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Placing Aria Gen 2 in research labs could help Meta gather real-world data—turning researchers into de facto product testers for its next wave of consumer smart glasses.

US D2C consumer packaged goods and beauty brands have divested some money from Facebook over the past few years, and ad spending on TikTok is on the rise, according to Rockerbox. The money that was going to Facebook has been moving to video.

AI-powered search and AR try-ons promise a smoother buying journey, but with social commerce on the rise, Google has to fight for attention.

Meta under fire on multiple fronts: Teen-targeting claims, a high-stakes FTC trial, and Chinese advertiser pullback could reshape the company’s ad model.

Economic uncertainty could derail its efforts to reinvigorate growth

Travel brands and issuers are pushing premium cards to attract affluent consumers and boost revenues

Core inflation rose 0.1% MoM in March, the lowest rate in four years: But that relief is likely to be short-lived as Amazon, AutoZone, Best Buy, and others warn of price hikes ahead.

Gen Z’s complicated path to purchase leans heavily on digital platforms and channels. But offline resources still play a key role.

The FTC’s case against Southern Glazer’s could have profound implications for large retailers like Walmart and Costco: A successful suit could limit their ability to negotiate lower prices with suppliers, narrowing their advantage over smaller retailers.

AppLovin is setting its sights on ecommerce: Executives plan to attract spenders and grow revenues with a slew of ad product launches.

Creators get Cannes spotlight in 2025: With rebranded awards and new categories, Cannes Lions acknowledges the growing impact of creator-driven marketing.

Consumers take part in one-day economic blackout: Today’s boycott may cause brands to reconsider their DEI stances.

FDA flexes its muscles: It banned Red No. 3 and proposed requiring manufacturers to put new labels on the front of food packages.

TikTok Shop’s demise could benefit Amazon, Etsy, and Temu: All three retailers are poised to scoop up spending in the event of a TikTok ban.

Gen Z is feeling squeezed: High living costs are driving Gen Zers to spend nearly twice as much as they save, which is leading them to prioritize essentials.

Shake Shack looks to broaden its reach: The burger chain plans to more than quadruple its footprint in the coming years while preserving its status as a premium brand.

As the Asia-Pacific region experiences profound demographic and economic shifts, the pet economy is emerging as a vibrant and rapidly growing sector.

Shopify’s Q4 sales accelerate 31%: The company expects Q1 sales to grow in the mid-20% range as it ramps up efforts to attract major brands like Goop and Reebok to its ecosystem.

The improved Alexa finally debuts with better conversation skills and smart home features. Can Amazon convince users to pay when smartphones offer similar features for free?

CPG and retail are both core buyers of social media ads, in part to deflect the threat from new online challengers. The two industries will account for nearly 50% (29.9% by retail and 18.9% by CPG) of social ad spend this year. Retail has always spent heavily on social media, but heavy spending on social ads by Shein and Temu has driven the rest of the retail industry to spend more there as well.

Interpublic, whose brands include Weber Shandwick, Golin, and McCann, cited strength in food and consumer goods but weakness in transportation and technology due to 2023 account losses. Our take: The Big Four firms’ Q3 reports and cautious outlooks for the current quarter reflect the uncertain state of digital advertising.