TikTok is ByteDance’s global engine: Despite slowing growth in China, the platform continues to expand monetization and user base worldwide.

Tech layoffs surge as AI eats middle management: Microsoft, LinkedIn, and others are slashing jobs to “flatten” org charts, raising concerns that generative AI's rise will echo the dot-com era's reckoning.

Google’s AI is expanding fast and meeting demand, but users could be wary about data collection in their homes and vehicles.

AR/VR continues to evolve as a tool for marketers and retailers to develop deeper consumer engagement. Long-term growth will be helped by AI integrations and demographic shifts. And while gaming is still the top use case, smart glasses are on the rise.

A 90-day pause in tariffs added over $800 billion to the Magnificent Seven’s market cap, revealing just how damaging trade tensions had been for investor confidence.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss Meta’s capacity to weather the tariff climate, how Meta plans to redefine advertising, and what happens if it is forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Vice President and Principal Analyst Jasmine Enberg, and Senior Analyst Minda Smiley. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Nearly $30 billion in ad spend will skip the ad triopoly: Meta, Google, and Amazon will see pullbacks as advertisers explore other options

As Vision Pro stumbles, Apple is plotting a comeback with AI-ready, fashion-forward glasses—powered by custom chips and its unbeatable dev ecosystem.

Social platforms vie for attention at NewFronts: Meta, TikTok, and Snap all debuted ad updates designed to remain competitive amid a backdrop of uncertainty.

The new Account Status dashboard helps explain post visibility, giving Threads an edge over X by offering clarity amid Meta’s evolving content policies.

With always-on AI, Meta’s next smart glasses could normalize surveillance as convenience—especially in a lax US regulatory climate.

Advertisers battle economic difficulties as they head into upfront negotiations.

Despite uncertainty related to the economy and tariffs, US social network ad spending is expected to grow. AI offerings, social commerce, and lower-funnel investments will drive outlays.

Threads hits 350 million monthly active users: As the platform sees steady growth, the question of whether it’ll outpace X in the near future intensifies.

X’s ad business is beginning to recover. But the return to growth is complicated, and there’s still a long road ahead for X’s ad revenues to reach pre-Elon Musk levels.

Turbulence in trade relations is changing how China’s ecommerce platforms do business in the US, with spillover effects on US retail and advertising.

Meta revenues up 16% YoY in Q1: The company started the year off on a positive note, but tariffs could foreshadow strife.

Visual and audio data will feed Meta AI unless voice commands are disabled—placing an ultimatum between convenience and control.

WhatsApp’s importance to Meta goes well beyond social messaging: A forced divestiture could disrupt customer service, commerce, and loyalty worldwide.

Snap earnings paint a grim picture for 2025: While revenues were up, the company pulled its guidance and lost 1 million users.