Sex and violence don’t increase sales; they could even harm them. Meta-analyses of 50 studies across several decades using a number of methodologies suggest that “programs featuring violence and sex don't provide the ideal context for effective advertising.” But it's not that black and white.

Since 2011, Dolls Kill’s candy-coloured rebellious clothing has proved a hit with the Tumblr set, with sales reaching $7.5 million in 2013. But how has this brand managed to sell ‘bad acid trip’-inspired miniskirts by the bucket-load without any traditional marketing?

A video shot surreptitiously on a smartphone documents an altercation between a bus driver and an irate young woman. Another offers a window into a high school cafeteria, where dozens of girls rip at each other’s hair, screaming like banshees. What is it that makes violence go viral?

As sales of its physical magazines decline, Playboy – once top of the top-shelf – is rapidly reinventing itself for the digital age. It has now launched a free mobile app that offers Buzzfeed-style editorial content and Vice-style video. But most importantly, it’s nudity-free and safe for work.