Pulsar

narrative analysis anyone?

Humans use narratives to make sense of the world – so it's about time we had a tool to help us discover, quantify and understand them. Don't miss the The Social Intelligence Lab's March demo, in which Pulsar founder Francesco D'Orazio unveils our newest solution – Narratives AI – and showcases how a single interface provides an live view onto the beliefs and perspectives shaping discussion across both the public and the media. https://lnkd.in/gzNGfhzN

As the drumbeat for tariff wars continues to intensify, consumers are beginning to wake up to the idea they might end up having to pay for them.  "A growing number of Americans believe that tariffs imposed on foreign imports are ultimately paid by American consumers, leading to increased prices and a higher cost of living and a shift of the tax burden from the wealthy to the poor and middle class. Many are skeptical of Trump's plan to replace income taxes with tariffs, seeing it as a dangerous idea that would worsen the economy. Some also point out that the threat of tariffs can be used to weaken other nations' exports and currencies, but the actual implementation of tariffs has proven to be ineffective in achieving its intended goals. Overall, the public perception is that tariffs are a regressive tax that hurts American consumers and the economy as a whole."

Leading advertising agency McCann Worldgroup has harnessed the power of Pulsar to aid its research & strategy practices, integrating cutting-edge insights into their thought leadership initiatives. We spoke to Kay, Strategic Excellence Manager, about how Pulsar supported the development of their acclaimed thought leadership report, The Truth About Ascending Asia. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eewN2GZB

People are gravitating towards flip phones and their simplicity as they feel frustrated with smartphones, perceived as high-maintenance, bulky and addictive. "A growing number of individuals are expressing nostalgia for flip phones, driven by frustration with the limitations and drawbacks of smartphones. This shift in public opinion is fueled by a desire for a more streamlined, hassle-free mobile experience, as well as a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era of mobile technology."

Who’s the Audience of the Wrestling? How has it evolved over the past few years? Where is it going next? 🤼♂️ Francesco speaks with Charlie Palmer of Audience Strategies about: 🏟️ How memes shaped wrestling storylines long before social media 📺 Why Netflix’s recent moves into wrestling could change entertainment forever 💥 How WWE has turned audience intelligence into entertainment Out now! Spotify https://lnkd.in/ejdSSvPd  Apple https://lnkd.in/ecNKZGDK 

As economic disparities grow, public skepticism toward the elites is deepening, driven by mounting frustration over wealth & opportunity gaps. "There is a sense of inequality and unfairness, with some arguing that the working class is being exploited and mistreated. This sentiment is reflected in comments about the wealthy having a superficial divide and aristocratic greed that perpetuates social problems. Others are accusing them of being out of touch and unsympathetic. Overall, the narrative of resentment toward the elites is driven by a deep-seated sense of injustice and a growing demand for change."

Frustrated by economic stagnation and perceived Western influence, more Africans believe that turning to China would be best, thanks to its willingness to invest in infrastructure and trade without imposing political conditions. "China's significant investments in African infrastructure, trade, and diplomacy have earned it popularity on the continent, with many Africans seeing it as a more reliable and less conditional partner than Western nations. The Chinese government's willingness to provide loans and invest in African projects without imposing strict criteria or political conditions has made it an attractive alternative to Western institutions like the IMF and World Bank. As a result, African leaders are increasingly turning to China for economic support, and the West is losing its influence on the continent."

Ever loved a brand so much it felt personal? Not loyalty. Not preference. But real, emotional connection. That’s exactly what we explored last Wednesday in a fantastic seminar hosted by Pulsar, with Oryelle C. and Sal Morton — and this post is a little love letter to that conversation. The conversation touched on some fascinating points: How ChatGPT challenges the typical narrative around #AI and #emotion — bringing emotions into tech conversations, and even expressions of affection in GPT discourse (yes, really!). This is especially interesting considering that recent Microsoft research shows online conversations around AI are still often associated with fear — fear of the unknown, fear of job loss, fear of losing human touch. How Burberry has cultivated a fandom not just through luxury, but through emotional connection. With 58.9% of mentions expressing affection and 5M+ TikTok followers, it's a case study in emotional amplification. #TikTok, by the way, acts as an emotional amplifier — a place for unscripted, raw, authentic content. No surprise that Burberry’s emotional connection feels so strong there. Fandom becomes ownership. Love becomes loyalty. And yes, we also talked #metrics. Because love is powerful — but measuring it matters even more. 💬 What about you? Have you ever loved a brand like that? Thanks again to Pulsar for having me — the recording is in the comments ⬇️

Microtrends never matter - until you understand the narratives behind them. When we look at AI beauty’s narratives, one surprising (but growing) belief is that AI is making beauty more accessible for less. This makes sense of the rise in beauty trends like ‘AI told me to buy it’ or ‘AI picks my makeup,’ edging out the once-dominant ‘TikTok made me buy it.’ Another interesting layer is that beauty is evolving into fantasy. Trends like AI influencers and virtual companions are backed by cultural-driven communities (like anime fandom), where a deep obsession with fantasy is reshaping beauty into something to be performed and virtualised, not just personally adopted. Once you get the narratives, the trends and culture behind beauty suddenly fall into place. P.S. Our Narratives AI is nearly here - if you'd like to take it for a spin before it launches, just DM me!