Social Media

On today's episode, we discuss what "going back to the office" may actually mean, the dawn of “tiered-access journalism,” video safe havens for brands, possible surges in travel plans, Facebook's new video speed dating app called Sparked, why the Rubik's Cube was invented, and more. Tune in to listen to the discussion with eMarketer principal analysts Jillian Ryan and Jeremy Goldman, and analyst at Insider Intelligence Blake Droesch.

The excitement over social audio is palpable, judging by the number of companies building out apps or features to support it, and by the number of news reports and opinion columns covering it (our own “Clubhouse and Social Audio 2021” report included). But any marketer that’s active in social media should weigh the drawbacks of entering social audio right now. Here are some key issues to consider before jumping on board.

The social audio craze continues: Reddit is the latest platform reportedly considering the rollout of Clubhouse-like audio features.

Taking the pulse of Gen Z: The new Piper Sandler survey of US teens captured TikTok’s continued dominance over Instagram, the growth of Chinese ecommerce marketplace Shein, and the rising interest in secondhand retail.

Black History Month is an important time of year for Martell Cognac. This year, the Pernod Ricard spirits brand took its activism and community involvement work to Clubhouse, hosting a series of conversations with Karen Civil, a creator and digital marketing strategist with more than 1 million followers on Clubhouse. Pernod Ricard’s Stroud shared how the brand developed the idea and what it learned by using Clubhouse.

A new way to shop: Snapchat is reportedly planning to integrate fashion recommendation app Screenshop into the platform to help spur users to make purchases through the social video app.

On today's episode, we discuss Facebook letting users choose how their News Feed looks, Clubhouse adding tipping, tech giants betting people are ready for augmented reality (AR) glasses, making the most of "micromoments," Apple making a car, what happens when you look down at your phone while walking, and more. Tune in to listen to the discussion with eMarketer analysts Nina Goetzen and Blake Droesch, and senior analyst at Insider Intelligence Sara M. Watson.

In Q1 2021, Facebook and Twitter both made big moves to defend their beliefs about news and politics on their respective platforms.

TikTok and IPG Mediabrands tap creators: The partnership brings creators into the early stages of the campaign creation process, something that’s likely to become common as creators become even more important for short-video marketing.

Instagram for kids draws government scrutiny: Two US senators and two US representatives made their skepticism very clear in a statement regarding the company's new plan to roll out an Instagram for kids.

Tipping comes to Clubhouse: The social audio app will now let users tip hosts, likely a play to keep creators on the platform as they’re in danger of being poached by bigger players like Twitter and Twitch.

Facebook targets streamers: The company launched a new dynamic ad solution tailored for companies promoting their streaming services and associated movies and shows.

On today's episode, we discuss the different ways brands might get involved on social audio apps like Clubhouse, what kind of Summer Olympics we can expect this year, common ad tactics that are alienating people, America's payments revolution, how retailers are using Facebook Shops, what we know and don't know about the ocean, and more. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer principal analysts Jeremy Goldman, Nicole Perrin, and Debra Aho Williamson.

LinkedIn joins the race against Clubhouse: The platform is the latest to announce its own live social audio feature. It could stand out in the audio wars by focusing more heavily on structured events like conferences and webinars, which would also help it attract B2B marketers.

Facebook is making it simpler to curate News Feeds: The platform has clarified tools, streamlined access to information about how its algorithms work, and gave users the option to choose how content is shown to them.

Twitter will let brands advertise alongside wholesome content: The platform is rolling out a series of topics that brands can sponsor in a separate space from more sensitive content.

Spotify takes on Clubhouse: The company is entering the live social audio space with its Locker Room acquisition—but Spotify is still primarily a listening-focused app, which could hurt its ability to compete against social-focused competitors.