Global Scans · Media & Entertainment · Weekly Summary

• [New] The global AI in media and entertainment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25.22% during the forecast period. Polaris
• [New] By 2026, AI will be the backbone of social media marketing. Social Lady
• [New] The future of social media marketing in 2026 will be defined by smarter technology, more authentic connections, and data-driven creativity. Social Lady
• [New] By 2026, AI-first content creation will be the standard approach for social media marketing, allowing brands to produce high-quality content at scale, in real time, and with unprecedented efficiency. Social Lady
• [New] By 2026's end, social media will shift from metrics to mood where algorithms act as emotional architects of human connection. Spinta Digital
• [New] Podcasts will cement their status as a primetime media format in 2026. eMarketer
• [New] By 2026, AI-powered content creation will be ubiquitous in entertainment, marketing, and business, enabling easier, faster, and scalable high-quality content creation. https://www.usaii.org/ai-insights/generative-ai-trends-
• [New] For a $1 billion revenue retailer, retail media could add $10 million to $30 million in high-margin revenue. IHL Group
• [New] The entertainment and media sector is projected to reach $2.6 trillion by 2026, driven by a growing demand for experiential leisure and social activities. INDESTROOM
• [New] With last year's TikTok marketing trends in mind, building your strategy for 2026 will initially resemble 2025, requiring a balance of search optimization, community interaction, and entertainment. Metricool
• [New] While new laws in Florida aim to limit children's exposure to traditional social media platforms, technology experts warn that some of the most serious dangers are emerging in less-monitored corners of the internet, sometimes hiding in plain sight. WJXT News4JAX
• [New] The social media advantage in 2026 will not come from posting more, but from listening better. The Drum
• [New] In 2026, media organizations will fully grasp that AI is not primarily a tools problem, but a systems problem. media.am
• [New] Nearly four years after the launch of ChatGPT, in 2026, media experts and newsroom leaders around the world are trying to understand what new rules will shape journalism in the near future. media.am
• [New] TikTok's unpredictable nature is disrupting some of the fundamentals of retail, increasing a reliance on social listening, media mix modeling and analytics horsepower. Retail Dive
• [New] TikTok will begin to roll out new age-verification technology across the EU in the coming weeks, as calls grow for an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s in countries including the UK. The Guardian
• [New] Oxford research identified misinformation as a major threat to society and public health, with social media significantly contributing to its spread and global reach. Forbes
• [New] Prediction: A new generation of decentralised EU-based social media platforms with user-centric values will emerge to challenge US tech dominance, and most of them will be ignored. Media Diversity Institute
• [New] By 2035, immersive technologies could transcend entertainment to become vital in education, professional training, and collaborative work. Futurist Keynote Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Wo
• [New] Trusted, high-quality, accurate content will be increasingly valued in a world of AI slop, deep-fakes, and toxic social media debates. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• [New] By the 2030s, AR could exceed $300 billion, creating unprecedented opportunities across retail, education, healthcare, and entertainment. Gadget Hacks

Last updated: 26 January 2026