Jeff Barrett | ShortTake Blog

#ShortTake: Hollywood DMs, Dictionary Slang & Job-Hugging

By Jeff Barrett • Published Aug. 18, 2025

ShortTake is your weekly FYP from The Shorty Awards for quick, new and thought-challenging takes on culture, creativity and TLDR. Things that need a closer look and things that need a completely different perspective.

Hollywood Goes Where the Work—and the Talent—is

The Writers Guild has officially slid into the creator economy’s DMs. As streamers and studios cut budgets, YouTube creators now have something that’s suddenly very attractive: leverage. Organizing creator …

#ShortTake: American Eagle’s Controversy, Substack’s Billion-Dollar Bet, and the Best Ads of 2025

By Jeff Barrett • Published Aug. 4, 2025

ShortTake is your weekly FYP from The Shorty Awards for quick, new and thought-challenging takes on culture, creativity and TLDR. Things that need a closer look and things that need a completely different perspective.

American Eagle Doubles Down on Sweeney “Great Jeans” Campaign

American Eagle has defended its controversial Sydney Sweeney campaign—defining it as a denim statement, not a genetic ideology. Despite accusations of echoing eugenics-era rhetoric, the brand stood …

#ShortTake: Big Signals from Apple, TikTok & More

By Jeff Barrett • Published July 21, 2025

ShortTake is your weekly FYP from The Shorty Awards for quick, new and thought-challenging takes on culture, creativity and TLDR. Things that need a closer look and things that need a completely different perspective.

Apple’s Foldable Future

Apple is preparing to dive into foldable phones, reportedly targeting a 2026 launch. While Samsung and others have already tested the waters, Apple’s late entry often signals that a trend is ready for …

#ShortTake: Inflation, Roblox, New RTO Rules, and Prime Day

By Jeff Barrett • Published July 14, 2025

ShortTake is your weekly FYP from The Shorty Awards for quick, new and thought-challenging takes on culture, creativity and TLDR. Things that need a closer look and things that need a completely different perspective.

Inflation?

This week, the Consumer Price Index drops—and for marketers and creators alike, it's more than just a macro headline. Price sensitivity affects ad budgets, consumer behavior, and whether your followers buy the product you just …

#ShortTake: TikTok’s Rebrand Era, E-Commerce’s Slowdown, and the Rise of Vibe-Targeting

By Jeff Barrett • Published July 7, 2025

ShortTake is your weekly FYP from The Shorty Awards for quick, new and thought-challenging takes on culture, creativity and TLDR. Things that need a closer look and things that need a completely different perspective.

TikTok's Pre-Sale Glow-Up

TikTok is prepping a major design refresh ahead of a potential sale—including an overhauled app layout and an emphasis on "trust and safety." The goal? Impress regulators, potential buyers, and Gen Z all …