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

• [New] The social media marketing world of 2025 will be AI-enhanced, video-centric, community-driven, and authenticity-focused. NorthPennNow
• [New] Creator economy ad spend is projected to reach $37 billion in 2025, a 26% increase year over year and about four times faster than the media industry overall. Digiday
• [New] Advertisers are shifting budgets quickly: creator ad spend is projected to hit $37 billion in 2025, up 26% year over year-about 4 x faster than overall media growth. hotelagio.com
• [New] Multi-channel scams, where victims are lured from social media or text messages into encrypted chats and fraudulent payment pages, will become the dominant pattern in 2026. Trend Micro
• [New] Central banks' communications departments consider dis / misinformation on social media their top risk for the year ahead, the Communications Benchmarks 2025 show. Central Banking
• [New] Moving into 2026, brands need to prioritize genuine connection and storytelling, rather than blindly hopping on social media trends and chasing fleeting moments. Sprout Social
• [New] Community management will be a key social media marketing trend in 2026. Sprout Social
• [New] Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s will begin in just a few days. The Guardian
• [New] Eastern suburbs institution Cranbrook will ban its primary students from owning a smartphone from 2026, with parents instructed to instead purchase a basic Nokia for students to use, as schools prepare students to lose access to social media apps next week. The Sydney Morning Herald
• [New] Social media platforms like X have buzzed with reactions, where posts from financial commentators highlight a growing consensus that the Fed might pause its rate-cutting spree. WebProNews
• [New] Several climate drivers will likely align to send an arctic air mass southward across the northern tier of the United States in December. WJAR
• [New] Brands that do not incorporate sustainable practices and clear communication could lose a crucial and expanding segment of the global seafood industry, which is steadily attracting consumer and regulatory attention in a bid to protect and restore oceans. CNS Media
• [New] Key Code Media breaks down the most important broadcast and AV technology trends shaping 2026! Eventbrite
• [New] Mass availability is envisaged starting around 2026 in the US and Europe, while China is planning a mass roll-out of humanoid robots for 2025. DE-CIX - we make interconnection easy. Anywhere.
• [New] In 2025, video content will dominate social media platforms, accounting for 82% of all internet traffic according to industry predictions AdTechGod. Enrich Labs
• [New] Younger generations will play a more significant role in social media dynamics moving into 2025. Enrich Labs
• [New] The social media landscape in 2025 is expected to become more fragmented. Enrich Labs
• [New] Decentralization will shape social media in 2025. Enrich Labs
• [New] In 2025, social media platforms will transition towards prosocial media. Enrich Labs
• [New] There will still be constraints on power like electricity and mass. Business Insider
• [New] In 2026, more brands will need to adapt to Gen-Z and Gen Alpha's desire to unplug from social media and AI platforms. Forbes
• [New] Retail media ad spending on CTV is expected to jump by nearly 46% in 2025, as retailers and streaming platforms partner to close the loop between viewing and buying. Beet.TV

Last updated: 11 December 2025