In 2026, economic uncertainty is quietly reshaping consumer payment behavior, driving shifts across cards, cash, BNPL, and emerging alternatives as households adapt how they manage spending and access liquidity.

US fashion ecommerce is maturing just as AI, social commerce, and resale gain traction. Slower growth and costly returns are raising the stakes, reshaping how consumers discover, decide, and buy.

YouTube now outpaces Reddit in AI citations as models prioritize transcripts, metadata, and explanatory formats over engagement signals.

TikTok reliably draws strong results that make it a must-have for short-form social advertising, even amid uncertainty.

This FAQ examines how shoppable media works, where consumers engage with it, and how marketers should evaluate these emerging formats.

Latin America’s video market is hitting peak penetration as streaming dominates media time. Mobile-first behaviors, platform concentration, and the popularity of short-form video are reshaping media consumption habits.

In place of the monthly retailer rankings, “Behind the Numbers” has launched the Unofficial Monthly Retailer Awards (UMRAs). Each month, the awards will spotlight retailers that stand out in three key categories: Most impactful campaign, best in-real-life initiative, and best under-the-radar move. Analysts will nominate standout brands, and host Suzy Davidkhanian will select the winners based on their cases.

Gen Alpha’s digital world is built around YouTube, gaming, and creator-led content. This report examines how early immersion, platform controls, and shifting norms are reshaping engagement as the cohort approaches adolescence.

37.2% of US adults say they're most likely to shop via Instagram, making it the top social commerce platform, ahead of TikTok (30.5%), according to a September 2025 survey from Power Digital Marketing.

Pinterest’s AI pivot looks defensive: Workforce cuts aim to fund automation, but investors remain unconvinced that AI investment alone will restore growth momentum.

TikTok US uninstalls jumped 150% post-takeover--but engagement held, meaning sentiment shifts matter more than uninstall headlines.

TikTok’s US transition brought algorithm resets, upload glitches, and new data tracking—jolting users and scrambling marketers’ reach.

TikTok creator Khaby Lame is scaling beyond human limits thanks to his AI twin, expanding his global reach as part of a $900 million deal.

The traditional marketing funnel model faces unprecedented disruption with generative AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity now bypassing traditional discovery channels, while younger consumers increasingly treat TikTok and Instagram as search engines.

TikTok Shop's low prices came with shaky trust, but the budget retailer is maturing into a serious marketplace and attracting partnerships.

TikTok has finalized a deal to maintain US operations, and its growth now depends on higher ad yields and efficiency as user growth slows.

Netflix’s ad revenues hit $1.5 billion, with expectations to double in 2026 as its next phase will hinge on broadening inventory advertisers know how to buy.

Australia’s social media ban for minors inspires global regulation as India, the UK, France, and more have said they will mimic the law.