AI 'girlfriend ads' fuel new wave of MFA sites

June 11, 2026 AI-generated “girlfriend ads” are driving traffic to made-for-advertising sites filled with low-quality content and ads. These MFA networks drew in over 2 million visits per month in Q1 2026, according to DoubleVerify. The company estimated that one of these networks could generate revenue in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. TOP STORY Beyond Ads AI 'girlfriend ads' are fueling a new wave of MFA sites AI-generated “girlfriend ads” are driving traffic to made-for-advertising sites filled with low-quality content and ads. Advertisement OTHER THINGS TO KNOW According to VIOOH’s latest State of the Nation 2026 report, 91% of U.S. respondents say pDOOH has already been planned as part of wider digital and programmatic activity. Partner insights from VIOOH. Instead of experimentation, marketers are testing ideas fast and scaling what’s successful. By prioritizing AI that works alongside marketers, leaders are improving workflows, reducing burnout, ensuring consistency — all while maintaining the human component of their creative. Partner insights from Contentful. Publishers’ biggest concern about AI’s impact on business in the next two years is AI-powered search reducing referral traffic, according to a new survey from Digiday and Piano. Eight-five percent of respondents selected this. Partner insights from Piano. MARKETING Marketing on Platforms OpenAI’s ChatGPT ads get its first conversion API partner in LiveRamp The partnership enables advertisers to connect chatbot ads to real-world purchases for the first time via conversion data. The Sports Marketing Playbook Why Dove is betting on hundreds of creators for the World Cup Dove Men is using hundreds of creators for the World Cup while balancing scale, brand safety and AI concerns. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM PIANO Prioritizing registration tempers search traffic declines for publishers When search traffic was high, anonymous visitors didn’t matter. But anonymous readers can’t be reached directly again. Tactics like newsletter sign-ups convert visitors into reachable audiences and make publishers less dependent on any single referral. Marketing on Platforms Agency AI pitches are starting to face harder questions As agencies race to sell proprietary AI the future of marketing, 3C Ventures argues advertisers need more proof. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM EX.CO Publishers are confronting AI search problems with new video formats According to Statista, global video ad spend is projected to hit $236 billion in 2026 — the single largest format category in digital advertising. Advertisement MEDIA & PLATFORMS Marketing on Platforms LinkedIn wants to own B2B creator discovery with new creator marketplace LinkedIn is aiming to make B2B creator discovery more scalable for brands looking to tap into its growing creator ecosystem. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM SHEERID How loyalty programs are fueling always-on strategies Loyalty programs help prove who a consumer is. For example, if the team knows a consumer is an educator, they can use it to personalize every exchange moving forward, tailoring messaging to follow that person’s year. The Sports Marketing Playbook What brands are paying to advertise around the World Cup Sponsorships start at around $15 million and go up to $85 million, with some experts calling $25 million the unofficial barrier of entry to appear on Fox. FROM DIGIDAY+ Member exclusive Media Briefing: Publishers put premium video behind the paywall to sell subscriptions The Wall Street Journal, Fortune and Bloomberg test putting video behind the paywall to drive and retain subscriptions. Written by Jim Cooper and Sara Jerde Were you forwarded this email? Sign up to get it daily. Advertise | Digiday+ | Events | Awards Update your email | Unsubscribe | Privacy policy