As YouTube starts counting views from the first frame, creators may have to trade volume for attention, while brands look beyond reach and Netflix steps up its fight for top digital talent.

US microdrama revenue is expected to reach $1.5 bn in 2026 as stars enter the space

The industry is moving from sponsored posts and creator databases to full-funnel commerce, AI-led decisions and a new premium on human trust.

Questions about memory are becoming central to how AI systems evolve.

Eligible creators can now tag Amazon products directly in videos, Shorts and live streams, with affiliate earnings paid through AdSense.

Marketers and agency executives say conversational intent is potentially richer than conventional signals but the real hurdle is not intent but attribution.

For the creator economy, this could broaden the pool of advertisers willing to experiment with influencer-led CTV programming.

AI, regional content and 5G push growth to nearly twice the global rate, as the sector pivots from chasing eyeballs to chasing revenue.

The agreement requires Meta to introduce daily usage limits, overnight blocks, restrictions on notifications and stronger age checks for teenage users, while allowing personalised recommendations and targeted advertising to continue