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""Consumers have been confronted by fake news, fake online reviews, fake phishing emails, fake applications that install malware, fake accounts on social media platforms-and the list goes on," explained consumer psychologist Kenneth Faro, Ph.D., who worked with Origin/Hill Holliday on a new study that explores how the fake economy is affecting brands. "There's one big learning here, and it's the fact that we are seeing the emergence of a new consumer need-the need for truth." Faro recommends that brands view this need as an opportunity, not a challenge. "Valuing 'truth' can be a differentiating brand platform and a point of view that brands can stand for and rally consumers around," he said."

From childhood, we learn to associate symbols and icons with specific feelings or ideas. This is the same with branding, as logos come to embody the brand's personality in the mind of the consumer. Brands take tremendous effort in creating emotional connections with the consumer, and logos are just one of the many ways they can communicate who they are. Some logos are so prevalent in society that they are instantly recognizable.Below is a collection of 30 of the most recognizable logos. Some have seen multiple generations, and some are very new, but all are easily recognizable and might even evoke some feelings toward that brand.

"When it comes to creating a successful logo for your brand, it seems simplicity is key. Udemy, an education marketplace, examined logos from 50 brands on Fortune's 2015 World's Most Admired Companies list to figure out what their beloved insignias have in common. The infographic below, Deconstructing Successful Logos, breaks the designs down by color, typeface, shape and a few other criteria. And here are some key findings: Of the 50 logos analyzed-for brands including Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Facebook and Walt Disney-red and blue were the most popular colors. Also, 43 of the top companies use no more than two colors in their designs."

"Once a mark of rebellion, tattoos are fast becoming one of corporate America's favorite branding tools. This spring, Red Bull and the British e-tailer ASOS also set up pop-up tattoo parlors (at Miami Music Week and SXSW, respectively), and Sailor Jerry rum hosted a SXSW party where attendees were offered free tattoos of anchors and other brand-related designs. Last year, HBO gave away Game of Thrones tats, and this August free tattoos will be offered at a VIP Lollapalooza event hosted by Chicago's Hard Rock Hotel. For today's marketers, tattoos are just another gimmick-a sort of permanent promotional T-shirt. "Who needs a food truck at your party when you can do a tattoo truck?" says Bruce Starr, a partner at BMF Media, the agency behind the Hard Rock and ASOS events."

"In the lead-up to tonight's film, Generation Like, we've been asking our Facebook and Twitter communities to tell us why you use social and how it's affecting your lives. Hundreds of you have told us about the choices you're making - and why you're making them. We've asked a few writers who've thought a lot about social media to read your comments and reflect on them in the context of tonight's film. We also want to hear from you! Share your reactions below in the comments. Does Social Media Empower or Exploit? Douglas Rushkoff, Generation Like correspondent Douglas Rushkoff: Does Social Media Empower or Exploit? Generation Like correspondent Douglas Rushkoff is the author, most recently, of Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now, as well a dozen other books on media, technology and culture. He was correspondent on three previous FRONTLINE films, The Merchants of Cool (2001), The Persuaders (2004), and Digital Nation (2010). Follow him on Twitter @Rushkoff. In the lead-up to Generation Like, FRONTLINE has been asking questions about social media on social media. As I wade through the many responses, I am reminded of my own questions about these platforms when I began making this documentary. Like me, many of you are thrilled by the opportunity for connection and self-expression that social media offer.   Calum James Facebook is the best communication tool ever created. February 12 at 7:02pm   But many of you also share a sense of skepticism about what it is that social media - and the companies behind them - ask from us in return.   We all know this has something to do with our data. We create consumer profiles for the unseen companies on the other side of the screen, and enter into a relationship with them that isn't entirely clear. "Who is doing what for whom, and to what end?" The need to understand this better - and what it means for the young people using this stuff - is what set us on our journey to explor

""Farmed and Dangerous" takes branded content to another level by not including any branding at all in the show. Social Media Week organizers dubbed it Unbranded Entertainment. Chipotle and other advertisers placed commercials in the show, but by not including branding in the show itself, the restaurant has taken a risk that few marketers would entertain. But Chipotle's chief marketing and development officer, Mark Crumpacker, said on a panel at Social Media Week, in which I participated, that he didn't consider it a big risk at all. Citing McDonald's significant marketing budget, which dwarfs his company's, he said Chipotle couldn't afford to rely on traditional advertising. The hope is that PR, buzz and social media will do much of the heavy lifting for the chain's message."

"Humor is Vine's dominant category, so brands looking to reach consumers on the platform need to tap into it to have an impact. But it's so different, they're still figuring out how to use it effectively. "Traditional media and marketing simply does not translate on Vine," said Rob Fishman, CEO of Niche, a platform for social media creators and brands looking to connect with them. "This is a new medium, with new players.""

"Although Samsung wasn't the most popular brand on any particular social network, it earned 16 million new followers across multiple platforms in the past 12 months - enough to get data aggregator Starcount's top spot. Walt Disney came in second place, largely due to a one-million-follower increase on Sina Weibo, a Chinese microblogging site. National Geographic grabbed the bronze after its top-rated YouTube channel got 160 million views this past year. Check out the other companies that made the list for this year's top 10 brands on social media, below."

"Expect to see more branded content in your News Feed, as Facebook Friday introduced a new branded content tool and updated guidelines."

"Blue chip technology companies grabbed four of the top five spots in the annual ranking of most valuable brands by the consultants at Interbrand."

"McDonald's is testing the waters for a Twitter hashtag campaign again with its first TV ad directing users to join the conversation on Twitter. The effort, which began Monday, supports the brand's Pro Bowl tie-in. For 20 days this month, McDonald's will drop one ticket a day to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii in a package of 20-piece McNuggets. (The item will contain a paper certificate saying so, in the tradition of Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket.) The brand will also give away one ticket on Twitter and randomly award prizes to people who tweet with the #mcdprobowl hashtag from the ad. Prizes include coupons for a free 20-piece McNuggets, a year's supply of McNugget sauce and personalized tweets from NFL players to fans, among others. Rick Wion, director of social media for McDonald's, says that the brand chose Twitter because of "the amount of conversation going on there" around the game."

"In order to visually elucidate that point, Oxfam International created a comprehensive infographic that reveals the extensive reach of the "Big 10" food and beverage companies. Unlikely ties between brands we largely don't associate with one another show how easy it is to be misinformed about the American food system. F"

Need a bit of inspiration this morning? Check out this video from Erica Gorochow, explaining how the most iconic of brands can be built from the simplest of building blocks.

"The fourth annual Viral Video Awards will be presented April 1 at Ad Age's Digital Conference in New York City. Now's your chance to help us decide who gets a VVA trophy. Up for voting are candidates for funniest viral campaign of the year. First, a word about the selection process: There are plenty of funny branded videos out there, but these were picked because they're both funny AND they performed really well, making us laugh and achieving a brand goal in the process."

"It's been about a month since Instagram users have been subjected to ads in their feeds, and the photogenic world somehow hasn't ended. In fact, the companies behind the ads seem to be reaping some benefit, even if the actual value proposition here is still a bit foggy. Curalate, an outfit working with companies that want to advertise on social media, looked at all five brands included in Instagram's first push. If nothing else, the paid ads were much more effective at attracting likes than the unsponsored posts by the same brands, as the chart below shows:"

"Have you got the cojones to sing carols in front of tens of thousands? Heineken challenged people to find out, with "Carol Karaoke," a campaign that invited karaoke crooners to a private event, then pulled the rug out from under them by challenging them to continue singing in front of thousands of people. Developed by Wieden & Kennedy New York, Carol Karaoke is a continuation of Heineken's "Open Your World" brand positioning, which the agency has tried to bring to the real world by showing people that life can be more fun when you take the unexpected route. Colin Westcott-Pitt, VP-marketing for Heineken, said that the concept is a "good fit" with the brand, which began as a "small beer brewed in Amsterdam that wanted to open our world.""

"We saw, once again, how quickly Twitter can spread news, both accurate and damaging. We saw the power a tweet can exert when a brand uses it right (Oreo's "Dunk in the Dark" during the Super Bowl), and the anguish it can cause when a brand uses it wrong (we're looking at you, Epicurious). From the laudable to the laughable, here's a look at the tweets, story lines, and business decisions that made 2013 Twitter's biggest year yet."

"Join designer, maker, and Big Cartel shop owner Melanie Abrantes for a 30-minute class on developing cohesive product lines. Perfect for independent makers and creative businesses, you'll learn lessons from her real-world experience - as well as business and merchandising essentials - to grow your shop and brand. Key lessons cover: questions to ask when developing new products ... Read More"

"This bold and beautiful infographic delves into the psychology of colour in brands."

One company has found a way to do some emotional branding around the issue of the photoshopping of models and celebrities that are prevalent in the media. "The sister brand of American Eagle markets bras, panties and sleepwear to girls 15-21-girls in high school and college who are notoriously bombarded with the message "You need to be hot." Lest you think I exaggerate, surf Tumblr or the hashtag #thinspiration on Instagram, and you'll see what I mean. Aerie's new ads are unretouched. The girls you see in the ads are what they look like in real life, which is, sadly, groundbreaking. The models are wearing makeup, they look healthy, the poses are flattering, and the lighting is perfect. But theres's been no Photoshop-surgery removal of skin folds or digital slimming of thighs and stomachs. The copy on the print ads declares, "The girl in this photo has not been retouched. The real you is sexy.""