Two major brands are demonstrating how to integrate creators across the full commerce funnel, not just for awareness but for driving actual transactions. "Connection is always valuable," said Cory Weaver, head of influence at Gap Inc., in an episode of "Behind the Numbers." "Creators are humans at the end of the day. They thrive on human connection."

This FAQ breaks down livestream shopping trends and what they mean for marketers

This FAQ breaks down what’s next for the creator economy and how marketers should respond.

Retailers face an uphill battle when it comes to loyalty and enticing repeat customers in 2026. Customers challenged by high prices are searching for the best deals wherever they can find them. And compared with practical considerations like convenience and customer satisfaction, brand love isn’t as effective in influencing customers as some marketers think.

Creator marketing will scale in 2026 as brands chase measurable outcomes. At the same time, pressures from AI, shifting platform incentives, and rising automation will reshape how creators earn and grow.

For social platforms, AI hype is colliding with user fatigue and rising regulations. In the US, they face stalled engagement and tougher rules as people demand more control and more human experiences.

The EU’s regulatory environment will hinder investment in AI-generated ads and agentic commerce in 2026. But TikTok Shop’s expansion will be a catalyst for live commerce.

Live shopping platform Whatnot raised $225 million in its most recent funding round, valuing the company at $11.5 billion, double its worth at the beginning of 2025. Platforms like Whatnot are introducing live shopping to a new generation of consumers who are more dialed into social video than channels like HSN and QVC. The company has generated $6 billion in gross merchandise value this year, more than twice last year’s amount. However, livestream commerce remains a tiny drop in the vast ocean of ecommerce, making it more useful as an engagement and community-building opportunity than as a sales driver.

Twitch introduced livestream shopping ads powered by Amazon’s advertising platform. The ad launch reflects the burgeoning popularity of livestream commerce, which despite being slow to take off in the US is now gaining traction thanks to TikTok, a booming collectibles market, and the rise of “shoppertainment.” Amazon is betting that an easier path to purchase will encourage more viewers to pull the trigger on products they discover via livestreams. However, a successful live shopping strategy requires thinking about the channel less as an avenue for direct conversions and more as an opportunity to engage potential customers and build lasting relationships.

TikTok Shop’s efforts to promote livestream shopping on its platform are beginning to deliver results for QVC, Pop Mart, Pacsun, Crocs, and others. Live shopping continues to gain momentum, but the format is likely to remain a small share of social commerce sales for the foreseeable future. The expense and effort required to put on livestreams means that, for now, they are most effective as tools to boost awareness and build community, rather than as an outright sales driver. Brands that start incorporating livestreaming in their commerce plans will be poised to benefit as the format matures.

YouTube is making livestreaming a central pillar of its platform with its most sweeping update yet. More than 30% of logged-in viewers watched live video in Q2 2025, and new features aim to boost engagement and monetization. Updates include YouTube Playables, dual horizontal and vertical streaming with a unified chat, AI-generated highlight Shorts, and side-by-side ad formats that don’t interrupt streams. The company is also enabling midstream exclusivity for members. For creators, livestreaming is now easier to scale and monetize; for brands, it’s a fresh avenue to connect with highly engaged audiences—and increasingly, to drive commerce.

QVC partners with TikTok as time runs out on second ban deadline: The retailer’s bet on the platform reflects both the growing importance of social commerce as well as confidence in TikTok’s future.

Shoppable ads will be a focus for brands in 2025 as they test new formats offered by retail media networks and their media partners.

Latin America’s digital revolution is marching full steam ahead, with consumers spending more than a third of their day online. As social commerce and retail media propel the region’s digital economy to new heights, the runway for growth remains long.​

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.

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.

Whatnot raises $265M amid TikTok ban fears: ByteDance pushes Lemon8, but the US-based livestream shipping platform gains investor confidence and market traction.

TikTok Shop plans to launch in Mexico next month: The move suggests the company is unfazed by the potential US ban.

TikTok is driving social commerce sales and buyer growth: The platform’s popularity and influence with Gen Zers contributed to its 2024 successes. We look at how that could change in 2025.