‍First-Ever Study Reveals Average attention To Ads on WeAre8 is 4.7x More than other Social Apps, with Preliminary Scope3 Data Suggesting Heightened Levels of Attention Per Ad View for Every Gram of CO2 Emitted When Compared to Competitors

Purpose-driven social media app, WeAre8, today unveiled the results of a new three-month study that explores the attention metrics behind social media advertising. Entitled “Eyes Wide Open,” the study also provides preliminary insights, powered by Scope3 data,  into how much attention is generated relative to the carbon emissions each platform emits when delivering an advert.*

Conducted by leading insights agency Lumen and leveraging carbon emissions data from Scope3, the study involved ads from seven brands across Australia and the United Kingdom and was analysed against a panel of 800 respondents aged 18-64 years. 

The research used eye-tracking quantitative analysis that replicated and benchmarked the delivery of WeAre8’s advertising experience against social media competitors, including TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. The assessment scored the ad delivery on WeAre8 against the average time spent watching and the average viewable time of each platform to calculate a time attentive score. The attention data was then overlaid against preliminary carbon emission estimates from Scope3 to achieve a ‘carbon cost of attention.’” 

Using a combination of ad units ranging from six seconds to 45 seconds–averaged to remove ad length ambiguity–the study saw WeAre8’s opt-in video advertising not only achieve the longest time an ad is in view but also retain the highest share of attention 4.7x more than other social apps. 

The study provided further insight into WeAre8’s ability to help brands achieve heightened levels of attention and deliver with a reduced carbon footprint. Based on preliminary data from Scope3, WeAre8’s advertising model, which invites people to watch an ad over being served multiple impressions within a content feed, allows clients to receive more than 200 seconds of attention per gram of CO2 emitted, 13x more attention per gram of carbon emitted than the nearest social platform. Early data suggests this is 20x more attention per gram of carbon emitted than the mobile app category overall. 

Lumen’s Lead Attention Consultant, Amelia Wallis, noted, “It's not often you see such consistent results from a digital advertising model as we have seen with this study. The opt-in advertising experience on WeAre8 would always deliver a lot of time spent viewing, but what was so surprising was the engagement we found from long-form ad creative. The longer the ad creative played on WeAre8, the higher the attention outcome. It’s a great message for brands looking to revisit how they can replicate that long-form storytelling once found on TV and replicate that in a mobile-first world.”

The study also explored why people gravitated to watching ads on WeAre8, with 80% of people agreeing their main driver was being paid to watch an ad so they could pay it forward to a charity or cause. 72% agreed the opt-in experience made them feel valued as a consumer, and 68% agreed the advertising experience made them want to learn more about the brand. 

“Social media has long been viewed as a contributor to a reduction in concentration among users, but this study demonstrates that if the advertising experience is a mutually beneficial exchange between the brand and the recipient, the reward for brands is twofold,” said Lizzie Young, CEO, WeAre8 Australia.  “The additional insights gained using Scope3’s data provide further consideration for brands looking to make a real impact on people and the planet and provide independent analysis to help guide their decision-making. 

“Given our no wastage proposition where as a brand you only pay for an eyeball we deliver, we are the only platform globally that enables you to develop a responsible media investment strategy and return 60% of your investment to people and planet.” 

“Eyes Wide Open” was conducted in partnership with advertisers spanning the entertainment, FMCG, finance and automotive sectors across Australia and the United Kingdom. 

‍Insight Summary 

For further information: 

Michael Hickson - The Comms Department 
E: Michael@thecommsdepartment.com.au 
M: 0448 108 266 

About WeAre8

WeAre8 is a social network where people, brands, charities, creators & the planet all thrive. The ground-breaking social app is built to inspire and empower its citizens for 8 minutes a day with exclusive content from the world's best creators and zero tolerance of hate. With a transformational ad model, people are also valued and paid every time they watch an ad with money also going to charity and climate solutions. WeAre8 encourages its citizens to reconnect with themselves, each other and lead more positive lives, all while taking small actions every day in support of the planet. As a certified B Corporation, WeAre8 is committed to putting people and the planet first.