Changing Landscape of Advertising and Media Consumption

1min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Online platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Snapchat are offering ad-free versions for a fee, leading to a trend of turning away from traditional advertising. Newspapers, radio, and podcasts are also pivoting away from ad revenue towards subscriptions, as advertising online is not as lucrative as before. A study found that around 13% of people in rich countries now pay for online news subscriptions, compared to 5% a decade ago. Similarly, about 40% of Spotify users pay for an ad-free listening experience. This shift is making it increasingly difficult for advertisers to reach audiences through traditional media.

Scientists are making considerable progress in the race to slow the ageing process of our cells, and in turn, our bodies. But what would living for longer actually mean for the world? How government legislation and impatient consumers are forcing the advertising industry to adapt (13:19). And, the story behind a famous, 200-year-old Christmas poem (21:29).

For a limited time, visit economist.com/gift to redeem 30% off gift subscriptions to our print and digital editions

Sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.