Advertising & Marketing

On today's episode, we discuss what the most interesting areas of Amazon's business are, what longer videos mean for TikTok, why marketers should focus on Clubhouse and/or podcasts, why one company is bringing TV ads to console games, where Walmart beats Amazon, when we can expect to enjoy space tourism, and more. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer director of forecasting Cindy Liu, forecasting analyst Peter Vahle and analyst at Insider Intelligence Blake Droesch.

Hackers are using masks, deepfakes, and other facial recognition evasion techniques to illegally claim unemployment benefits. This apparent rise in facial recognition evasion technique could inevitably accelerate an arms race between facial recognition developers and its opponents.

On today's episode, we discuss what Facebook's new virtual reality (VR) ads look like, the ad formats that will be unique to VR, and what's driving VR headset growth. We then talk about the breakdown of what Americans are watching on TV, whether we will ever see ads on Disney+ and Netflix, and whether YouTube TV has the answer for sports fans. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer principal analysts at Insider Intelligence Victoria Petrock and Paul Verna.

The Japanese firm’s investment in facial recognition startup AnyVision marks its second major funding of the tech since 2018. SoftBank’s investment carries a reputational risk and comes as Big Tech firms are publicly distancing themselves from facial recognition.

Nextdoor's next steps: The company is planning to go public on the heels of a successful 2020, owing largely to huge user increases and growing interest among marketers due to its valuable location data.

In just five years, the physical framework of banking will be “dead,” according to bank executives around the globe—supplanted by digital ecosystems and supported by emerging technologies.

At least 11 US federal agencies are using facial recognition services from private companies with little or no oversight. Despite the growing patchwork of local and state laws, nothing short of a federal standard will work to hold these agencies, and their vendors, publicly accountable.

Like many regions around the world, Southeast Asia experienced an ecommerce boom in 2020, as various pandemic-driven social lockdowns encouraged more shopping from home. According to our estimates, ecommerce grew by 35.2% collectively in the region last year, and our newest forecast projects 14.3% growth this year. However, traditional retail is still overwhelmingly dominant.

Like many regions around the world, Southeast Asia experienced an ecommerce boom in 2020, as various pandemic-driven social lockdowns encouraged more shopping from home. According to our estimates, ecommerce grew by 35.2% collectively in the region last year, and our newest forecast projects 14.3% growth this year. However, traditional retail is still overwhelmingly dominant.

The gaming gender gap: The number of male teens who found in-game ads the most captivating was more than triple that of female teens, though this may be the result of female preference for mobile over PC and console gaming.

Maine passed the country’s second statewide ban on facial recognition. Though the law is the strictest of its kind, it won’t affect federal law enforcement currently using facial recognition to track and identify individuals across the country.

Zoom webinars no more: Three-quarters of brand marketers say they're back to in-person experiential marketing, but events are unlikely to look the same as they did in 2019 as more marketers embrace hybrid in-person and virtual models.

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.

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.

On today's episode, we discuss what a world with fewer bank branches means, what the new digital branch will look like, and how digital banking adoption is faring. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer vice president of content and head of financial services at Insider Intelligence Daniel Van Dyke.