Hot this week: Mathematics, FIFA's stench and creepy toys

Every week, we bring you a round-up of the hottest stories from the last seven days. It’s essential reading for the digital marketing world. This week we had an exclusive interview with Fospha’s Ben Darlington discussing the future importance of maths in marketing, the growing anti-FIFA sentiment and what it could mean for major brand sponsorship, and everything else you need to know about digital this week.

 

INTERVIEW: Have marketers been using the wrong metrics all along?

Ben Darlington, CTO at Fospha, tells .rising where digital marketing is headed and why the mathematician is the new creative genius.

 

 

INSIGHT: Will the stench of FIFA corruption force sponsors to quit World Cup?

With FIFA officials in cuffs and the blood of more than 1,400 migrant workers on the football federation’s hands, will brands distance themselves from the mounting atrocities or ride the storm?

 

 

INFOGRAPHIC: 47+ things you should know about WhatsApp

As of April 2015, the app has more than 800 million active users and it is racing for the 1 billion mark at blazing speed. So, as nearly one-seventh of the earth sign up to the tool – what stats and facts do you need to know?

 

 

NIGHTMARES: Google patents “creepy” toys that listen to you

SmartUp, a legal tech firm, recently spotted the three-year old patent for devices that would turn their heads towards users and listen to what they were saying, before relaying information to a remote computer, sparking privacy concerns.

 

 

INSIGHT: Apple crowned world’s most valuable brand in global ranking

The so-called BrandZ rankings watched Apple’s value jump by 67% to $247bn – fueled by iPhone 6 sales – eclipsing Google’s 9% increase to $174bn.