Classroom cell phone bans are spreading fast, reshaping how teens use social media and when advertisers can reach them. The trend is shrinking opportunities to engage young audiences.

Kroger is betting that organizational alignment and retail intelligence will transform how brands approach growth strategies, moving beyond siloed advertising campaigns to create sustainable, category-expanding partnerships. "It's more than most publishers or most in kind of a media-focused world are gonna be focused on, you know, the next impression," said Christine Foster, group vice president of commercial strategy and operations at Kroger Precision Marketing, in a conversation at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. "For us, it really is about that next sale."

Short-form video is where social platforms are concentrating their ad innovation in 2026. Instagram is monetizing the moment after a Reel ends, YouTube Shorts earned the industry's first short-form measurement accreditation, and episodic formats are turning casual scrolling into appointment viewing. This FAQ covers the formats, inventory growth, and creative practices shaping short-form video advertising.

GLP-1s are creating a new consumer economy that reaches beyond healthcare. As treatment becomes easier to access, brands must balance growth opportunities with misinformation, fragmented support, and rising expectations for lifestyle services.

TikTok's biggest US audience isn't Gen Z: 36.5 million visitors ages 25 to 34 came to the platform in May 2026, compared with 24.5 million ages 18 to 24, according to a May survey from Comscore.

Social networks still command attention, but time spent growth is slowing. As video reaches its limits and scrutiny intensifies on multiple fronts, platforms are chasing new ways to keep users engaged.

AI health scam ads are fooling vulnerable patients, making consumer education with trusted healthcare creators a growing imperative for credible health brands.

Gen Z’s digital world no longer fits into neat categories. Entertainment, commerce, and AI now overlap, while trust is harder to earn. Shifting discovery, media habits, and decision-making are reshaping consumer engagement.

TikTok is back on a growth path in Canada as advertiser confidence returns. But potential of new youth safety rules could limit audience growth, even as ad and commerce opportunities expand.

Their new debit card highlights the opportunity for providers to serve creators as a distinct small-business segment

Advertisers are pouring money into channels that don’t match where consumers spend their time. This report reveals the biggest gaps across media, devices, and platforms—and where missed opportunities may lie.

YouTube has evolved into a sprawling advertising ecosystem that spans premium video, social, commerce, and AI. Its scale creates new opportunities, but marketers must navigate growing complexity to unlock better business outcomes.

Marketers create more content with AI, but sameness abounds: Strong signal data and model training are needed to differentiate AI creative.

TikTok moves shoppers into physical stores: UK shops, cafes, and luxury brands are using creator content to convert views into visits and sales.

US programmatic advertising is consolidating around video, CTV, walled gardens, retail media, and agentic AI. Marketers need to balance signal, scale, transparency, and control as automated buying enters its next phase.

YouTube ad growth slows: Video budgets are spreading across more platforms, making YouTube one part of a broader media strategy.

Consumer spending will come under greater pressure during the 2026 holiday season, slowing retail and ecommerce sales growth compared with the rest of the year.

Commerce media is becoming less about individual channels and more about creating connected customer experiences. Brands are increasingly combining offsite and onsite media to build awareness, drive consideration, and convert shoppers.

Rather than creating an out-of-home (OOH) campaign designed to generate social media buzz, travel app Skyscanner did the reverse: It turned an already-viral TikTok moment into a real-world brand experience. The company recently installed a billboard in the baggage claim area of San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, riffing on the viral "First time in San Juan, mi hijo?" audio created by Pittsburgh comedian Bill Stiteler (@saxboybilly18), which continues to soundtrack vacation videos, travel recaps and Puerto Rico getaways across TikTok. The billboard greets arriving visitors with the message: "First time in San Juan, mi hijo? Next time, compare flights and save 30% on average."

TikTok’s influence across Western Europe keeps expanding, but its biggest opportunities vary by market. This report explores where user growth, advertising, and social commerce are accelerating.