TR.BIZ: 7.10.2025

Your late-mid-week check-in 💫

Welcome to The Trend Report: Business Edition, a midweek look into top stories, trends, and more of what’s happening online and off from Kyle at The Trend Report™. Today, we’re discussing tech companies making pivots, Superman's woke rebrand, and if accents are disappearing.

📲 Tech Talk: Pinterest goes for guys

I said this last year, in my chat with the platform’s Global Trends & Insights Lead, Sydney Stanback, but Pinterest “is moisturized, unbothered, in their lane, focused and flourishing” within the larger landscape of social media which *checks notes* includes a place that boasts MechaHitler, a place that lies about its usership, and a place that is being sold for parts. Things are looking rough out there — and Pinterest continues to differentiate itself by not only being normal but by reading the room and standing up with something thoughtful. For example: the platform recently launched it’s very first trend report on men, exploring how masculinity is being redefined via the rise in next-gen men sports like pilates, masculine answers to skincare and makeup, and reimagining what fatherhood can be. It’s fascinating stuff! They’ve also launched a dedicated Pinterest Man page, featuring plenty of inspo along with Patrick Schwarzenegger as an ambassador. Again: a smart, timely push that expands its domain fifteen years after launching (all while without pivoting to Stories).

• What can you do about this? We know that guys are having a moment, especially given what they did in November 2024. And, as I say again and again, men are deeply lost, looking for shepherding, for leadership, and for something to grasp onto that can help them grow. It’s also maybe time for your brand to consider Pinterest if and when you’re looking for spaces that “go beyond politics,” spaces that aren’t overrun by AI slop and “these times”: Pinterest is still a quiet reprieve from that, to connect and share in a visual way that isn’t tied to hi-tech glasses or literally killing people in Memphis. If all the other social networks are crashing out, Pinterest is keeping it cool.

🤩 Hollyweird Insider, I: Apple goes vroom vroom

Given the success of the movie F1, Apple is trying to cash in on its itty Pitt-y propaganda cash cow — and that means expanding what Apple “can do.” Enter the tech company making a bid to become the broadcaster of the elite racing sport, which feels right but also is a big expensive gamble on if Americans (and those beyond the big F1 bubble) will actually get into refined racing. I reached out to a friend who works in sports media for their take on this. “While there is evidence that [Netflix’s] Drive to Survive did increase F1 viewership, I don't think it's experienced quite the growth in popularity F1 had hoped for here in the States,” the source said. “I'm not sure it ever will. There's still something distinctly European and upper class about F1…America has a racing sport that is uniquely American and working class, and that is unfortunately NASCAR, which is still decently popular!” As far as Apple goes, the source said “F1 totally makes sense as an acquisition for them as a brand. Apple still has prestige as a brand, and F1 is a VERY prestigious sport.” True but, as the source said given their being “a sports fan/consumer/employee,” even they haven’t watched a sport on the platform as nothing has hooked them, given they aren’t an MLS or MLB fan. “I haven't heard great things about their sports presentation,” they added, noting Prime’s Prime Vision feed which “uses AI to analyze the data and statistics of plays in real time.” “It would be wise for Apple to invest in finding ways to use its brand/product to stand out in its sports coverage,” they said. “I don't understand why F1 and Netflix simply haven't gotten a deal done: that synergy with Drive to Survive makes all the sense in the world, to me!” Maybe keep that money in your pocket if you were going to gamble on this.

🤩 Hollyweird Insider, II: Will woke Superman win?