AR/VR Headsets May Heat Up Until 2027 despite This Year's Slower Growth

Since its launch in 2016, augmented and virtual reality headset sales have risen rapidly.

According to analysts at IDC, the market for augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets will grow less rapidly in 2023 than anticipated. The company forecasts 10.1 million headset shipments globally this year, up 14% from 2022. Nonetheless, the estimated 32.6% cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) for 2023–2027 indicates that demand may rise in the next few years.

The epidemic has significantly influenced the education sector, where remote learning is now standard practice. Students who want to learn new information and interact with classmates in an immersive fashion are more interested in AR/VR technology.

Gamers also use AR/VR headsets for gaming as they search for more immersive experiences beyond conventional controller-based gaming systems. VR headsets give consumers a more lifelike gaming experience thanks to increased graphics and sound quality.

Furthermore, businesses are also starting to explore how AR/VR technology can be used for training purposes or even as tools for remote collaboration between teams in different locations worldwide. It could open up opportunities for headset makers who can provide solutions tailored towards such use cases.

Overall, while the current economic conditions are suppressing demand for AR/VR headsets, there is potential for growth in the coming years if manufacturers can create products that meet customer needs both from a price point and features perspective.

As we head into 2024, virtual and augmented reality technology improvements are expected to continue despite the challenging economic environment. While several consumer-facing firms, like Xiaomi, Oppo, and TCL, intend to increase awareness of augmented reality over the next 12 to 18 months, Sony's debut of their PSVR2 system will be a significant step forward for VR adoption.

However, because of the difficult market conditions, standalone VR headsets might see certain growth limitations. The demand for standalone VR headsets increased during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 as individuals looked for ways to pass the time at home. It created an unfriendly climate for comparable growth rates in 2022; instead, IDC forecasts that tethered VR and AR headsets will be more successful due to sluggish sales numbers this year.

Furthermore, the development of 5G technology has enabled wireless VR capabilities. The new tech will reduce latency and provide more immersive VR headsets experiences. It could be a powerful catalyst for the wider adoption of virtual reality headsets in 2022, as it makes them easier to use and sets them apart from their tethered counterparts.

The year 2022 is shaping up to be crucial for virtual reality and augmented reality applications, with many industry insiders seeing a boom in usage mostly because of the developments in 5G technology. To capitalize on this technology, businesses will probably release new VR and AR goods, while existing hardware producers will focus more on enhancing the headgear experience.

Read next: According To The Recent Survey U.S. Ad Market Struggles for Eighth Month in a Row
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

6 reasons why blockchain companies need PR services

As with any business hoping to achieve success, blockchain companies need PR services to stand out from the competition and position their brand.

And these aren’t the only reasons to use blockchain PR strategies. Other important aspects impact this need in Latin America, as we’ll see in this text. But first, let’s look at what blockchain is, and how it has impacted the Latin American market.

What is Blockchain?

The clue is in the name. Blockchain unites the words “block” + “chain”. Virtual currency transactions are recorded in batches, known as blocks, and stored in the blockchain.

Each block has a unique mathematical code, called a hash, which serves as its fingerprint. The blocks are linked together in chronological order, forming a chain of blocks that creates an unbreakable and trustworthy record.

With advanced authentication and security features, combined with easy integration in a number of scenarios, blockchain technology offers great potential as a reliable alternative.

Blockchain in Latin America

Cryptocurrency adoption is growing rapidly in Latin America. Brazil has taken the lead in the region and is ranked 5th globally.

The country received close to $150 billion in cryptocurrencies last year, ahead of other Latin American countries like Argentina (ranked 13th), Colombia (15th), Ecuador (18th) and Mexico (28th) in the Chainalysis global cryptocurrency rankings.

Trust in blockchain technology varies by country and demographics, but generally speaking, it is growing in the region as more people become aware of its potential benefits and use cases.

Latin America stands out due to its embrace of blockchain technology. One possible reason for this is a lack of trust in traditional financial institutions.

Argentina

In Argentina, approximately 1.3 million people already use cryptocurrencies, and the country ranked 10th in the 2021 Global Cryptocurrency Adoption Index by Chainalysis.

Brazil

In Brazil, cryptocurrency adoption has skyrocketed, increasing from 2 million people to 10 million in 2022. It is estimated that 4.9% of the Brazilian population owns cryptocurrencies, and the country is quickly joining the Web3 revolution with a growing interest in NFTs.

Colombia

Colombia currently has 60 cryptocurrency ATMs in operation, the most of any Latin American country according to CoinATMRadar. In addition, the 2020 Statista Global Consumer Survey found that over 15% of Colombians have used or owned cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrency regulation is becoming more favorable in the country, with the government taking steps to reduce the regulatory gray area.

El Salvador

El Salvador became the most supportive blockchain ecosystem in Latin America in 2021, with the creation of a Bitcoin Law making it the first country to accept cryptocurrency as legal tender.

The country has 52 Bitcoin reforms currently under review, solidifying its regulatory leadership in the Latin American blockchain ecosystem.

Panama

Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Paraguay are among the other countries exploring friendly regulations for Web3 builders. In Panama, regulations are expected to pass later this year, while Brazil is discussing a bill for cryptocurrency operations in Congress and offering tax incentives for the mining industry with the use of renewable energy and carbon offsetting.

Costa Rica & Paraguay

Costa Rica lets employees receive wages in cryptocurrencies, and companies receive payments in them, while Paraguay is moving towards regulating the industry with legislation for virtual asset providers, cryptocurrency mining and tokens.

Venezuela

Venezuela has its own cryptocurrency, Petro, and has a dedicated governmental department for regulating cryptocurrencies in the country, Sunacrip. In Venezuela, users need a license to mine or trade crypto.

6 reasons why blockchain companies need PR services

Last but not least, here are some of the many reasons why a blockchain business should seek to hire PR services. PR can:

Differentiate

Help companies stand out from their competitors by highlighting their unique value proposition and market positioning, in order to gain prominence and trust among target audiences in this new market, which still arouses great distrust among Latin American consumers.

Increase visibility

Increase the visibility of blockchain companies by amplifying their message to a wider audience, via media outlets and other communication channels.
Build credibility

Build credibility by providing a third-party endorsement of their products, services, and values.

Manage reputations

Manage a company's reputation by controlling the spread of negative information and promoting positive stories.

Educate

Educate the public about the benefits and uses of blockchain technology, which is still a relatively new concept for many people.

Build relationships

Build relationships with key stakeholders, including investors, customers, and partners, by promoting the company's message and achievements.

Final Thoughts

Every company looking to stand out and stay competitive in the market needs the assistance of a PR agency. PR agencies can define specific strategies for any business, aimed at the audience they want to reach, and help position blockchain companies as leaders in this space while increasing their competitiveness.

In Latin America in particular, blockchain companies need PR services due to the region's rapidly growing market for blockchain-based solutions and its growing need for transparency and trust in financial transactions.
by Web Desk via Digital Information World

These are the most used social media messaging apps globally

Similarweb, an Israeli web analytics company, recently collected data from one hundred countries to find which messaging applications are mostly used globally. Since last year, the top 3 positions are still the same, with Meta-owned WhatsApp and Messenger in the first and second spots, followed by Telegram in 3rd. It was found that WhatsApp ranked number one in sixty-three countries, whereas Messenger did so in sixteen countries. And Telegram, despite going down the chart, still ended up as the top app in ten countries.

WhatsApp, without any competition, is the leading app globally, with almost 90 percent of its users using the app daily. The app is visited almost twenty-two times a day, with users spending roughly one hour on the platform. Other than these three applications, the remaining three positions were taken by Viber, a Japanese app, followed by Line, another similar app, and Snapchat at the sixth position.

These top six apps represent almost ninety-seven percent of the data collected from the countries. Based on world population statistics, almost 26 percent of the human population visits a minimum of one application out of six. WhatsApp leads eighty-eight percent of the European market, which means that eighty-eight percent of European users visit the platform regularly, whereas, in the United States, the app is visited daily by sixty percent of the users. And as for Australia and Canada, the figures are up at 63 percent and 70 percent, respectively.

Though Facebook Messenger holds the second spot and has a strong global influence, its daily visitors are far behind those of WhatsApp. Compared to WhatsApp, only fifty-eight percent of the audience comes back daily. On the other hand, in Canada and Australia, the daily comeback rates are, respectively, seventy percent and seventy-six percent, which shows a strong influence in these markets. Telegram held the top position in ten countries, whereas in twenty countries, Telegram was listed among the top five applications. And among fifty-three countries, the app was on the top 10 list.

Although Viber may not be as popular as the other messaging apps, those who use it are well familiar with how secure the platform is. Not just this, but the whole app is easy to use, which places it among the top 6 lists. Snapchat has a high revisit rate, however, the platform itself is mostly used by young users under the age of eighteen to twenty-four. Due to it being an engaging platform, the platform experiences high comeback numbers.

Read next: MIT Says EVs Might Overburden the Electrical Grid Without These Changes
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

A TikTok Ban In The US Is Not Coming Soon Due To This Big Reason

For a while now, we’ve been hearing a lot about how the US is making arrangements for a foolproof ban on the popular social media platform TikTok across the country.

The company's CEO was requested to Testify before the Senate yesterday in the country’s capital city of Washington DC and he did go very well prepared with his testaments that were all pre-written.

But the news of a ban on the app has been taking place for a good few years now. It really began to become intense for a fraction of a minute in 2020 under the leadership of US president Donal Trump but even then, it never receive a ban after all.

However, we do give full credit to the US Congress for never failing at trying. But now, toward the end of 2022, the ban speculations are running at full speed when the country opted to ban the app from all devices possessed by government officials. Moreover, they called the company out for being a huge threat to the nation’s security.

The decision was awfully interesting but did nothing in terms of stopping usage data from exiting the country’s borders because in case you weren’t aware, TikTok’s data collection goes far above the usual flagship applications.

With time, things began to look a little disturbing and yesterday, the US Congress was at it again. They really put China’s strong relationship with the platform on display. But similar to events in the past, we don’t exact the ban to actually ensue due to the simple reason of money.

In case you don’t know, it’s all about money talks, and in the world of politics, money does scream. Let’s not forget how the leading app is making a lot of revenue through its American market. But not only this, we are seeing the rate of revenue through iOS apps grow to new heights, almost like the firm is printing currency.

Meanwhile, thanks to data from App Intelligence by AF, we know that the net revenue of the TikTok app on the Play Store is a small error away from hitting the staggering value of $1,000,000,000 by last year. Yes, that’s one billion US dollars and we’re not even including revenue taken in from China. Also, this is what is left after the app is paying out its dues to Apple for having the privilege of taking space on its App Store.

The reason why the App Store was focused on so much and all nations were included other than China as the app’s main driver for revenue is indeed America. And so if the app does get banned here, it’s bound to receive a ban in other nations too.

We saw that arise with the government of the UK banning the app and soon after that, countries like New Zealand opted to pick up the pace and follow in its footsteps.

Read next: India's TikTok Ban Paves the Way for Domestic and International Social Media Competitors, Could the US Follow Suit?
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Instagram's Upcoming Feature Aims to Revolutionize Fundraising Efforts!

Instagram is reportedly developing a new feature that will allow users to add a "donate" button to their posts, making it easier for them to boost funds for various causes and charities.

According to a tweet by app researcher, Alessandro Paluzzi, the upcoming feature was discovered in the code of the latest version of Instagram. He shared a screenshot that showed the "Donate" option alongside other options such as "Tag Products" and "Adds Location" in the post-creation screen.

This feature could be a game-changer for individuals and organizations looking to raise money for important causes. Currently, Instagram does offer a "Donation Sticker" feature for Instagram Stories, which allows users to add a sticker to their story that directs followers to a donation page. However, the ability to add a donate button directly to posts could provide even more visibility and accessibility for fundraising efforts.

It is unclear at this time exactly how the new feature will work or when it will be rolled out to all Instagram users. However, Paluzzi's tweet suggests that Instagram is actively working on the feature, and it could be released shortly.

The potential impact of the donate button feature is significant, particularly for non-profit organizations and charitable causes that rely on fundraising efforts to support their work. With over one billion active users on Instagram, the platform has the potential to provide a massive audience for those looking to raise money and awareness for important causes.

Furthermore, the ability to add a donate button to posts could make it easier for individuals to support causes that they care about. With a simple click, users could donate without having to leave the app, streamlining the process and increasing the likelihood of people donating.

The move towards integrating charitable giving into social media platforms is not a new one. Facebook, which owns Instagram, has long offered a donation feature for non-profit organizations and has raised billions of dollars for various causes through the platform.

Other social media platforms, such as Twitter and TikTok, have also introduced similar features to support charitable causes. These features have proven to be successful, with millions of dollars being raised for various causes through social media fundraising efforts.

Overall, the introduction of a donate button feature on Instagram could provide a significant boost to fundraising efforts for charitable causes and non-profit organizations. With its massive user base and ease of use, this feature could make a real difference in the world of philanthropy and social activism.

Read next: 70% of Top News Publishers Got Fewer Visits in 2023
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

According To The Recent Survey U.S. Ad Market Struggles for Eighth Month in a Row

According to Standard Media Index's U.S. Ad Market Tracker, U.S. ad expenditure has declined for the eighth consecutive month as a result of difficult comparisons with a robust expansion a year earlier.

As per Mediapost, the U.S. advertising market has experienced a decline for eight months running. When compared to the same month last year, when advertising spending increased by 18.6%, February saw an 8% decline. The data reveals that despite the overall decline, the market is still up 9% from February 2021.

The decline seems to be roughly equal across all ad categories, with the top 10 categories showing a 9.2% decline and all other categories declining 6.1%. Moreover, digital media is increasing its market share; in February, it accounted for 59% of total ad spending, up from 55% in February 2022.

Despite these obstacles, marketers are still searching for novel ways to connect with their audience and make use of cutting-edge platforms and technologies, such as influencer marketing, to engage with them more deeply than they can through conventional advertisements.

Nevertheless, even though February's stats may not have been as good as some had hoped, there is still hope that trends will improve as marketers continue to test out new strategies and platforms for interacting with their consumers and generating results.

Marketers may stimulate growth even in a shaky economy by employing the appropriate ideas and approaches. The potential for future growth appears bright as long as businesses continue to spend in knowing their customers and utilizing emerging technologies.

As the global economy continues its development, businesses must keep up with constantly changing trends and technologies that are revolutionizing how consumers purchase products or services. An in-depth analysis of customer data is essential to leverage any marketing edge and stay ahead of the competition.

Read next: Ad Revenue Hits 5 Year Low, Here’s What That Means for the Industry
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Instagram’s head response to three of the most commonly asked questions, including concerns regarding reach and hashtags

The former executive of Facebook and the current head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, recently answered three of the most frequently asked questions about the Meta-owned platform.

Starting with the first question, asking how many hashtags should be used while uploading a post, in response, Adam clarified in an Instagram story that the use of hashtags does not mean that the post will get significantly more reach as compared to those with fewer or no hashtags. However, Adam did appreciate the practice of using hashtags only when the tags were used appropriately. When hashtags are relatable to the content, they can make a good impression. He further added that there is no need to use a large number of tags, as it won’t help the creator reach a larger audience and may even end up annoying the viewers.



Moving on to the second question: whether reach is lowered if a user posts twice in a single day. While responding to the question, Adam said that they get this question a lot from the users, who say that whenever they post twice in a single day, the content doesn’t reach the maximum audience, but Instagram has nothing to do with this. Adam believes that it’s the followers who get less interested in the second post, and the platform doesn’t do anything that will bring down the reach of the creator.



Lastly, the third question asked whether it is true that Instagram reels are down-ranked if a user takes help from third-party tools such as CapCut. Adam answered the question by saying that if a user uses third-party applications to create an Instagram reel and post it on the platform, it will not be down-ranked unless the reel is watermarked. If it contains any kind of logo, regardless of what the logo represents, the reel won’t be recommended much in areas such as Explore or recommendations on the viewer’s feed.

• Also read: 70% of Top News Publishers Got Fewer Visits in 2023

This is not the first time that Adam Mosseri has answered frequently asked questions; he previously responded to several questions to guide Instagram users on things they should or shouldn’t do while posting content on the platform.



Read next: What Are the Most Frequently Searched Terms on Google?
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World