As feature parity becomes strategy, Meta chases engagement and relevance.

Positivity pays on Pinterest: A new study determined that platforms deemed “positive” can significantly boost ad performance.

TikTok Shop expands in Europe as US fate remains uncertain: Launch in France, Germany, and Italy underscores push for growth amid pressure to boost sales.

Meta may consider ad-free subscription offer for the UK: While the company settled a suit with a UK citizen, a similar offering in the EU has faced pushback.

Influencer marketing is maturing and diversifying. While the turmoil at TikTok and the escalating trade war are causing temporary uncertainty, the industry will remain resilient as momentum around influencer marketing grows.

Last week, Best Buy Ads launched Social+, an offering that allows brands and agencies to leverage Best Buy’s first-party data for social media campaigns. The tool is currently only available for Meta campaigns on Facebook and Instagram, but will expand to other social media networks in the future, per a press release.

Meta introduces new AI ad capabilities: The changes include more investments in Andromeda, new tools for Advantage+, and more genAI use cases.

While handy for creators and multilingual users, bot-written comments might alienate users in Meta’s already delicate social ecosystem.

Meta’s new Stories payout model drops view minimums, aiming to reengage influencers and win back young users.

The model, based on X’s Community Notes, may reduce bias but could leave misinformation unchecked when users can't agree on polarizing content.

Shoppers worldwide are flocking to online marketplaces and social commerce for convenience, variety, and competitive pricing. While price remains key, brand trust is becoming a major factor in certain markets. As these platforms drive discovery and sales, brands must adapt to stay competitive. Here are three ways digital shopping habits are evolving among consumers worldwide.

While teens retain digital habits from childhood (such as a strong preference for YouTube), their newfound independence and desire to connect with peers has led them to new habits.

Apple's recent release of an event-planning app exposes an opportunity for brands and marketers to engage with social consumers.

Top-line time spent with media will grow very little in the US going forward, making it essential to identify which formats and platforms are winning the newly zero-sum competition for consumer attention.

A dedicated Instagram Reels app could give Meta an edge over TikTok—or fragment its audience. If users resist another app, Instagram’s video dominance could take a hit.

YouTube strives to make ads less disruptive: The platform is changing its approach to mid-roll ads to appease viewers, creators, and brands alike.

In our exclusive survey with ESW, data from shoppers in 18 countries reveals new twists in the path to purchase, the rising momentum of marketplaces, and the resilience of age-old fundamentals.

With Facebook’s ad growth slowing, Meta is paying influencers to revive the platform—but can cash alone compete with TikTok and Instagram’s cultural dominance?

Nine in 10 consumers worldwide have a profile on Facebook, according to a January report from Sprout Social.