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

• [New] Social media and at-home cafe experiences are already reshaping Gen Z hot drinks habits, while Chinese coffee and tea chains are emerging as a potentially disruptive force internationally as they scale value-led and format-driven offers. Euromonitor
• [New] Brands investing in spatial content and immersive ad formats in 2026 are positioning for first-mover advantage in a medium that, if it reaches mainstream adoption, will fundamentally disrupt how social media marketing is defined. Inno Panda
• [New] While mass adoption of spatial computing remains a 2027-2029 story, the marketing infrastructure is being built now. Inno Panda
• [New] Mass-balance certification support is forecast to hold 42.0% share in 2026 as customers increasingly seek structured deployment support, documentation services, workflow integration, and scalable certification models. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] Social media recruiting on LinkedIn, online job boards, company career pages, and AI-powered sourcing platforms allow recruiters to surface passive candidates who are not actively searching but are open to the right opportunity. Frontline Source Group
• [New] The entertainment industry is expected to see a surge in demand, offering opportunities for U.S. companies in media production, sports broadcasting, and live event management. jennifer.stone@trade.gov
• 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
• 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)
• 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
• 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
• Greece plans to ban social media access for under 15 s. EU DisinfoLab
• 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
• 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
• Over the past year, Qatar Airways has navigated political unrest, handling disruptions with clear communication and a focus on passenger safety. Forbes
• 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 -

Last updated: 14 May 2026