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The Apptopia MCP Server Is Here

Apptopia has launched a new MCP Server product, as indicated by the addition of 'Apptopia MCP Server NEW' to the Products menu and a featured article titled 'The Apptopia MCP Server Is Here'.

Tech Hiring Prioritizes Experience Over Skills; Shift Toward AI Data Roles

A16z's newsletter 'Chart of the Week' analyzes several tech trends based on recent data. It reports that tech job postings since January 2025 show an increased preference for experienced workers and a corresponding decrease in the number of skills required, suggesting an AI-driven shift. This trend is most pronounced in data and systems roles. The newsletter also observes that social media usage is rising, particularly among younger users, but its share of mobile screen time is declining, partially due to increased time on YouTube. Netflix's US users and viewing time have declined over three years, with a 20% drop in YouTube users who also use Netflix. Cybersecurity threats are escalating: the zero-day rate has quadrupled since 2020, and data center construction spending has surged, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

• Tech job postings show a 5-10% increase in preferred years of experience and a corresponding drop in preferred skills since January 2025.
• Data and systems jobs show the largest premium for experience.
• Netflix weekly users and time spent in the US have dropped ~15% and 30% respectively over the past 3+ years.

Carter's Relies on Data and Nostalgia to Stay Relevant

At Brandweek 2026, Carter's global VP of brand marketing Aubrie Corey and Zappi CMO Nataly Kelly discussed how the 161-year-old brand stays relevant. The strategy combines generational insights with a constant pulse of consumer data. Carter's recently launched a brand evolution targeting Gen Z parents, who favor self-expression over the 'mini me' style of the past. The brand also tapped into nostalgia with the OshKosh Reissued Collection, reviving 1980s and 1990s styles, and partnered with Umbro for World Cup-themed clothing. Kelly emphasized the need to centralize customer signals from siloed systems to effectively anticipate consumer trends.

• Carter's is a 161-year-old brand that uses consumer data to guide brand evolution.
• At Brandweek 2026, Carter's global VP Aubrie Corey and Zappi CMO Nataly Kelly discussed brand relevance.
• Carter's brand OshKosh B'gosh launched the Reissued Collection, featuring vintage styles from the 1980s and 1990s.

Converse Ad Rollout Fails Due to Lack of Single Accountability

This article is an opinion piece analyzing Converse's global ad campaign missteps, which led to two separate ads evoking lynching imagery. The first ad, featuring global ambassador Karina, was posted on Threads on Sept. 3. A second ad, a collaboration with Danish brand Palmes, was posted via Converse Mexico's Instagram on Sept. 14, with a similar image also appearing on Converse Malaysia's Instagram. The author attributes these failures to a decentralized global marketing process without a single point of accountability, where local teams and third-party partners lack shared cultural context and consumer testing data is not integrated globally. The piece advises global CMOs to test concepts earlier across markets, include partner and influencer content, and implement a one-flag rule for escalating any mentions of violence, hate symbolism, or historical trauma.

• Converse apologized for a Sept. 3 ad on Threads featuring Karina, which evoked a lynching.
• A second ad, a collaboration with Danish brand Palmes, was posted on Converse Mexico's Instagram on Sept. 14, showing a man on a ladder with sneakers overhead.
• Converse Malaysia's Instagram also posted the second ad image.

Zappi Newsroom: New Consumer Insights on Sydney Sweeney x Novig, Callaway x Good Good, and More

The newsroom page has been updated with new articles including 'Consumers on Sydney Sweeney x Novig: Winning men, losing women' (September 15, 2026), 'Consumers on Callaway x Good Good: Memorable for the wrong reasons' (September 2, 2026), and 'Why we built the Synthetic Idea Pre-Screener' (August 26, 2026). Additionally, the page now features a banner for 'The third annual connected insights report is here' with a link to get the report.