On today's podcast episode, we discuss how TikTok Shop has changed the way people shop on social media, how the brands who sell on the platform will be impacted if TikTok goes away, and what they should be thinking about next. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Principal Analyst Sky Canaves and Vice President and Principal Analyst Jasmine Enberg.

Meta Advantage+ is increasingly relying on AI: Some campaigns will lose the ability to manually target consumers in an effort to lean on automation.

The startup argues its chatbot platform is protected like movies and video games, but the legal system’s AI blind spots leave its liability in question.

While iPhone and wearables sales slipped, Apple’s services revenues grew 13% YoY to $26.3 billion. Apple Intelligence hasn’t paid off yet, but monetizing Siri could give it a boost.

Its Safety Advisory Council warns that shifting to community notes exposes users to misinformation. Transparency and AI-driven oversight could help rebuild trust.

Meta wants 1 billion Meta AI users this year: The company is hoping its strong Q4 performance can propel it through a year rife with challenges.

Despite a $5 billion quarterly loss in the division, Meta remains committed to VR, even as rivals like Apple, Google, and Samsung close in.

Meta brings ads to Threads: The move marks a strategic push to monetize the app and offer an alternative to TikTok and X.

Younger banking customers care more than their older counterparts about banks’ diversity.

A series of major milestones are on tap for total media and digital media ad spending around the world in 2025, although growth will be uneven across countries and regions.

A scrappy Chinese startup disrupts the AI hierarchy with a lean, open-source model, challenging Big Tech’s costly infrastructure and rewriting the rules of AI competition.

Instagram, Facebook suppress content from abortion pill providers: The platforms are walking a tightrope between enforcing their community guidelines and alienating healthcare brands and patients.

Instagram is revamping Reels with a follower activity feed while Threads rolls out analytics and tests ads. The moves aim to deepen user engagement and maximize brand exposure.

As Samsung and Google develop mixed-reality glasses, Apple and Meta refine their ecosystems. Cheaper, lighter devices could finally push AR/VR into the mainstream.

Amid economic uncertainty and trade concerns from abroad, Canada’s digital ecosystem is expected to remain strong, fueled by innovation from publishers, advertisers, and retailers.

Oracle surged 6% amid AI collaboration news. Apple, SpaceX, and Microsoft align with government priorities, leveraging investments for strategic gains.

Social platforms agreed to tighten moderation of hate speech in the EU while loosening rules in the US, risking an unpredictable content environment.

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.

AI firms are paying for raw footage, offering creators extra cash—but with low payouts and growing privacy concerns, is this a good deal or a short-term play?

President-elect Donald Trump's second term promises profound shifts across commerce, technology, and regulation that will reshape how businesses operate and consumers behave. As the president-elect prepares to take office, his policy priorities are already triggering market reactions and pivots from major corporations.