Pop Culture Pulse March 2025: Digg Returns, the World Cup Halftime Show, & Walmart’s Unlimited Game
Our Pop Culture Pulse is a monthly download of the buzziest cultural developments, emerging fandoms and audience trends. This month, we’re looking at the return of Digg, one of the original social media community outposts; the plan to introduce a mega halftime show at the World Cup 2026 final; and Walmart Unlimited, a narrative-driven game marking the retail giant’s move into fully fledged branded entertainment.
Social Media & Internet Culture: AI-Propelled Digg Reinvigorates Social-First Online Forums
Entertainment: FIFA World Cup 2026’s Halftime Show Sportstainment Bid
Gaming: Walmart’s Branded Entertainment Gaming Miniseries
Once a major competitor to Reddit, US community forum platform Digg, originally launched in 2004, is being rebooted in a bid to build a calmer, kinder corner of social media. More than a dose of digital nostalgia, the improved platform promises to utilise AI to enhance community moderation (e.g. fighting spam), leaving users to enjoy sharing interests in dedicated, niche communities.
Once a major competitor to Reddit, US community forum platform Digg, originally launched in 2004, is being rebooted in a bid to build a calmer, kinder corner of social media. More than a dose of digital nostalgia, the improved platform promises to utilise AI to enhance community moderation (e.g. fighting spam), leaving users to enjoy sharing interests in dedicated, niche communities.
Summary
Social Media & Internet Culture: AI-Propelled Digg Reinvigorates Social-First Online Forums | Once a major competitor to Reddit, US community forum platform Digg, originally launched in 2004, is being rebooted in a bid to build a calmer, kinder corner of social media. More than a dose of digital nostalgia, the improved platform promises to utilise AI to enhance community moderation (e.g. fighting spam), leaving users to enjoy sharing interests in dedicated, niche communities. |
Entertainment: FIFA World Cup 2026’s Halftime Show Sportstainment Bid | The next Fifa men’s World Cup football tournament, to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico in 2026, will feature the event’s first official halftime concert (a la the NFL Super Bowl), taking place during the final game of the competition. With over 1.4 billion viewers globally watching the last World Cup final in 2022, this mega event is likely to become a major cultural moment for audiences and brands. |
Gaming: Walmart’s Branded Entertainment Gaming Miniseries | American retail giant Walmart is harnessing younger generations’ love for gaming with a web-based multi-part game series, Walmart Unlimited, hosted on US gaming platform Spatial. With 96% of Alphas, 92% of Gen Zers and 88% of millennials globally considering themselves gaming enthusiasts (Newzoo, 2024), Walmart’s new full-game experience marks a step up in its bid to provide legitimate branded entertainment for audiences. |
Pop Culture Pulse March 2025: Digg Returns, the World Cup Halftime Show, & Walmart’s Unlimited Game
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