Among executives worldwide, 72% believe the metaverse will have at least some positive impact on their organization. Some 13% expect this mixed-reality realm to redefine their industry, while 28% think it will enable new business practices and help them reach new customers. Another 28% anticipate the metaverse will have minimal or no positive effect on their company.

WhatsApp looks to take group messaging to a new level: Communities feature allows separate groups to unite with encrypted communications.

Meta looks to bring commerce to its Horizon Worlds platform: Creators can earn money from their metaverse products and experiences under a test program.

Ad revenues for short-video-sharing app TikTok and Chinese sister app Douyin will hit $31.66 billion this year to account for 5.3% of the global digital ad market.

Retailers have long had an eye on augmented reality (AR), but it still has unrealized potential for shopping purposes.

Dimon warns of competition diminishing banks’ role in financial services: The JPMorgan Chase CEO’s annual letter to shareholders identified rising competitors and defended tech spending as necessary for maintaining the bank’s standing.

3D advertising on rise as brands step toward the metaverse: Twitter and Meta are banking on new ad types to propel growth.

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In part two, our analysts Paul Verna and Andrew Lipsman discuss how well-positioned Silicon Valley giants Meta and Google and their Seattle counterparts Amazon and Microsoft are for top-gaining segments of digital advertising—gaming, digital audio, and in-store digital media. They also explore other companies positioning themselves for the post-cookie era of digital ads, and ultimately answer the question: Is Seattle—not Silicon Valley—the future of digital advertising?

Join our analysts Paul Verna and Andrew Lipsman as they discuss the top-gaining segments of digital advertising, like connected TV and retail media, and explore whether the future of digital advertising belongs to Silicon Valley giants Meta and Google or their Seattle counterparts Amazon and Microsoft.

TikTok is the social commerce platform of the moment, as brands and marketers look to cash in on the #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt phenomenon. While TikTok may not have as large a shopper base as Facebook or Instagram, its shoppers are highly active and engaged.

Meta’s campaign against TikTok will do little to hide its own issues: Negative stories about rivals won’t fix its longstanding advertising and content issues.

Identity resolution is in a state of flux in the US advertising industry, with third-party browser cookies and mobile IDs being ushered out in the name of consumer privacy.

YouTube is the leading podcast platform among US adults who listen to 5 hours or more of these shows per week, with 55% tuning in there. Streaming audio platforms Spotify and Apple Podcasts take second and third place, respectively, while Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Facebook round out the top five.

Read the latest stories on social media regulations from Insider Intelligence.

Instagram’s role in the metaverse will involve NFTs and the creator economy: At SXSW, Zuckerberg hinted at long-term metaverse plans and upcoming NFT features.

Meta’s facing international growth challenges: Legal inquiries and fines from South Africa and Ireland are the latest hurdles the social media leader must contend with.

Google and Meta head toward another major showdown with Europe’s regulators: A new investigation alleges the two companies made a deal to block competition against Google’s ad system.

Twitter expands social commerce offerings to catch up with competitors: The social media platform won’t be a shopping destination anytime soon, but that won’t stop it from experimenting.

New data collection strategies emerge from Apple’s privacy update: Advertisers and publishers are turning to ecommerce, direct mail, and other means to enhance their first-party information, our recent report finds.