text Prompts
High-Profile Live Performance Marketing
Rokid Delighted Folks with a High-Profile Marketing Event
Phone-Free Crafting Experiences
Pinterest Brought a Phone-Free Experience to the Desert
Real-Life Mood-Board Transformations
Pinterest Launches the 'Bring My Pinterest to Life' Series
Content Performance Prediction Platforms
Presaige™ Targets Creators, Influencers, and Marketers
Themed Snack Collectibles
Kinder Joy Evolves its Treat-And-Toy Format with Themed Collections
AI-Matched Creator Partnerships
YouTube Creator Partnerships Links Brands & Creators with Gemini
Ephemeral Photo-Sharing Apps
Instagram Instants App Introduces Single-View 24-Hour Photos
Limited-Edition Chocolate Launches
Hershey’s Debuts Winter Games Tie-In On TikTok Shop
Social AI Video Lenses
Snapchat Brings Photo-To-Video AI to Lens Studio
Expressive Hair Campaigns
Wavytalk's Main Character Hair Campaign Makes Everyday Styles Memorable
Immersive Video Shopping Experiences
ASOS Live Blends Creator-Led Content with Real-Time Shopping
Fashion-Forward Cultural Infrastructure Initiatives
THE FASH APP Debuts Founding Benefactor Circle
Cross-Industry Insight Networks
The Think Party Explores the Future of Socialization
Cross-Platform Aggregator Apps
Flipboard Surf Aggregates Social Media, And More For Browsing
Next-Gen Teen Magazines
WYouth is a New W Magazine Publication for Gen Z
Varsity Influencer Teams
UNC Turns Student-Athletes Into Social Media Monetization Experts
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Connection-Centered Bag Campaigns
Kate Spade's Spark Something Beautiful Stars Gen Z Icons
Reality-Themed Dating Campaigns
Tinder Launches a YouTube Reality Show to Appeal to Gen Z
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Bold Beauty Campaigns
IPSY Reframes Beauty as a Hobby with the 'I Play Beauty' Campaign
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Gen Z Soda Campaigns
Enjoy the Moment with a Coca‑Cola Targets a Generation That Wants to Unplug
24/7 Live Shopping Streams
QVC is Launching an Always-On Shopping Experience with TikTok Shop
Sensorial Soda Campaigns
Sprite's 'Hurts Real Good With Sprite' Targets Gen Z
Kindness-Focused Travel Campaigns
Global Child: Travel & Purpose Debuts a Qatar Episode
Startup Idea Newsletters
Easy Startup Ideas Delivers Business Roadmaps For Aspiring Founders
Article Product Suggestions
BuzzFeed Teams Up with Shopsense AI to Debut Product Recommendations
Comprehensive Fast Food Reports
Yum! Brands, Inc. Explores Food Trends Influencing the Industry
AI Influencer Platforms
Statusphere Raised $18 Million to Scale Micro-Influencer Marketing
Fashion-Focused Substack Publications
Tory Burch Launches What Should I Wear? Newsletter
Interactive Juice Boxes
Suntop's Mega Back to School Campaign Integrates Connected Packaging
Feedless Social Platforms
Bond Eliminates Feeds to Focus on Real-Life Experiences
Food Influencer-Inspired Miniature Collectibles
MGA Entertainmen Partners with Kate Norkeliunas
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Livestreamed Travel Campaigns
IShowSpeed and Expedia are Engaging and Inspiring Gen Z Travelers
Digital Well-Being Updates
Tiktok Adds Mindfulness Tools and User Controls Over Ai Content
Animated Pop Revival Shows
Paris Hilton’s Paris & Pups Brings Her Playful Persona to Youtube
Social Media Meditation Features
The TikTok Meditation Feature Helps Users Take a Break
Social Media Entertainment Apps
The Instagram Reels Fire TV App Turns Content into Entertainment
Cultural Newsletter Subscriptions
American Eagle Launches Gen Z-Focused 'Off The Cuff' Publication
Production-Led Live Commerce Events
P.Louise Launches Get Unteddy With Me on TikTok Shop
Anti-Algorithm Social Platforms
Buzzfeed’s Branch Office Creates Interactive AI-Powered Apps
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Short Video Marketing
Viral Pulse Helps Businesses Generate Engaging Short Videos Quickly
Video Business Cards
Vidcard Helps to Make Connections and Leave a Lasting Impression
Easy-to-Use Content Editing Apps
Meta Launched 'Edits' for Instagram Creators on Mobile Devices
Video Automation Tools
Short AI Automatically Creates Viral Short Videos for Social Media
Instant Micro-Entertainment Tools
Boring Button Delivers Quick, Random Online Fun With One Tap
Youth-Focused Educational Adventure Series
Lala’s Place TV is Expanding Its YouTube Offerings
Video Podcast Expansion
Netflix and iHeartMedia Bring Video Podcasts to the Streaming Platform
Video Content Summarizers
SnapSummary Uses AI to Turn YouTube Videos into Searchable Summaries
Next Gen Multimedia Platforms
Hello Sunshine Launches Sunnie, a Gen Z Media and Lifestyle Platform
Vibrant Cafeteria-Inspired Campaigns
Lunchtime Becomes a Joyous Time in 'The Lunchables Effect'
Shoppable Reel Features
Meta Expands Reels with Product Tagging on Instagram and Facebook
Agentic Video Platforms
D-ID Agentic Videos Enable Real-Time Interaction Within Content
Miniature Billboard Ads
Little Canada's Mini Media Initiative Spotlights Brands on Tiny Billboards
Short-Form Video Previews
Vertical Feeds Help Members Discover Content on Netflix
Creator-Boosting Platform Features
The YouTube Hype Feature Boosts Smaller Creators in Explore
Product-Inspired Halloween Looks
Aldi and EllaDoesFX Created a Look Inspired by Professor Peppy
Peer-Powered Gifting Initiatives
indu and SoPost Encourage Customers to Share Samples with Friends
Video-First Food Ordering Experiences
CookUnity Acquired flavrs to Enhance Its Meal Service
Youth-Led Holiday Campaigns
Where are You Going? Showcases a Global Portrait of Young Creators
Customized Restaurant Campaign Platforms
OpenTable Has Launched OpenTable Media
AI-Created Video Feeds
Meta Introduces Vibes as a Social Platform Driven by AI-Generated Posts
Localized Retail Media Platforms
Snappy Shopper Launches Connect, a Retail Media Network
On-Demand Content Creation Apps
Social Agent Connects Users to Certified Content Creators
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Reimagined Story-Driven Campaigns
Visa Presented its 'Typewriter' Campaign at the 2025 Oscars
AI-Generated UGC Ads
Influencer AI Produces Fast, Scalable Content For Performance Marketing
Interactive Content Sharing
STIK App Lets Users Publish Content Directly On Physical Products
AI-Driven Video Creation
Viralshort Creates TikTok & YouTube Shorts in Seconds Using AI
Celebrity-Supported Luxe Fashion Campaigns
BOSS Taps Renowned Public Figures for Fall 2025
Vibe-Coded Entertainment Apps
The Gizmo App Cycles Through Vibe-Coded Mini Apps
Digital Memory Keepers
Fun Bits Turns Kids’ Quotes Into Cherished, Shareable Family Memories
Social-First Beauty Retailers
Sally Beauty Joins TikTok Shop
Mascot-Forward Newspaper Campaigns
Ellie the Elephant Becomes a New York Times Subscriber
Accessible Video Podcasts
Spotify Eases Partner Program Requirements For Video Creators
AI Mood Board Apps
Google's Mixboard Turns Ideas into Polished Presentations
All-Inclusive Pop Culture Trips
Klook Debuts a Campaign to Highlight ANZ's Top Asian Culture Fans
Focused Fashion Feeds
Clone Helps You Stay Updated with Fashion Trends Sustainably
Parental Social Media Alerts
This Instagram Alert Will Let Parents Know of Troubling Teen Searches
Global Product Launch Events
Uber Unveils a New Go-Get Exhibit Featuring Interactive Vignettes
Audio News Briefings
BriefPod Turns Newsletters Into A 10-Minute Personalized Daily Podcast
City-Focused Influencer Platforms
Storytime Launches Storytime Marketplace in Cities
Startup Discovery Hubs
Launching.today Showcases New Projects from Entrepreneurs and Builders
Social Media Creator Initiatives
Snapchat Launches its Gen Z-Focused Creator Connect Service
Niche Club Apps
Phictly Connects Fans of Books, Movies & Shows in Small, Engaged Groups
Insightful Short-Form Talk Apps
TED Shorts Allow for Short, Snappy Snippets of Popular Talks
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Creator-Focused All-In-One Platforms
MediaClub.app Serves Creators in the Middle East
Instant Commerce Dessert Drops
Gopuff Launches Selena Gomez’s Exclusive Ice Cream Bars
Publisher-to-Platform Content Ecosystems
HarperCollins and Toonstar Turn Books into Animations
Interactive Streaming Ads
Spotify Turns Listening into Engagement with Carousel Ads
IP-Based Kids Games
Netflix Turns Shows into Play Experiences
Digital Event Invitations
BigLittle Simplifies Creating and Sharing Kids’ Party Invitations Online
Custom AI Social Feeds
Bluesky’s Attie Lets Users Build Feeds with AI
Personalized Quote Apps
Thoughtbullet Delivers Daily Quotes Tailored To Your Preferences
Conversational Streaming Apps
Tubi Launches a ChatGPT App for Easier Content Discovery
Social Media-Inspired Streaming Apps
The Netflix App Feed Will Introduce a TikTok-Like Style
Real-Time Sharing Apps
MomentsHub Lets You Discover And Share Nearby Experiences Instantly
Expressive App Icons
The Instagram Teen Icons Deliver Vibrant Customization for Younger Users
Family-Friendly Podcasts
Nickelodeon and Starglow Turned Beloved Franchises into Podcasts
Media Literacy Programs
YouTube x Institute for Strategic Dialogue Launched 'Be Internet Citizens'
Adjustable Video Feed Limits
YouTube Adds a Zero-Minute Shorts Feed Option
Faceless Video Creation Tools
Super Shorts Makes Engaging Faceless Videos for Social Platforms
Personalized Media Creation
TuneStory Creates Custom Songs & Videos For Meaningful, Personal Gifts
Creative Texting Tools
TextTheInternet Lets You Build Minimalist Blogs Using iMessage
Layered Online Content Reports
YouTube Defines Creative Maximalism as the Key Point After 20 Years
Swipeable Content Discovery Experiences
Verts is a Fun Way to Explore What to Watch on Disney+
Media Tracking Tools
Media & Learning Tracker Organizes Books, Courses, And Podcasts
Viral Video Creators
Creatify 2.0 Creates Attention-Grabbing Viral Videos in One Click
Faceless Video Creators
ShortFactory Generates Engaging AI-Powered Short Videos Quickly And Easily
All-in-One Content Platforms
'Chips' Enables Seamless Content Creation and Community Engagement
Paired-Down Social Media Platforms
Month Friend Boasts a New Experience in the Hyper-Digital World
Youthful News Sources
Supp Delivers Fun, Relatable News Using Gen Z Slang and Humor
Curated Film Selections
The Planet Classroom Network Debuts Nine Short Films in October
Library-Bound Micro-Learning Apps
Library Ideas Has Partnered with Blinkist to Enhance Access
Teen Content Filters
Instagram Expands Age-Rated Experiences with Stricter Parental Controls
Video Repurposing Tools
AI Clips Makes Repurposing Long Podcasts Into Short Videos Effortless
Sports Highlights Platforms
Snack Sports Delivers Curated Highlights Without Social Media Pressure
Social Video Sponsorship Platforms
Find, Vet, and Book YouTube Sponsorships with Thoughtleaders.io
AI-Powered Animation Tools
Facebook Adds AI-Powered Animation And Restyle Tools
Personalized News Feeds
Moodscroll Curates News Based on Your Mood and Preferences
Smart Content Aggregators
Smashing’s Personalized Article Discovery App Helps Users Stay Informed
Visual Discovery Campaigns
Pinterest Autumn-Winter Ads Highlight Castlecore Dreams and Fuzzy Vibes
DIY Inspiration Apps
Daily DIY Reminder App Delivers Creative Upcycling Ideas And Reminders
Smarter News Consumption
NewsBang Makes Staying Informed Easier And More Interactive
Adaptive Notification Systems
YouTube Filters Push Alerts Based on Recent User Engagement
Personal Audio News
Hypermedia Play News Delivers Tailored, Instant Audio News Stream
Distinctive Asia-Focused Platforms
Feature.Asia Notes Asia's Professional & Cultural Innovators
Short Audio Platforms
Thirty Three Seconds Lets Users Share 33-Second Audio Clips