Most (63%) of global social media users prefer short videos from creators, according to a March impact.com and EMARKETER survey.

Amazon is developing two models of AR glasses to compete with Meta and Qualcomm in a bet that smart glasses could power the next wave of mainstream consumer devices. The company is planning a consumer version, internally named Jayhawk, and a model designed for delivery drivers, called Amelia, per The Information. The push in AR glasses reflects Amazon’s long-standing strategy of building hardware as a gateway to services and subscriptions. If successful, the device could lock consumers even more tightly into Amazon’s marketplace, collect constant user data for AI model and product improvement, and encourage daily engagement with Amazon platforms.

Snap debuted a new ad suite for marketers and developers, offering an “App Power Pack” that includes new bid strategies, ad formats, optimization strategies, and targeting capabilities to boost ROI, per MediaPost. Snap’s ad suite is an important step in the company’s efforts to cement its strength in advertising and curb slowing growth. We forecast the platform’s ad revenues will continue falling in the low single digits through 2027. But with competitors already offering similar products, Snapchat needs to go a step further to stand out.

The news: A Snapchat, WPP Media, and Lumen study unveiled key insights on the growth of attention-based metrics as key indicators of ad success. Even 5% more attention can double brand perception. Attention was 8 times more effective than view-through rates for predicting brand recall and 4 times more effective at determining brand favorability. Our take: Snap is looking to be a leader in a metric that advertisers are increasingly paying attention to—but on the back of a lukewarm quarter, can Snap’s emphasis on attention help it bounce back?

Our analysts took a look at the first half of this eventful year and provided their own very specific—albeit unlikely—predictions at what could happen in the second half of the year and beyond.

Online fashion sales are stable and growing slowly, but they lag wider ecommerce. Consumers are concerned about sustainability, but price is a bigger priority.

Online fashion sales growth in France is stabilizing as global competitors capture market share and social platforms become more influential.

The market will return to growth in 2025, but retailers face ongoing disruption from ultra-fast-fashion players and TikTok Shop.

Meta axes VR jobs as Reality Labs flounders: Over 100 workers, including staff behind the “Supernatural” fitness app, were cut as the firm pivots away from costly metaverse efforts.

Snap study shows the power of positive ads: Consumers reported higher brand recall when seeing ads that sparked "joy."

Snap doubles down on immersive brand tools: AI Lenses, creator events, and AR vending machines highlight its experiential marketing push.

Key stat: 66% of US adults are unaware of, haven’t used, or aren’t interested in augmented reality (AR) shopping apps as of January 2024, according to a January 2025 EMARKETER and CivicScience study.

Snap’s play for adrift creators: A simplified payment program could entice creators who are left stranded by a TikTok ban.

Walmart’s adaptive retail strategy is heavy on genAI, AR: The retailer is relying on the technologies to deliver personalized experiences, engage Gen Z, and improve customer service.

Retailers are experimenting with generative AI (genAI) across various use cases, from personalized marketing to conversational search. But the strategic risks of being an early adopter of genAI versus waiting for established players to set standards remain unclear.

From AI-powered smartphones to virtual shopping assistants, AI is becoming a powerful force in daily digital interactions—reshaping how people live, work, and shop.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what Amazon has planned for its thirties, the all-AI ad that sparked a debate about the future of marketing, why customer experience is historically low, the most impactful AR feature in retail, what animal can fly backwards, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of content Suzy Davidkhanian and analysts Sara Marzano and Carina Perkins.

Despite economic headwinds and challenges faced by major players, AR and VR adoption is on the rise.

Gen Zers and young millennials are the most likely to splurge on beauty in 2024—but their path to purchase is anything but straightforward.

South By Southwest was last week, and AI and VR were all the buzz. Gen Alpha is growing up with these technologies, which means the next generation of consumers will not just be used to AI and VR—they’ll expect to see it. Here are three takeaways from our analyst regarding tech trends at the event.