Leveraging #WorldSeries Buzz

In a thrilling revival of a legendary rivalry, the Los Angeles Dodgers?defeated the New York Mets?10-5 on Saturday This marks the 12th time?the two titans will meet in the World Series (?the two titans will meet in the World Series (their last encounter back in 1981), and the first time in 15 years?the Yankees have made it to the World Series. There has?been much?rejoicing across social platforms—and even some New Yorkers?playfully changing their loyalties.

That excitement is fueling conversations across social platforms. On TikTok alone, the hashtag #worldseries is already trending in more than 575k posts. Some of the notable player who are driving this excitement include Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers,?who made history this season?with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, will play in his first World Series. (Bleacher Report has shared?locker-room champagne celebrations?among Ohtani and teammates on TikTok.) The Yankees' Aaron Judge,?another MVP contender, will also make his series debut. Game 1 airs Friday evening from Dodger Stadium on Fox.

In related news, Empire State fans had more to celebrate after the New York Liberty clinched their first WNBA championship in franchise history?on Sunday, defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime at Barclays Center. Fans have been celebrating the long-awaited victory across platforms, with?several videos?of and?reactions to?the final moments of the game?going viral.

Why it matters: ?While the World Series may not rival the Super Bowl in terms of advertising prestige, this year’s MLB postseason will have an outsized impact across platforms as people turn in for the historic line-up, adding additional trends and conversations to newsfeeds crowded with Halloween costumes and pre-election political content. Marketers, especially for brands with links to New York or Los Angeles, should consider how to strategically utilize this heightened attention through planned and agile real-time campaigns and content.

?Other news and trends

• Banning jet tracking.?Meta?has recently suspended several accounts?tracking celebrity jets across Instagram and Threads,?including Jack Sweeney's popular @ElonJet account, which had previously been?banned on X?thanks to Elon Musk himself. These accounts gained attention for tracking the flights?of high-profile personalities?like Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Kim Kardashian, and Donald Trump. Meta cited violations of community guidelines as the reason for removal. This action underscores ongoing debate over the privacy of public flight data concerning well-known figures.?Sweeney acknowledged the setback but continues posting similar content on alternative platforms.
• We, Robot backlash.?Alcon Entertainment, producers of?Blade Runner 2049, has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, Tesla, and Warner Bros. alleging that they?used AI to infringe on their?copyright for?robotaxi fleet?imagery during the We, Robot event earlier this month. The lawsuit speaks to?a larger, growing issue?of copyright infringement?with respect?to AI; Dow Jones has initiated legal action against AI startup Perplexity. The lawsuit accuses Perplexity of using Dow Jones content to train its LLM, an act described as "freeriding."
• Abercrombie & Fitch.?Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, known for his controversial tenure, has been arrested and charged in a federal sex trafficking case. The charges follow bombshell allegations from young individuals?who claim Jeffries engaged in predatory behavior, including recruiting of young men and women for sexual exploitation at lavish parties.?Jeffries has denied the allegations. The legal proceedings are ongoing, with his partner Matthew Smith and affiliate James Jacobson?also arrested?for attending these events and aiding the recruitment of victims.

Contributors: Head of Social Content and Engagement Strategy Cristina Lawrence, Senior Vice President Jerry Lawrence, Group Vice President Andrew McKernan, and Senior Vice President Tammy Pepito. At Razorfish, we help brands define their higher purpose—the emotional reason why they belong in people’s lives. Ready to find your purpose? Learn more here.