On today's episode, we discuss whether Instagram is starting to look a little too much like TikTok, why we're seeing more brands pop up in movies and TV shows, how to win young people's loyalty, what comes after the iPhone, the potential of NFL+, an unpopular opinion about vinyl versus digital audio, some interesting population facts, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our director of reports editing Rahul Chadha and analysts Blake Droesch and Paul Verna.

On today's episode, we discuss the biggest problem with media, how TikTok is taking on TV, how the newspaper business is getting on, the significance of the iPhone's 15th birthday, why you may buy your next car online, an unpopular opinion about Gen Zers and formal wear, the bestselling video game console of all time, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Dave Frankland and Evelyn Mitchell and director of reports editing Rahul Chadha.

By 2026, nearly 30% of US consumers’ average retail spending (excluding food and beverage sales and ticketing) will be made using proximity mobile payments, as providers look to build on the pandemic-driven adoption of the technology.

Apple joins other retailers looking for ways to maximize recurring revenue: A hardware subscription program could help the tech giant make up for softening consumer demand and build deeper relationships with consumers.

Smartphone duopoly could get regulatory pushback in UK: The latest effort to keep Apple and Google in check could invite competition and promote consumer choice, but there’s no viable third player.

Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, owns the top four mobile apps worldwide, with WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Facebook, and Instagram seeing the most cumulative downloads between Q1 2014 and Q3 2021.

If money were no object when buying consumer tech, many US adults would upgrade their phones and improve their home security.

The smartphone industry is feeling the squeeze of the semiconductor shortage.

The new rules would force electronic makers to standardize USB-C charging ports, taking direct aim at Apple’s iPhone.

In every continent except Oceania, Android accounts for a greater share of smartphone web traffic than iOS.

Mobile messaging app adoption accelerated in 2020, particularly in the early months of the pandemic, as housebound consumers sought out ways to stay connected with friends and family.

More than 90 groups signed a letter demanding Apple cease rollout of its CSAM scanning tool, citing the potential for misuse. The continued pressure could stand as a major inflection point in Apple’s brand history.

As the US begins to emerge from the pandemic, people are re-entering the world with new habits, including new mobile behaviors. This year, the time US adults spend on mobile devices will continue to grow, albeit at a slower rate than last year. Nearly a third of their daily time spent with media will be on mobile.

In 2021, the number of monthly Facebook users in the US will increase by less than 1% year over year, the platform’s lowest annual growth rate to date. Much of this deceleration is due to last year’s higher-than-expected growth of 3.3%, which was driven by changes in media habits during the pandemic.

Push notifications push away users

Where is the Android OS used more than the iOS? Everywhere

The iPhone 12’s strong performance so far has led eMarketer to increase its projections for iPhone users in the US for 2021 and beyond. We now expect iPhone usage in the US will grow this year to 116.3 million, slightly ahead of our Q1 2020 projection of 113.4 million.

Downloading apps? There’s an app for that

The iPhone 12 Pro became the first phone to have a back-facing Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) camera, which enables more sophisticated augmented reality (AR). (Top-end Android phones use a similar Time-of-Flight, or ToF sensor.) Lidar can near-instantaneously detect depth and size, allowing for rapid and very detailed mixed reality functions for apps, such as furniture placement or full-body Snapchat Lenses. This should supercharge mobile AR spending and make such ads more feasible.