Global Scans · Media & Entertainment · Weekly Summary

• [New] By 2026, the most popular and influential type of content on social media sites like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts & Facebook will be Short Form Videos. Wisconsin Scorpions
• [New] A combined Netflix and Warner Bros. will strengthen the entertainment industry, preserve choice and value for consumers, and give creators more opportunities. About Netflix
• [New] Virgin Media O2 is deploying AI monitoring tools across its mobile network to predict and prevent issues, demonstrating how telecommunications operators are scaling artificial intelligence to improve service reliability and operational efficiency across the UK. Bizclik Media Ltd
• [New] Social media marketing moves fast, and the trends shaping 2026 might look very different in 2027. Finmacrocosm -
• [New] US social media creator revenue will reach $21.04 billion in 2026, more than doubling since 2022. eMarketer
• [New] Platforms including social media companies and pornography sites that fail to act could face fines of up to 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue or having their services blocked in the UK. The Guardian
• [New] Human-generated content is the #1 priority for users in 2026, and 73% of consumers say they will switch to a competitor if a brand does not respond on social media. Sprout Social
• [New] As 2026 unfolds, AI will continue to push boundaries from smarter hospitals to more responsive fashion supply chains; from cinematic media to personalised beauty tech. Chaud: The Magazine
• [New] In 2026, more non-retail companies will enter the retail media space. Mirakl
• [New] The convergence of generative AI, virtual production, and synthetic media is creating an entirely new category of creative infrastructure that will define entertainment production for the next decade. BUSINESS 2.0 NEWS
• [New] Ad spending on social media is expected to grow by 10.9% each year from 2026 to 2030. Sprout Social
• [New] Total spend on social media advertising is projected to reach $317.33 billion in 2026. Sprout Social
• [New] META 2026 will gather the global community of scientists and engineers at the forefront of nanophotonics, metamaterials, and advanced electromagnetic media. META Conference Series
• [New] For media companies in the year ahead, a focus on deepening audience relationships, diversifying revenues, demonstrating value and deploying AI strategically and realistically, will be the key to success. Digital Content Next
• [New] Meta's experiments with paid subscriptions could signal a shift in social media, while a significant court case examines the implications of addictive design in social media applications, possibly paving the way for a global redesign. Top Tech Tidbits
• [New] Influencer marketing is continuing to grow in popularity as marketers invest more in user-generated content (UGC), with social media creator revenue expected to grow to $1 trillion by 2028. Virid.com
• [New] Disguise, a global leader in media server technology and extended reality (XR) solutions, will showcase innovations with an immersive tunnel activation. blooloop
• [New] Collectibles, kidults and KPop are the key trends that will shape play in 2026; with social media-driven trends, TV and Movie characters and adults' desire for escapism and psychological wellness all driving demand. Toys n Playthings
• [New] 19% of survey respondents each said traffic changes due to social media and AI and AI-driven traffic decreases will be the biggest challenges for the publishing industry in 2026 - marking the largest groups of respondents in Digiday's survey. Digiday

Last updated: 23 February 2026