Are parental controls enough to keep kids safe in the metaverse? Desperate for new users, Meta is putting the onus on parents to supervise their teens’ access to Quest and Instagram.
New in-game ad standards arrive just in time for the boom: The IAB and MRC have updated 13-year-old standards as spending surges.
Ikea risks greenwashing claims with its latest sustainability scheme: The retailer’s latest furniture concept is meant to extend an item’s lifetime, but it could work better in theory than in practice.
Advertising uncertainty just got worse: A report found that 17% of ads on CTV devices air while TVs are off, costing advertisers $1 billion.
Peacock offers free movie ticket or rental to market subscription plans: Promo leverages corporate assets to try to convert free-tier customers into paid ones.
US linear TV ad spending will hit $68.35 billion this year and fall to $64.94 billion in 2026. Despite that decline, ad spending on linear and connected TV (CTV) combined will increase from $87.24 billion this year to more than $100 billion in 2026 due to the surge in CTV viewing.
Metaverse events roll out welcome mat for LGBT+ community: Brands seize on opportunities to celebrate Pride Month in the virtual world.
On today's episode, we discuss the current diagnosis of Netflix—are their best days behind them, what will they need to do to keep the competition at bay, and what should we make of the rumored acquisition of Roku. "In Other News," we talk about YouTube making it easier to interact with the app on connected TVs (CTVs) and the prospect of its new frequency-capping solution. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Ross Benes.
Meta shifts focus away from hardware: It canceled its smartwatch, pivoted its Portal line to enterprise, and is pitching its AR glasses as developer-only tools as it shifts away from poorly selling consumer tech.
Though video gaming has been around for decades, it was the entertainment of choice for many during the pandemic.
Meta on the ropes: Meta shares have dropped, but metaverse adoption is expected to be a $13 trillion industry by 2030 as more players build competing immersive VR experiences.
Spotify doubles down on podcast commitments: The company revealed revenue figures at its investor day event, and warned that it will face losses for the next two years.
Xbox’s smart TV partnership could flesh out its ad business: The company is bringing its games subscription service to Samsung TVs.
New games, same ideology: Beijing regulators approved dozens of video games this week. But it may end up benefiting the broader tech sector and economy more than the gaming industry.
Netflix and Roku are the right match at the wrong time: A rumored merger makes sense on the surface, but not in the current landscape.
Meta thinks users need stepping stones to the metaverse: Its Crayta announcement suggests many consumers need to be pushed along the “immersion continuum.”
VR gets brainy: Varjo’s Aero VR headset monitors the brain and body, relying on open-source software that could propel an influx of biotracking devices for use in multiple sectors.
All eyes on Apple: As expectations mount for AR/VR product plans, Apple doubles down on iPhone, Mac, and iPad—a move that might indicate its metaverse ambitions are on hold.
Podcasters will be selling more ads to other podcasters: Buzzsprout’s new Ads solution will allow shows to grow their audience by advertising on other programs.