Where Social Media Ends and Content Begins—Or Does It? (GOOGL, META, NFLX)
- Alphabet, the parent company of Google, made headlines this week following testimony from Apple executive Eddy Cue in federal court. Cue suggested that traditional search engines, such as Google, may eventually be supplanted by AI-driven search technologies. While it’s still unclear how this shift will impact commercial search volume, Occam data shows that a growing number of tasks are already being completed via ChatGPT instead of Google (see here).
- While Alphabet is predominantly recognized for its dominance in search, it is important to highlight that the company also owns YouTube—a key asset in the digital content ecosystem. Occam consistently tracks user engagement across major social media and streaming platforms, and as illustrated below, YouTube records the highest monthly hours spent among all major platforms.
- Beyond its scale, YouTube stands out for its audience profile. It appeals to a younger demographic—more mature than Instagram’s user base, yet closely aligned with that of Netflix. However, unlike Netflix, the vast majority of content on YouTube is independently created, reinforcing its unique position as both a content platform and a social media hub. Subscribe today to stay ahead of the curve.
