This Old Marketing - News Podcast Weekly with Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose

META: The Least Ethical Company on the Planet (506)

9 snips

Nov 14, 2025

The discussion dives deep into Meta's alarming revenue from scam ads, highlighting its long history of ethical failures. The hosts ponder whether it's the least ethical major tech player today. Shifting gears, they analyze Michael Burry's bold bet against AI tech companies, contemplating the timing of a potential market correction. Meanwhile, Disney repositions its spending towards live sports and experiential entertainment. Finally, they examine Coca-Cola’s AI-generated holiday ad and the implications for brand strategy.

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INSIGHT

Meta's Revenue Built On Scam Ads

Meta internally estimated ~10% of 2024 revenue came from scam and banned-product ads, revealing deep platform monetization problems.
Hosts argue this continues a decades-long pattern of ethical failures tied to “growth at all costs.”

INSIGHT

AI Hype May Take Years To Deflate

Michael Burry is shorting major AI and cloud plays while warning about stretched asset lifespans and inflated profits.
Hosts expect a reckoning but think a market correction is likely still about two years away due to real revenue and rising CAPEX needs.

INSIGHT

Rising AI Costs Threaten Valuations

AI-driven valuations are high but not yet dot-com irrational; expenses for compute and data centers are accelerating rapidly.
The hosts caution that rising infrastructure bills could force revaluations and painful adjustments across the sector.

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The episode kicks off with a pointed look at Meta, which seems to be earning a fortune from fraudulent and scam ads. Joe and Robert trace the pattern back more than a decade…from election misinformation to repeated scandals. The question emerges: Is Meta the least ethical major player in the industry today?

This conversation naturally leads into a look at the growing AI bubble and Michael Burry's bet against The Magnificent Ten. While his prediction may eventually play out, the boys debate why we're likely still two years away from any real correction.

Top Stories Meta's Long History of Trouble

Joe and Robert walk through Meta's pattern of behavior, including the current windfall from scam ads, reminders of past election interference issues, and the repeated failure to effectively police the platform. The bigger question: if this is systemic, where does it go from here?

The AI Bubble and Michael Burry's Bet

The legendary investor who foretold the mortgage crisis is now shorting the biggest tech companies. The boys give context on why he might be early, what signals they're watching, and what marketers should learn from speculative hype cycles.

Disney Spends Up…But Not Where You Think

Disney is increasing content spending, but the bulk is shifting toward live sports and in-person experiences. Joe and Robert discuss what this means for marketers and why "experiential" continues to be a long-term bet.

Coke's AI Holiday Ad Maker Responds

The studio responsible for Coca-Cola's AI holiday ad gives its defense. Is this just another evolution of creative tools, or are creators right to be irritated? The boys break down the nuance.

Winners and Losers

Joe's Winner: Netflix House Smart expansion into experiential entertainment. A real signal of where media companies are headed.
Robert's Loser: The end of the Farmer's Almanac A long-running institution finally fades. Robert shares why this one stings and what it says about legacy content.

Rants and Raves

Robert's Rant: Microsoft's sales content Robert has feelings…big ones. And he shares them.
Joe's Commentary: Chatbot JesusWhat could go wrong?

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Get Joe's new book, Burn the Playbook, at http://www.joepulizzi.com/books/burn-the-playbook/ Subscribe to Joe's Newsletter at https://www.joepulizzi.com/signup/.

Get Robert Rose's new book, Valuable Friction, at https://robertrose.net/valuable-friction/ Subscribe to Robert's Newsletter at https://seventhbearlens.substack.com/

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