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Explore our Research →Shoppers hate paying for return shipping more than any other part of the process
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Mar 6, 2026
Doctors expect longer visits as parents seek clarity about pediatric vaccine guidelines
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Lowe’s reaches out to Gen Alpha with new rewards program for kids
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Meta faces critical questions as AI spending and regulatory scrutiny intensify
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Mar 6, 2026
J&J launches direct-to-consumer prescription drug site with lower cash prices
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Mar 6, 2026
The health and fitness industry’s future is subscription-first, not hardware-led
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Mar 6, 2026
Scam exposure on social platforms threatens brands
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Email is consumers’ top marketing channel, but inbox fatigue threatens ROI
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Mar 6, 2026
How payment providers should react to OpenAI’s Instant Checkout walkback
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Mar 6, 2026
Capital One joins finance industry layoff trend, sheds 1,100 Discover workers
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Mar 6, 2026
About
Our Methodology
Rigorous proprietary data vetting strips biases and produces superior insights.
Learn More →Creator Economy Trends to Watch in 2026
Brands Will Scale Creator Marketing Efforts Even as They Grapple with ROI
Top Trends to Watch in 2026
Need-to-Know Trends Reshaping the Digital Future
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Table of Contents
Creators’ fears over AI’s impact on their livelihoods will turn out to be overblown
Brands will turn to creators to bolster their live shopping efforts
Social platforms will use subscriber revenues and other perks to (unofficially) seek more creator exclusivity
Brands’ pursuit of scale will revive investment, M&A in the creator economy
Newsrooms will double down on the creator economy but struggle to find their footing
Sources
Media Gallery
About This Report
Creator marketing will scale in 2026 as brands chase measurable outcomes. At the same time, pressures from AI, shifting platform incentives, and rising automation will reshape how creators earn and grow.
Table of Contents
Creators’ fears over AI’s impact on their livelihoods will turn out to be overblown
Brands will turn to creators to bolster their live shopping efforts
Social platforms will use subscriber revenues and other perks to (unofficially) seek more creator exclusivity
Brands’ pursuit of scale will revive investment, M&A in the creator economy
Newsrooms will double down on the creator economy but struggle to find their footing
Sources
Media Gallery
Several forces will reshape creator marketing in 2026. AI pressure, platform shifts, and demands for measurable performance will collide with creators’ push for control, defining where investment grows—and where it strains.
authors
Minda Smiley
Contributors
- Rahul Chadha
- Director, Report Editing
- Nikolai Dineros
- Tracy Tang
- Matt Torpey
- Senior Chart Editor
- Emman Velasco
- Chart Editor
- Paul Verna
- VP, Content
- Max Willens
- Yoram Wurmser
- Principal Analyst
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