Author: Seb Joseph

U.S. Judge Leonie Brinkema just called it: Google broke the law to cement its monopoly over online advertising. Four weeks in September laid bare exactly how it did it. But if you missed the courtroom drama or need a refresher, here’s the unfiltered story of how Google boxed out rivals and took over online advertising — straight from the people who were caught in the crossfire.

But for those who were there from the beginning, the story of Google’s rise in ad tech was already written in the margins — long before any courtroom showdown. 

Matt Wasserlauf, now the CEO of Blockboard, remembers it well. 

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As the trade war escalates, narratives about how brands’ goods are made, the factories that produce them and whether they’re worth the price are unfolding across social media. Call it the trade war’s meme war.

Narrated videos and AI-generated memes are flooding consumers‘ feeds across TikTok, X and YouTube as the U.S. and China battle over tariff increases. This Wednesday, the U.S. imposed a 125% tariff on China.

Some Chinese-based influencers and manufacturers are taking to social media in an attempt to expose how luxury goods are made and allegedly shipped off to European countries for labeling and significant mark-ups. They’re hoping consumers instead buy directly from China’s manufacturing facilities.

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