Meta puts AI at the center of the metaverse’s foundation: A glimpse into the company’s 10-year quest to build a VR future around AI reveals they are nowhere near finished and still have a long way to go
Reddit gets its own AI content recommendation page: The new Discover tab will look a lot like Instagram’s Explore page, surfacing photos and videos from communities that users aren’t yet subscribed to.
LinkedIn launches podcast network: The platform has been trying to tap into the growing audio space and creator economy for more than a year.
TikTok’s adoption has exploded. In our inaugural forecast, we estimate that TikTok surpassed the 100 million user mark in the region last year. In 2022, users will surge 12.8% year over year (YoY) to 136.1 million. More than 3 in 10 internet users will be on the platform.
Netflix’s comedy clip channel is a discoverability no-brainer: The streaming giant is bringing a TikTok-like feed of short videos to its TV app.
Facebook Reels’ global rollout comes with fresh ad formats: The new banner and sticker ads both attract creators to the platform and offer marketers performance ad options for short-form video.
Brands can’t afford to ignore social commerce: Nearly all social media users plan to make at least one purchase through social shopping or influencer commerce.
Among US social video viewers, YouTube is the top platform for watching short-form content, with 77.9% of those ages 16 and older going there to stream videos less than 10 minutes long. The No. 2 spot goes to Facebook, which captures a 60.8% share, while TikTok takes third with 53.9%.
The creator economy continues to accelerate, particularly internationally: Both Twitter and Cameo have announced new initiatives to keep creators and celebrities on their platforms.
Snapchat’s Ticketmaster tie-up bolsters its location data goals: The partnership includes a way to discover nearby concerts via the Snap Map, plus a new mini-app that suggests ideas based on user preferences.
Chamber aligns with Big Tech: The largest US lobbying group is going against the FTC as Big Tech’s new enforcer. Its involvement could make it harder for the government to enforce antitrust laws.
Digital health platforms could capture more consumers with stronger social media strategies: VillageMD bought digital patient engagement platform HealthyInteractions—and while it’ll benefit Walgreens’ healthcare push, consumers don’t always know there are digital options like VillageMD’s available.
Nextdoor’s changes aim to temper users and ease brand concerns: A number of new features encourage positive user interactions on an app known for its controversies.
Chinese companies can learn much about metaverse from US counterparts: Heavy tech regulations in the country have slowed tech firm’s ventures into the virtual world.
Snapchat tests new way to compensate creators with large followings: Revenue-sharing could incentivize Snap Stars to create more content, driving up engagement.
Brands test new marketing strategies ahead of Valentine’s Day surge: Spending on the romantic holiday will increase thanks to single and coupled consumers.
Metaverse attracts South Korean investments: $200 billion could be used to invest in companies and technologies that build the metaverse and lead to an uptick in startups and further tech investments.
Twitter’s wide net of new features yields mixed earnings results: The platform has tested a bevy of fresh features and revenue streams, but growth is slowing.
Among US social video viewers, YouTube is the most popular place to watch live content, with 52.0% tuning in on the platform. Facebook ranks as their second app of choice, used by 42.6% for live video, while Instagram and TikTok tie for third with 33.4%.
On today's episode, we discuss how concerned everyone should be about Facebook's latest Q4 earnings showing that daily active users were shrinking for the first time ever. Then for "In Other News," we talk about consumers' current feelings about social commerce and the likelihood of social media subscriptions catching on. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Debra Aho Williamson.