Even in a slowing economy, consumer behaviours in media evolve at pace. Everywhere we look we see both diversification and convergence - content platforms adding commerce, and commerce platforms adding ads and content - all trying to find new ways to engage and monetise their users.

We see a battle between the tech giants’ walled garden ecosystems and the forces of interoperability, with marketers wanting to make platforms as accessible as possible through technologies like programmatic ad placement.

We also see the growing importance of content and quality, with the cream rising to the top. It is more important than ever for brands to create relevant messages that resonate with their audiences, and to act responsibly.

Economic uncertainty always brings out creativity in business and media. Previous cycles have launched or boosted radio, TV, and social media, and in the year to come we will likely see the emergence or acceleration of communication channels.

The need for cost saving and efficiency is also a driver of change, including the rise of ad-funded streaming - commerce sites looking to monetise further through ad sales - and a greater need to measure the attention consumers pay to advertising.

This year we have split the trends into 3 categories.