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

• [New] If all goes as intended come June, the conglomerate that now owns a rocket manufacturer, a social media app, and an AI chatbot developer will instantly rank among the world's top 10 largest publicly-traded companies. Wired
• [New] Whether through weight loss challenges on TikTok, mindfulness campaigns on YouTube, or harm-reduction messaging on Reddit, social media has become a powerful yet unpredictable force in health decision-making. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] In media and entertainment, Netflix has delayed Greta Gerwig's Narnia film for a 2027 theatrical release, signaling a shift toward traditional cinema experiences. Coaio Limited
• [New] Backing up to Google Drive through WhatsApp settings Using local storage backup on your phone Failing to back up your chats could result in permanent loss of important conversations, media, and files. Sierraloaded
• [New] Greece plans to ban social media access for under 15 s. EU DisinfoLab
• [New] Most top social media platforms barring X grew their audience year on year Social media users plan to spend most time on Facebook, followed by Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn, with preferences varying across different generations of users. Typeface
• [New] IAS will expand its Total Media Quality coverage to four additional TikTok ad products, including search, creation tools for brand and Smart + traffic, TikTok Lite (U.S.) and GMV Max (U.S.). Yahoo Finance
• [New] Over the past year, Qatar Airways has navigated political unrest, handling disruptions with clear communication and a focus on passenger safety. Forbes
• [New] The sharpest growth in creator spend is coming from paid amplification of content beyond social media, projected to jump 56% to $11.1 billion. Mediabistro
• The streaming segment's profitability and growth are crucial as it is expected to offset the decline of Disney's traditional media businesses. Trefis
• Between 2026 and 2030, adoption of AI technologies is expected to accelerate rapidly as media companies prioritize cost compression, faster turnaround times, and enhanced audience targeting. Morningstar, Inc.
• Looking ahead to 2036, AI will become integral to all aspects of media and entertainment, enabling faster production, deeper audience insights, and new creative possibilities. Morningstar, Inc.
• The mass adoption of public Large Language Models as a replacement for traditional search is expected to drive a significant increase in PR and earned media budgets by 2027. Vuelio -
• Policy-wise, countries are moving to ban social media for children, with Australia leading the charge to mitigate risks like cyberbullying and addiction. Coaio Limited
• Greece has announced plans to prohibit children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms starting in 2027, joining a growing number of EU countries pursuing similar measures. EU DisinfoLab
• Greece will ban the use of the social media platforms Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat by children under 15 years old. G37 Chambers
• Effective risk rating requires integrating multiple data sources including global sanctions lists, PEP databases, adverse media monitoring, beneficial ownership registries, and transaction history. ZIGRAM | AML, Fraud & Financial Crime Compliance Softwa
• Until the imminence threshold for domestic drone mitigation is lowered and the US achieves robotic mass parity with its adversaries, the strategic heartland will remain a viable playground for sophisticated foreign swarms. Ronin's Grips Analytics
• The Commission will establish a Drone and Counter-Drone Industrial Forum for government-industry dialog on mass production, and an EU Counter-Drone Centre of Excellence by 2027 to certify systems and speed innovation. Euronews
• The media budgets of U.K. advertisers are set to rise over 7% in the first quarter of 2026, despite worries over supply-chain disruption and low consumer confidence. Digiday

Last updated: 07 May 2026