Instagram is looking more and more like TikTok: The company is launching a video editing app, Edits, which is strikingly similar to TikTok’s CapCut.

Not everyone gets news from creators and influencers. But alternative voices, especially podcasters, hold a lot of sway over key demographics, including Gen Z, men, and consumers who feel marginalized by mainstream media.

TikTok Shop’s demise could benefit Amazon, Etsy, and Temu: All three retailers are poised to scoop up spending in the event of a TikTok ban.

Beauty’s run of strong retail sales growth is winding down, but new audiences and sales channels will offer opportunities for savvy brands and retailers to regain momentum.

Brands can’t run ads within DMs, but they’re getting close, and TikTok is experimenting with conversational ads.

Between navigating a TikTok ban that s been looming since 2020 and the unreliable nature of social media algorithms, brands and creators in influencer marketing are accustomed to diversification.

Meta’s healthcare ad changes go into effect: Healthcare advertisers will need to get creative and experiment with different approaches to effectively reach their target audiences in light of the changes.

Will Meta’s moderation pivot hurt brand safety? Possibly, but other safety features and the company’s enormous reach means brands won’t stop spending.

The loss of TikTok in the US would cause a ripple effect across the media, marketing, and commerce landscape. Meta and YouTube stand to gain the most, but there is a long list of other winners—and losers.

Meta’s pivot to community notes offers more free expression but risks spreading misinformation, alienating users, and damaging brand safety for advertisers.

As social messaging takes off, marketers are trying to figure out how to show up within that context, whether through advertising, shareable posts, or customer service.

Latin America’s digital economy will undergo significant changes in 2025 as retail innovation and regulatory changes redefine business dynamics for global and local players alike.

The former Bush aide’s elevation could reshape content moderation policies as Meta navigates polarized users and criticism of its content moderation policies.

AI fueled election confusion: Social platforms struggled to remove deepfakes and AI-driven misinformation during a contentious election year, but investment in moderation may dwindle now

Meta’s AI push risks alienating users if social feeds flood with bots. Balancing innovation with human creator support will be key to retaining its audience.

Social media dominates teen lives: Balancing screen time, mental health, and meaningful digital engagement becomes increasingly urgent for parents and educators.

2025 vision: Social platforms expect creators, Gen Z, and older users to wield more influence as a TikTok ban looms.

Cyberattacks and overloads disrupt industries: From telecom strikes to service failures, 2024’s outages underline the fragility of tech systems and the urgent need for diversification and resilience strategies.

Automated ad systems, boosted video ad spending, and platforms leaning into their unique qualities led to a bounce-back year in 2024 for social networks overall.

As social media strengthens its grip on consumers’ digital lives in 2025, political polarization, regulation, and a desire for deeper personalization will shake up the landscape.