Episode Summary: “What’s Up THIS WEEK: New Social Media Law? Email Trending Tactic? Stranger Things? 😱” | Ep. 472

Podcast: Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson
Host: GURU Media Hub
Date: January 6, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This energetic mini-episode of “Do This, NOT That” delivers fast-paced analysis on the week’s hottest marketing and pop culture developments. With his signature humor and actionable advice, Jay Schwedelson covers:

• A groundbreaking new social media law in Virginia
• An email subject line tactic that’s outsmarting AI-generated blandness
• New data shifting the landscape of search towards social media
• A rapid-fire tour through recent pop culture oddities

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Virginia’s Bold Social Media Law

[00:25 - 02:05]

• Overview: Virginia has enacted a law capping social media screen time for users under 16 to one hour per day, effective January 1st, 2026.
• Platforms Impacted: Applies to ALL major platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Reddit, YouTube, etc.).
• Compliance: Parents must intervene to alter default settings. Non-compliant platforms face civil penalties.
• Industry Reaction: Multiple lawsuits are already challenging its implementation on free speech grounds.
• Jay’s Take:
  • “This is in effect and it’s a real deal thing… there’s going to be a cascading effect.” (01:45)
  • He notes this could set a precedent for other states, but predicts compliance and enforcement will be “really, really tough.”

2. Email Subject Line Tactic: No Capitalization = Higher Open Rates

[02:10 - 03:50]

• Current Problem: AI-generated content is making email marketing “really generic.”
• Data-Driven Solution: New research from World Data Research suggests that skipping capitalization entirely in email subject lines (no title case, not even the first word) increases open rates.
• Stat: Lift open rates by 4–14% by using all lowercase subject lines.
• The Reason: AI tools usually apply “title casing”. Doing the opposite makes emails look more human and less templated.
• Jay’s Actionable Tip:
  • “Try using no capitalization whatsoever… you actually see a boost.” (03:15)
  • Experiment: Run an A/B test to see if your audience responds positively.

3. Social Search Surges—What Marketers Need to Do NOW

[03:55 - 06:10]

• Key Findings:
  • Forbes: 24% of all humans now use social media as their primary search tool.
  • E-Marketer: Over 50% of Gen Z start their product journey on TikTok or Instagram, bypassing traditional search engines.
• Implications:
  • Search habits are shifting fast; social discovery is now table stakes.
  • Google now indexes social posts—including comments and captions—for search.
• Tactical Advice:
  • “It’s now absolute table stakes to make sure that your social media posts … are really factoring into the algorithm.” (05:55)
  • Use explicit, relevant language and captions—avoid being too “cute or clever” in videos and descriptions.
  • Add overlay or spoken captions to enhance searchability.
• Bottom Line: Metadata—the words in and around your posts—directly impacts both social and Google search.

4. Pop Culture Blitz: Avatar 3, Stranger Things Farewell, and Reality TV Ridiculousness

[06:15 - 11:50]

Avatar 3: Major Box Office—Minor Hype?

• “It hits a billion dollars. Who’s seen Avatar 3? … Zero people. I can’t even believe this is true. This is actually ridiculous.” (06:30)

Stranger Things Finale

• Admits feeling underwhelmed by the series’ ending:
  • “I actually don’t care. I want all that time back. … Who cares? I’m done with Stranger Things.” (08:00)

Reality TV Returns

• Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: “I cannot believe that Kyle and Mo … look like they’re getting back together. Nobody cares but me. This is kind of disturbing to me. That’s my own problem.” (09:00)

‘My Strange Addiction’ on TLC

• Show is rebooting with new episodes after a hiatus.
• Shares memorable (and bizarre) past cases:
  • Nathaniel with a romantic obsession for his 1998 Chevy Monte Carlo.
  • Woman who married the Eiffel Tower—“She was an objectophile.”
  • The “Drywall Eater” who habitually consumed drywall.
• Jay’s classic self-aware commentary:
  • “This show is coming back, which is probably the end of humanity.” (11:05)
  • “It didn’t make me want to eat drywall, but anyway…” (11:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On social platform law:
  • “It’s a good start…there’s going to be a cascading effect.” (01:45)
• On email tactics:
  • “If you do the reverse of what AI would normally give you back, you actually see a boost.” (03:24)
• On social search:
  • “It is now absolute table stakes to make sure your social media posts … are factoring into the algorithm.” (05:55)
• On viral trends:
  • “Who’s seen Avatar 3? First of all, who cares?... Zero people.” (06:30)
  • “This show is coming back, which is probably the end of humanity.” (11:05)

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic/Segment | |:-------------:|-------------------------------------------| | 00:25–02:05 | Virginia social media law overview | | 02:10–03:50 | Email subject line capitalization tactic | | 03:55–06:10 | Social as search, Google indexing | | 06:15–08:00 | Avatar 3 box office oddity | | 08:00–09:05 | Stranger Things finale | | 09:06–09:45 | Real Housewives chatter | | 09:45–11:50 | Return of My Strange Addiction (TLC) |

Overall Tone

Playful, direct, and fast-paced, Jay delivers jam-packed, actionable marketing tips with humor and a dash of pop culture irreverence. The episode breezes through critical marketing trends before letting loose in the “nonsense” segment, keeping listeners both informed and entertained.