Written by Kotori Tayama-Gannon

Back to basics at Coachella 

Canadian singer Justin Bieber broke multiple records at Coachella this year, becoming the highest-paid performer in the festival’s history, reportedly earning around $10 million across two weekends.  

His brand Skylrk smashed merchandise sales across both weekends, and his set became the most Googled performance Coachella has ever seen. Ticket demand surged, streams jumped more than 210 per cent globally on Spotify, and Bieber shot back to number one. 

What really got us talking was his first performance. Most Coachella sets are designed for scale with massive visuals and production built for social clips. Justin did the opposite. He walked out in a hoodie, performed with a mic, then later sat behind a laptop. 

By leaning into nostalgia and audience connection, he created something that felt personal rather than performative. Even with mixed reviews, the moment travelled because it felt human, nostalgic and unpolished in the best way. Proof that authenticity still cuts through, and that audiences can spot performative realness a mile away. Brands, take note. Bigger does not always mean better. 

Policy meets reality 

Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s is already being tested. 

Despite the intent to protect young people, parents report kids are still accessing platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat, often by sidestepping parental controls and unclear age gateways. 

The eSafety Commission has now shifted from watching to enforcing, investigating major platforms for potential breaches. Underage accounts may have dropped, but not disappeared. 

The bigger question remains: how much responsibility should sit with families versus the platforms themselves? Expect this tension to keep playing out in policy, PR and public debate. 

At the same time, parents and advocacy groups argue that too much responsibility is still falling on families rather than tech companies.  

Canva to expand into a marketing powerhouse  

Canva is stepping well beyond “easy design tool” territory. 

With the launch of Canva AI 2.0, the platform is positioning itself as an end‑to‑end content and marketing engine, spanning ideation, creation, publishing and performance tracking. 

Backed by partnerships and acquisitions, including a deal with Anthropic, and business revenue hovering around US$500 million, Canva is making a clear play for creative suite dominance. 

This isn’t just about nicer slides. It’s about owning more of the marketing workflow. 

WhatsApp tests a cosmetic upgrade   

WhatsApp is trialling WhatsApp Plus, a low‑cost paid tier, WhatsApp Plus, focused more on aesthetics than functionality.  

Think custom themes, icons and notifications, rather than game‑changing new features. The core experience stays free. 

It’s another sign that platforms are testing softer monetisation plays, selling self‑expression rather than access. 

Nike trips up  

In this week’s “how did this get signed off?” moment, Nike faced backlash  at the Boston Marathon after signage read: “Runners welcome. Walkers tolerated.” 

The message was quickly criticised as exclusionary, particularly by disability advocates and slower participants. 

Nike removed the sign and clarified its intent, but the damage was done. It’s a reminder that motivation messaging walks a fine line, especially in public, highly visible moments where context gets lost fast.

Purpose does not equal intention. Perception wins every time.