The number of social network users in the US will tick up 1.7% YoY this year, while adult users will see almost 2% growth. But time spent on social networks among adult users will peak this year, meaning the battle for engagement is on.

The news: Reddit published a report Thursday highlighting its increasing relevance for advertisers as social media users gain trust in the platform for purchase decisions. Reddit routinely delivers promising ad results. Adding Reddit to ad campaigns leads to $6.94 higher incremental ROAS across channels. Our take: Despite lingering brand hesitancy to adopt Reddit as a core advertising channel, the platform is increasingly becoming a reliable source that promises high returns—making it a key part of an effective campaign for advertisers who know how to navigate it.

Reddit is suing Anthropic for unauthorized data scraping: The case highlights growing battles over content control in the AI era.

Reddit’s Dynamic Product Ads expands to all advertisers: The move highlights Reddit’s shift from a supplemental channel to a primary platform for advertisers.

Tariffs threaten to reduce US digital ad spending growth this year. This series explains the effects tariffs will have on ad spending in search, social, CTV, and retail media—and which parts of each might fare best and worst.

US social ad spend will grow YoY in 2025, even as platforms grapple with tariff-related budget cuts from industries that spend heavily on social channels, like CPG and retail.

Strong Q1 ad results show resilience: But AI, tariffs, and antitrust pressures will reshape how and where marketers spend in 2025.

Reddit excels in user engagement, influencing purchases: Ad spend is low, but the platform holds high-value potential for quality-focused advertisers.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the most likely outcome for the TikTok saga, if LinkedIn is risking its professional identity by pivoting towards being a content platform, Pinterest’s latest initiative to become the shopping destination, and why Reddit is somewhat of a sleeping giant. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Vice President and Principal Analyst Jasmine Enberg, and Senior Analyst Minda Smiley. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Digital ad giants beat Q1 expectations, but tariffs, regulation, and slowing growth signal choppy waters ahead. This report breaks down which platforms are thriving, which are stalling, and what’s next for search, social, streaming, and retail media.

With AI bios and comment pinning features, Reddit is courting SMBs and zeroing in on its role in the purchase journey.

The new Account Status dashboard helps explain post visibility, giving Threads an edge over X by offering clarity amid Meta’s evolving content policies.

Reddit’s global growth is now core to its business: Community-driven expansion and ad revenues abroad are transforming the platform’s trajectory.

Despite uncertainty related to the economy and tariffs, US social network ad spending is expected to grow. AI offerings, social commerce, and lower-funnel investments will drive outlays.

As AI changes how buyers discover content, B2B brands have an opportunity to gain visibility. This report explores how SEO strategies can evolve to meet AI-powered search and why structured, trusted content wins.

Consumers are using AI for purpose-finding and companionship more than work tasks, pushing brands to think beyond productivity and into emotional, lifestyle-centric experiences

Discord facing lawsuit for allegedly harming minors: The case is far from the first time Discord and other platforms have faced similar scrutiny.

This is the Q1 2025 installment of our quarterly “Ad Spending Benchmarks” series, which helps ad buyers and sellers calibrate their spending and revenue mix against the market.​

This is the Q1 2025 installment of our quarterly “Ad Spending Benchmarks” series, which helps ad buyers and sellers calibrate their spending and revenue mix against the market.

The 2024 US presidential election ushered in a new normal in brand safety, with prominent social media companies such as X and Meta shifting the burden of content moderation from internal teams and contractors to users.