TikTok gaming is a go: The social video app will soon add mobile games and is leaning on partnerships with Electronic Arts, 2K, NetEase Games, and Zynga to accelerate its super app ambitions.
On today's episode, we discuss Uber's foray into advertising, whether or not we are past "peak newsletter," how to convert online shoppers into buyers, how Apple's privacy changes have affected mobile marketers, how much media young people consume, an explanation of what's most disrupting advanced TV, how much it costs to raise a kid in the US, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of Briefings Stephanie Taglianetti and analysts Ross Benes and Evelyn Mitchell.
Mobile ads that cover 80% of the screen receive 6.6 seconds of attention from the average smartphone user. That’s more than double the attention received by ads with 50% screen cover, and about eight times that of ads covering less than 10% of the screen.
Apple is demanding 30% of promoted post transactions: The App Store now says promoted posts should be treated as in-app purchases in a not-so-subtle attack against Meta.
WhatsApp suffers a global outage: The world’s most popular messaging app went dark in various countries, underscoring the fragility of centralized communications and piling on Meta’s troubles as it prepares for its Q3 earnings call.
The repercussions of China’s leadership overhaul: Markets in China, Hong Kong, and New York plunge over worries that Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power could further confound investment in Big Tech.
Key developments in 5G networks: Mobile service in Canada could become more affordable; two of Thailand’s biggest carriers merge; Verizon tumbles on plunging subscribers; and Boeing chooses AT&T and T-Mobile.
The super app model’s biggest vulnerability: A complete shutdown is the worst-case scenario for monolithic apps loaded with services like payments, messaging, e-commerce, ride-hailing, and maps.
Google hits regulatory wall in India: The Competition Commission of India fined Google for what it says are anticompetitive practices and seeks to unbundle Search and Google Play from Android.
Another brutal quarter for Snapchat: The company’s repeated failure to garner ad interest has left it in a bleak position with an uncertain future.
Apple’s tablet explosion: The company now offers five different models of iPads, challenging 2-in-1 PCs at the high end as well as consumer Android tablets—but too much choice could be confusing for buyers.
Meta agrees to sell Giphy: The UK’s CMA decision pulls Giphy away from Meta’s ownership and underscores the danger of closing a Big Tech merger without prior regulatory approval.
Mobile games are among the most popular mobile downloads: That’s why Microsoft aims to take on Apple and Google by building an Xbox mobile store where it can sell games.
Pinterest’s ad product tries to overcome ATT: The platform's new tool combines its data with advertisers’ for more precise tracking.
BeReal is the newest kid on the social media block. The app has already captured the attention of Gen Z, and its growing popularity has sparked copycat features from Snapchat, Instagram and, yes, even TikTok. But do brands of all stripes need to embrace BeReal—or is it not ready for primetime just yet
While other publishers have struggled in the wake of Apple’s AppTrackingTransparency (ATT), Apple Search Ads has tripled its market share of mobile advertising since the first half of 2020, according to AppsFlyer’s latest “Performance Index.”
Instacart, Uber, and Lyft try to make gig work more appealing: With workers still hard to come by, all three are adjusting pay and emphasizing flexibility to improve recruitment.
Tech cold war between US and China intensifies: As Chinese president Xi Jinping solidifies his third term, US federal regulators have intensified the ban of telecom equipment considered to be security threat
iPhone charger removal results in $19 million fine: Apple gets dinged in Brazil for forcing new iPhone users to fork out more cash for necessary chargers—it’s the latest case against its consumer hostile decisions.