The same social media video behaviors that shape other purchases are influencing their health and wellness choices.

AI changes creator playbooks: Cannes Lions showed platforms weaving AI into creator tools as marketers balance scale with credibility.

Media consumption is climbing again after years of slower growth, thanks partly to genAI. New forecasts reveal how AI, streaming video, live sports, and converged TV are reshaping how US adults spend their time—and driving more screen time in the process.

Meta’s spotlights AI at Cannes: The company is leveraging its scale to advance automated ads, but marketers still need strong creative and clear guardrails.

YouTube settlement sharpens youth safety concerns: As social companies head to court, brands may need a more cautious approach to youth audiences.

Google expands YouTube tools: New creator, trend, and AI insights tie planning, content, and ads into one fuller-funnel workflow.

57% of US digital audio listeners spend the most time with music playlists, far ahead of podcasts (35%) and every other format, according to a March 2026 survey from Harris Poll and EMARKETER.

Digital media consumption will continue climbing in 2026. However, where and how users spend time has fragmented across screens—shaped by CTV’s rise, video’s staying power, and genAI’s early pull.

Gen Alpha is entering its teen years just as scrutiny of social media intensifies. Their habits are taking shape amid new rules, safety concerns, and shifting expectations. And that’s creating fresh challenges for platforms, parents, and marketers.

Walmart Connect is expanding its audience data offering into YouTube streaming inventory through Display & Video 360, allowing advertisers to target Walmart audiences more precisely while tying campaigns back to shopping behavior and sales outcomes.

Gen Z adults spend 48 hours a month on Spotify's mobile app, 2.9 times the 16.8 hours they spend on YouTube's, according to a February survey from Comscore.

CTV has sizable and growing media time in Canada, but ad spending still lags. As viewing habits shift across digital channels, marketers face growing pressure to realign budgets before attention moves further ahead of investment.

YouTube's share of US grocery purchase-intent clicks rocketed from 2.2% to 55.2% YoY, vaulting it from last place to first among social platforms, according to first-quarter data from MikMak.

Sports audiences are fragmenting across platforms and channels, but live games still command attention and deliver engaged audiences. Streaming is growing, but traditional TV remains an important part of the ecosystem.

Cyclical political ad spending is surging again, and midterms are no longer much of a step down from presidential cycles. Broadcast TV still dominates campaigns, but CTV is reshaping political advertising faster than any other channel.

YouTube Shorts earns MRC stamp: Shorts is the first short-form platform accredited, giving brands third-party backing on safety systems.

Meta turns Reels into series: A new feature tests episodic Reels, aiming to convert scroll-by views into repeat visits and deeper ad value.

Why every streamer wants podcast deals: A flurry of exclusive video deals offers streamers a low-cost way to drive viewership.