Livestreaming was an existing trend that gained newfound relevance during the pandemic. Over the past few months, nearly all of the major US social networks have expanded their services and introduced new livestreaming opportunities, many of which are aimed at boosting commerce on the platforms.

Why telemental health cos should start addressing social health factors like housing: As telehealth cos like Hims & Hers and AbleTo expand their virtual mental health offerings, we unpack why it may not be enough to capture consumers, and how addressing social factors can help them reel in engaged users.

Hi-fi YouTube TV: The $20 add-on to YouTube's skinny bundle includes 4K resolution and offline playback, which YouTube hopes can capture sports fans who have already cut the cord on traditional cable.

On today's episode, we discuss how resale is taking retail by storm, what will happen to fast fashion, and how much companies need to do in terms of sustainability in the eyes of the consumer. We then talk about how retail growth is getting on halfway through the year, what the pandemic did to small businesses, and what technology retailers are (and are not) doubling down on. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer director of forecasting at Insider Intelligence Cindy Liu.

The downturn forced issuers to take steps to mitigate risks and maintain primary card status. But with much of the US beginning to look past COVID-19, issuers can now switch gears to focus on growth again.

Where US travelers plan to soak up summer sun

At this year's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), Apple announced several new privacy-protecting updates, including Hide My Email. Alex Cone, vice president, privacy and data protection at trade organization IAB Tech Lab, joins eMarketer principal analyst at Insider Intelligence Nicole Perrin to discuss what Hide My Email will do, some of Apple's other recent changes, and whether the big tech platforms are more concerned about data protection than about privacy per se.

The growth of investment robo-advisors—algorithm-based account services—spiked last year across the US, the UK, and Canada as investors, especially those belonging to younger populations, took advantage of investment opportunities during the pandemic. For instance, independent robo-advisors Wealthfront and Betterment both reported double-digit increases in account openings during the pandemic.

The fintech’s $100 million round shows growing confidence in the crypto sector, as regulations and new use cases increase and make solutions like Chainalysis’ more valuable.

NTWRK pushes live shopping in the US: The livestream-centric mobile marketplace is competing with giants like Amazon and Facebook as US companies emulate China and struggle to succeed in the fledgeling livestreaming ecommerce space.

Brexit-induced tensions: Six months after the end of the Brexit transition period, UK brands that sell online are reporting a significant loss of EU-based customers.

Closing the loop: Verizon Media expanded its partnership with shopper intelligence platform Catalina this week by making their respective identity graphs interoperable. The partnership is likely a bid to emulate the offerings of companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Instacart.

Wells Fargo hands over 280,000 PPP loans: The banking giant’s track record of issuing loans over the course of the pandemic-era program could help improve its standing with regulators as it seeks to end its asset cap.

Consumers are still paying bills digitally more often than before the pandemic, extending a valuable volume opportunity for issuers, card networks, and digital wallets.