Our Scans · (ZY.4.18) Media Studies · Weekly Summary

• [New] The decline of agencies: In creative and media work, leaders expect agencies' contributions to fall by 11 to 14 percentage points over the next few years. The Financial Brand
• [New] More marketing jobs will move from people to technology regardless of whether focus areas are creative or media. The Financial Brand
• [New] In 2026, media archives will stand at the heart of a global shift: as Generative AI accelerates, audio-visual collections will become strategic training fuel for AI models. Public Media Alliance
• [New] Even media companies that have been reluctant up to now will consider content deals with AI platforms in 2026. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• [New] Following the unstoppable flow of consumer behaviour and advertising cash, in 2026, Big Media will finally lean hard into Creator Economy rules and opportunities. Media War & Peace
• [New] Analysts expect 2026 to see explosive growth in AI-generated video, audio, and 3D content, with profound implications for marketing, entertainment, and digital media. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] Cardano's strategic roadmap, including the Midnight privacy sidechain and Hydra scaling upgrades, aims to position ADA as a scalable infrastructure for mass adoption by 2030. Ainvest
• [New] In 2026, the bigger problem will be attention spread thin across an overwhelming surplus of AI-generated media. Nieman Lab
• [New] The proliferation of highly sophisticated AI-generated material during major breaking news stories is only growing - and has the potential to hamper the media and public's understanding of world events. Eurovision News Spotlight | Fact-Checking & OSINT Netwo
• [New] The popular social media platform is forecasted to reach approximately 1.9 billion users by 2029. Shopify
• [New] Only 26% of communication leaders feel confident assessing AI risks, Global Alliance research shows. www
• [New] France plans to restrict Social Media Use for children under 15, requiring Parental Consent and mandatory Age Verification by platforms. Adda247
• [New] In 2026, social media will no longer be an advertising channel for website traffic, but rather the place where the entire customer journey takes place. Lookfamed English
• [New] Social media platforms will be the primary search engines for younger target groups in 2026. Lookfamed English
• [New] Instagram faces a flood of low-quality AI-generated slop content, frustrating users and threatening mass exodus by 2026. WebProNews
• [New] In 2026, election campaigns around the world will be flooded by cheaply produced and mass-distributed videos and images made by artificial intelligence. SWI Swissinfo.ch
• [New] In 2026, analysts expect rapid growth in AI-generated video, audio and 3D content, transforming marketing, entertainment and digital media. Businessday NG
• [New] In a 2024 Deloitte survey, executives ranked communication as one of the only professional skills that will increase in value every year through 2030. Speak Like a Professional
• [New] 2026 workplaces will require more communication across time zones, departments, and digital platforms. Speak Like a Professional
• [New] AI matures, but agentic advertising faces false starts as creative production becomes the first true breakthrough: As we look to 2026, the digital media economy will enter a formative yet unsettled phase for AI-driven innovation. TV Tech
• [New] Strand Consult expects 2026 to be a pivotal year for advanced public-private communication partnerships. Strand Consult
• [New] By 2026, AI will move from supporting media workflows to actively orchestrating them. Digiday
• [New] By 2025, seamless communication between blockchain platforms will drive innovation and adoption. Journal

Last updated: 08 January 2026