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How Jennifer Anniston's LolaVie brand grew sales 40% with CTV ads

The DTC beauty category is crowded. To break through, Jennifer Anniston's brand LolaVie, worked with Roku Ads Manager to easily set up, test, and optimize CTV ad creatives. The campaign helped drive a big lift in sales and customer growth, helping LolaVie break through in the crowded beauty category.

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THE ROUND UP

Rounding up the most important marketing news of the week

OpenAI Strikes Pentagon AI Deal

OpenAI has signed a deal allowing its advanced AI systems to be used within the U.S. Department of Defense's classified networks, marking one of its most direct steps into military operations. The company says the agreement includes firm guardrails, blocking uses such as fully autonomous weapons, mass domestic surveillance, and high-stakes automated decision-making. OpenAI will retain oversight of safety controls and limit deployment to secure cloud environments with cleared personnel involved. The move comes amid rising competition among AI firms for defense contracts and growing political pressure to ensure the U.S. keeps pace in AI development, even as critics question how enforceable those safeguards will be.

Reddit Fined $20M Over Child Data Lapses

Reddit's scrolling just got expensive. UK regulators have fined the platform $20 million for failing to properly protect children's data, saying it did not have effective age-verification measures in place and relied too heavily on users self-declaring their age. Authorities concluded that this allowed under-13s to access the service and have their personal information processed without adequate safeguards. The watchdog also found Reddit had not completed a required assessment examining risks to children's data before strengthening its controls in 2025. Reddit says it plans to appeal, arguing that stricter age checks raise privacy concerns. The penalty marks a significant move by UK regulators as they ramp up enforcement of online child-safety and data-protection standards.

Instagram to Alert Parents on Harmful Searches

A new alert system is coming to Instagram, and it's aimed squarely at parents. The platform will begin notifying parents when teens using its supervision tools repeatedly search for suicide or self-harm related terms. Alerts can be sent by email, text, WhatsApp, or in-app notification, encouraging parents to check in and offer support. The move builds on existing measures that limit harmful content and direct users to helplines. It will roll out in the UK, US, Australia, and Canada. Critics argue the feature places more responsibility on families rather than addressing concerns about how social media platforms expose young people to risky content.

Google Tweaks Search Under EU Rules

Search results are getting a regulatory remix. Google is rolling out further changes in the European Union to comply with the bloc's Digital Markets Act, aiming to give rival services more visibility in shopping, travel, and other comparison-heavy results. The updates adjust how specialized search features appear, including clearer links to competitors and modified layouts designed to avoid favoring Google's own products. The company says the tweaks respond to feedback from regulators and rivals, but it also argues that some changes have reduced traffic to European businesses. As scrutiny from the European Union continues, the search giant is walking a tightrope between compliance and protecting its core business.

NEWS BITES

Everything else you need to know

CAMPAIGN MONITOR

Review recent and note-worthy marketing campaigns

Kohler — Campaign Name

Martha Stewart toured Kohler's historic cast iron foundry in Wisconsin, suiting up in full protective gear to witness the dramatic process behind the brand's signature sinks and tubs. She observed artisans pouring 2,700 degree molten iron and shaping pieces that will become enameled fixtures built to last for generations. Named the company's Cast Iron Ambassador, she spoke about gaining a deeper respect for the craftsmanship, precision, and heritage required to produce each piece. The visit offered a rare look inside the intense and carefully orchestrated world where design meets heavy industry, blending tradition, durability, and artistry in every pour.

Olaplex — N°.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment

Olaplex has introduced No.3+, an upgraded take on its bestselling bond-building treatment, promising visible repair in just three minutes. Designed to strengthen and reconnect broken hair bonds caused by heat, color, and daily stress, the new formula builds on the original No.3 Hair Perfector with enhanced technology aimed at delivering deeper repair, smoother texture, and added shine with less wait time. The brand positions it as a fast, high impact solution for busy consumers who want professional level results at home.

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