With 79% of Americans keeping their smartphone on or near them for 22 hours a day, brands have become an integral part of our digital lives. But what kind of content do people engage with? New research suggests that 90% of people like custom content from brands.

As more teens pick self-employment over summer jobs, they’re looking for ways to sharpen their skills – and from an increasingly early age. The Start-Up Dash mobile gaming app aims teach the basics of entrepreneurship to Gen Zers already thinking to get ahead in their careers.

Gen Zers are an ambitious bunch – 76% see themselves as ‘the owners of their careers’, in control of shaping their own paths. The Pickle app is helping these side hustlers sell their skills, connecting them with odd jobs and dares from painting walls to collecting shopping to shaving one’s head.

As banner ads and billboards struggle to draw attention, brands are increasingly adopting novel forms of advertising to engage people. Gamification offers one solution by rewarding ‘players’ for their active participation. How can brands use these adverts to build stronger bonds with audiences?