U.S. Social Platforms Earned Around $11 Billion in Ad Revenue From Users Under 18

$11 B      

In 2022, leading U.S. social media platforms collectively garnered nearly $11 billion in ad revenues from users under 18, as reported by Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Despite claims of self-regulation, the study emphasizes these platforms' substantial financial motives, with Instagram leading at $4 billion, followed by TikTok at $2 billion, and YouTube at $1.2 billion in ad revenue from the under-18 demographic. 

54%  

Walmart's enhanced partnership with Affirm solidifies their relationship, with the retailer initially deploying Affirm's installment payment options at nearly 4,000 U.S. Affirm's buy now, pay later services expanded to major retailers like Amazon and Target, responding to a consumer demand revealed in recent research that 54% seek such options, and 76% would delay or avoid purchases without Affirm. In Q2 2023, Afterpay leads U.S. monthly active users at 4.2 million, followed by Affirm (3.3 million), Klarna (3.3 million), and Zip (755,000), per Bank of America Securities data. 

21%    

A new survey by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and The Observatory International reveals a rise in brands considering the establishment of in-house agencies, increasing from 17% in 2020 to 21%. Among marketers with existing in-house agencies, 56% plan to bring more digital production in-house over the next three years, driven primarily by cost efficiency (83%), increased agility (76%), easier integration (59%), and deeper brand knowledge (59%).  

90%    

UpCity's recent report highlights the growing apprehension among small and medium-sized marketers, with nearly 90% expressing concerns about losing access to third-party data as third-party cookies decline in popularity. While larger brands can explore alternatives like retail media networks and first-party data solutions. With Google's imminent phasing out of cookies in January and increasing legislative scrutiny on consumer data acquisition, the pressure is intensifying, making it a pivotal discussion point in 2024.  

8%    

Market research firms anticipate a turnaround in personal computer sales in 2024, projecting an impressive 8% growth as consumers seek to upgrade PCs from the pandemic era and embrace new AI-capable devices, according to Canalys analysts. The surge in demand for generative AI is expected to play a key role in driving this significant 8% growth in the PC market. 

$2.99  

Starting January 29, Amazon will introduce "limited advertisements" on its Prime Video streaming service to support ongoing content investments, with the option for an ad-free experience available at an additional $2.99 per month. Amazon aims to maintain significantly fewer ads than traditional and other streaming TV providers, excluding ads from purchased or rented content. 

3.1%  

Despite persistent inflation, Americans ramped up spending on non-essential items during this holiday season, with notable increases in dining, grocery, retail, and clothing sales, according to Mastercard's economic analysis. Preliminary data from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 showed a robust economic recovery, with U.S. retail sales up 3.1%, restaurant spending surging by 7.8%, and online retail sales growing by 6.3%, surpassing in-store sales growth at 2.2%. Winter apparel became a popular category, with a 2.4% increase in spending compared to the previous year.