The EC weighs soft enforcement on Apple and Meta to sidestep tensions with Trump, risking weakened regulatory leverage.

Nearly five years since hundreds of Chinese apps were banned from India’s app stores, some can be found in the country’s Apple Store and Google Play once again. Will this open the door for other previously banned Chinese apps?

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.

Why creator monetization matters: As influencer marketing spending grows, platforms that offer consistent payouts will retain creators who provide valuable ad space.

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.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how virality is being redefined, how the word “Creator” is being reimagined, and how the social content consumers are looking for is changing. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Analyst Emmy Liederman, Senior Analyst Minda Smiley, and Co-Founder and CEO of Kale Isha Patel. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

This year’s festival highlighted a maturing creator economy, a reality check for AI, and bigger and bolder brand activations and marketing trends.

New pre-home- screen video ads are sparking backlash as Roku’s monetization push clashes with users’ expectations for a paid device experience.

As college sports amateurism dies, marketers are increasingly working with student-athlete influencers.

When Southwest Airlines announced they were charging for bags, Amtrak posted on X, “Guess we’re the only ones doing free baggage now.” The post, followed by more info on Amtrak’s baggage policy, is an example of what Amtrak senior manager of social media Nicolle Lopez calls its infotainment strategy, designed to educate and entertain at the same time.

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

Influencer marketing spend will grow15% YoY, outpacing digital and social ad spending, and will reach $10.52 billion in 2025, EMARKETER forecasts. Despite its growth, influencer marketing has maintained a core communication issue—no one knows what to call the people who are doing the work.

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

Threads tests feature allowing users to select interests: The move could help the platform address its retention problem and draw creators.

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.