TfL launches campaign to promote new app payment function: News: February 21st, 2025
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TfL has?launched a campaign to promote a new app payment function.?Elsewhere, Channel 4 is to relaunch its streaming proposition for advertisers this year, AI has been linked to poor critical thinking, according to research by LinkedIn parent Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University and M&S is boosting its global growth plans with senior international hires.
TfL launches campaign to promote new app payment function
Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new campaign to highlight the latest payment feature in its app. Developed by VCCP in collaboration with Wavemaker UK, the campaign features visuals by artist James Dawe, inspired by the iconic TfL logo.
Since its launch in 2020, the TfL app has been downloaded over seven million times and currently has approximately one million active users each month. The newly introduced TfL Go app will enable passengers to make payments for their journeys while also providing real-time route planning across London’s public transport system.
Channel 4 to relaunch streaming offering as it doubles down on digital strategy
Channel 4 is to relaunch its streaming proposition for advertisers this year, with an eye towards attracting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by simplifying its ad buying platform and exploring ways in which AI can support brands in the TV ad production chain.
“It’s about simplifying how you buy TV,” Barry John, head of operations at Channel 4 Sales, told The Media Leader ahead of Channel 4’s Extravagander event last week.
AI linked to poor critical thinking
According to research by LinkedIn parent Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University, frequent use of artificial intelligence has been linked with weaker critical thinking. Researchers asked participants how they used AI, their confidence in it, whether they could judge its work and if they could do the task without the technology.
People who were more confident in generative AI used less critical thinking. The study authors said that people who use AI for simple tasks, such as proofreading, do not get to practise their critical thinking in lower-stakes situations, which could add risk to more consequential tasks.
Henkel taps AI to embed best practice with marketers
Henkel is using AI to promote behaviour change within its marketing teams and make them more effective. Henkel leveraged AI tools developed by aimpower to enhance shopper marketing, by analysing asset effectiveness with predictive AI and providing recommendations.?The predictive AI tool now has 800 active users, working across 17 languages, and more than 10,000 assets have been tested.?
M&S boosts global growth plans with senior international hires
M&S has made a trio of senior appointments within its international division as it seeks to drive growth in its overseas business. The retailer has appointed Victoria Jones as its new commercial director for international operations. She will be responsible for overseeing the product strategy for M&S’s international operations in both clothing and food, “leveraging the best of the UK business.”
Liverpool reinvents customer service through digital platform
Liverpool City Council is in the midst of a huge overhaul of its customer experience offerings, wanting to redesign services to reflect the residents’ needs and improve their relationship with the local authority.
Helen Gerrard, the council’s director of customer experience, told Computer Weekly that the services Liverpool is delivering to its residents “need significant improvement”.
UK launches AI security institute to safeguard national security and combat crime
The UK Government is changing its approach to artificial intelligence (AI) by rebranding the AI Safety Institute as the AI Security Institute. The move is part of the government’s wider Plan for Change, which aims to use the power of AI for economic growth while ensuring that the technology is developed responsibly and safely.
Pinterest names Cecile van Steenberge as VP of International Sales
Pinterest has appointed Cecile van Steenberge as its new Vice President of International Enterprise Sales, a role designed to drive the company’s global expansion.With over 80% of Pinterest’s user base located outside North America, the company sees significant growth opportunities in Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.
She will be based in Dublin and report to Chief Revenue Officer Bill Watkins. He said: “As we continue to invest in our International business, Cecile will be our cohesive strategic voice, bringing decades of expertise and leadership at the biggest companies around the world. Her proven ability to lead global business teams, develop customer centric strategies and drive significant results in digital advertising revenue are precisely what we need to add further fuel to our international strategy. ”
Lidl becomes the first supermarket to join TikTok Shop
Lidl will introduce 3,000 exclusive high-protein product bundles on TikTok Shop, as it becomes the first supermarket to harness the social platform.
Joanna Gomer, marketing director, Lidl GB, said: "With the number of TikTok shoppers growing rapidly, we’re proud to be the first supermarket meeting our customers directly on the platform with our unique offering, creating these exclusive bundles to showcase our new exciting products."
Instagram Tests Comment Downvotes to Combat Negative Interactions
Meta is trying out a dislike button for comments, this time on Instagram, in the hopes of establishing more signals that it can use to downrank comments that users find to be overly negative and/or harmful to their in-app experience.
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri explained: "We’re [currently] testing a new button next to comments on Instagram. This gives people a private way to signal that they don’t feel good about that particular comment. There is no dislike count, nor will anyone know if you tap the button, [but] eventually, we may integrate this signal into comments ranking to move disliked comments lower down.”
Facebook Announces That Livestreams Will Now Be Removed After 30 Days
Meta’s making a change to its storage time for live stream broadcasts, in order to reduce its costs in maintaining video data. Which means that any live stream older than 30 days will soon be removed from the app.
As explained by Meta:
“Because most live video views occur within the first few weeks of broadcasting, we’re updating how long live videos can be stored on Facebook. Beginning on February 19th, any new live broadcast videos can be replayed, downloaded or shared from your Facebook Pages or profiles for 30 days, after which they will automatically be removed from Facebook. Previously these videos were stored indefinitely.”
Are you being underpaid? Jack and Ellie discuss salary trends
The Digital Cheesecake Podcast is powered by Blu Digital and Kinsman & Co.
In our latest episode of Digital Cheesecake, Jack and Ellie break down the latest salary trends, how KPIs impact negotiations, why companies are testing the waters with lower pay, how you can negotiate better, and why a proactive approach is everything. In this episode, they also dive into the power of networking to unlock hidden job opportunities.
Key takeaways include:
80% of people feel underpaid in their current roles
Salaries are decreasing due to tough market conditions
CMO roles are now paying significantly less than before
We’ve got all the insights you need—listen to the full episode now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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