Social Media - Recent articles and discoveries

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-15T19:15:46.532Z • Permanent link

Recent revelations from a prominent social media analytics firm have sent shockwaves through the industry. Fidelity's Q2 2023 earnings report revealed a staggering 30% year-over-year increase in advertising revenue, largely attributed to the company's foray into social media advertising. This sudden shift has left many in the industry reeling, as Fidelity joins the ranks of other major financial institutions, including JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, which have all recently launched their own social media advertising platforms.

At the heart of this development is the rise of social media influencer marketing. According to a recent survey by the Influencer Marketing Association, 75% of marketers now view influencer marketing as a key component of their social media strategy. This has led to a surge in demand for social media analytics tools, with companies like Hootsuite and Sprout Social reporting significant increases in revenue over the past year.

Key to Fidelity's success in this space is its acquisition of social media analytics firm, Chartbeat, in 2022. Chartbeat's cutting-edge algorithms and data analytics capabilities have proven to be a game-changer for Fidelity, allowing the company to provide clients with unparalleled insights into social media behavior and advertising effectiveness.

The implications of Fidelity's foray into social media advertising are far-reaching, with potential consequences for the broader financial industry. For one, the move is likely to increase competition for social media advertising platforms, potentially driving down prices and making it more difficult for companies to achieve meaningful results. According to a recent report by eMarketer, social media advertising is expected to account for 24.5% of total digital advertising spend by 2025, up from 17.6% in 2020.

Research communities and policymakers are also likely to be impacted by Fidelity's move into social media advertising. For example, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been cracking down on social media companies over concerns about data privacy and advertising practices. With Fidelity now in the mix, there is a growing risk that the FTC may launch a targeted investigation into social media advertising practices, potentially leading to increased regulation and stricter standards for the industry.

Fidelity's entry into social media advertising is not an isolated incident. Over the past decade, we have seen a steady stream of major financial institutions launch their own social media advertising platforms, from JPMorgan's "Mars" to Goldman Sachs' "Goldman Sachs Social Media". These moves reflect a broader trend towards the convergence of financial services and social media, with companies recognizing the vast potential of social media advertising to drive revenue and growth.