A lot happens in a week, so every Friday we're going to analyze all the new data and provide you with some of the key takeaways. Welcome to the Friday 5.
AI-powered summaries from OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity misrepresent facts, yet audiences buy in—fueling misinformation and risking brand reputation
X plans first marketing campaign under Musk, but ad revenues will still drop: While brands like Apple are resuming advertising, but it has more to do with politics than ROAS.
TikTok returns to US app stores, hinting at a secure future: Regulators and storefronts say they want to keep the app around, putting it on much stronger footing.
Reddit posts 71% revenue growth but misses DAUq targets: Despite strong ad revenue and international expansion, Reddit’s user growth fell short of expectations, sending shares down 14% after hours.
YouTube is the preferred platform for podcasts, and Netflix wants in: Marketers must recognize podcasts aren’t audio-only to effectively reach consumers.
BuzzFeed’s BF Island aims to redefine social media with AI-driven creativity. But in a market dominated by giants, will it be a fresh start or just another failed pivot?
Even if TikTok goes away, short social video is here to stay. Consumption will move to other places, and advertisers need to be ready.
List of potential TikTok buyers grows while ban looms: The platform is drawing interest from new parties who could keep the key marketing channel afloat for millions of US companies.
Tinder’s user base is shrinking, but AI-driven matching and profile optimization alongside a price increase could improve its bottom line—if Match Group reassures users about bias and privacy.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what Gen Alpha are up to on social media, where they are about to migrate to, and what advertisers need to know about these young people. Tune in to the conversation with Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Analyst Paola Flores-Marquez, and Vice President of Research Jennifer Pearson. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
With TikTok facing potential US ban uncertainties, the platform's successful shopping integration has created both challenges and opportunities in the social commerce landscape. "TikTok really showed how social commerce can work in a new way in the US," our analyst Sky Canaves said on a recent episode of “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail.”
2025 is the year marketers will get serious about the creator economy, according to our analyst Jasmine Enberg.
The fate of TikTok in the US: Legal, economic, and operational implications unfold as businesses and creators prepare for potential disruption.
The future of Super Bowl advertising is multi-platform: Brands are investing in second-screen engagement and digital-first campaigns to maximize impact beyond the game.
A lot happens in a week, so every Friday we're going to analyze all the new data and provide you with some of the key takeaways. Welcome to the Friday 5.
The platform warns that shifting search algorithms and mixed DEI expectations could hurt user growth and brand perception.
Tariffs on Chinese goods could hurt Google, Meta: Chinese retailers Temu and Shein are two of the companies’ top ad spenders.
With privacy and misinformation at risk, teens worry about tech companies’ failure to manage AI content and prioritize their safety.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss how TikTok Shop has changed the way people shop on social media, how the brands who sell on the platform will be impacted if TikTok goes away, and what they should be thinking about next. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Principal Analyst Sky Canaves and Vice President and Principal Analyst Jasmine Enberg.