Ad Age reporters Erika Wheless and Gillian Follett break down the brand lessons from the recent Cracker Barrel and American Eagle dramas: How can marketers better prepare for social pushback, what to know about official brand responses and how the brand-consumer relationship is changing on social media.

Plus, AI ad networks are beginning to emerge, which place paid content in chatbots such as ChatGPT. Dig into the debate between maintaining chat quality and monetizing the technology. And Svedka has resurrected its Fembot character in a plea for people to put down their phones and go out with friends.

Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode:

~The latest on the Cracker Barrel rebrand saga

~Refresh yourself on American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney campaign backlash

~Inside E.l.f. Cosmetics’ Matt Rife social campaign

~Keep up with the latest account reviews

~Buy tickets to Ad Age’s Business of Brands conference

~Listen to Hinge’s CMO talk connecting with Gen Z

Cracker Barrel, American Eagle and surviving social uproar, with Erika Wheless and Gillian Follett

Ad Age Insider

Cracker Barrel, American Eagle and surviving social uproar, with Erika Wheless and Gillian Follett