Internet Trends 2018
We use data to tell stories of business-related trends we focus on. We hope others take the ideas, build on them & make them better.
At 3.6B, the number of Internet users has surpassed half the world’s population. When markets reach mainstream, new growth gets harder to find -evinced by 0% new smartphone unit shipment growth in 2017.
Internet usage growth is solid while many believe it’s higher than it should be. Reality is the dynamics of global innovation & competition are driving product improvements, which, in turn, are driving usage & monetization. Many usability improvements are based on data -collected during the taps / clicks / movements of mobile device users. This creates a privacy paradox…
Internet Companies continue to make low-priced services better, in part, from user data. Internet Users continue to increase time spent on Internet services based on perceived value. Regulators want to ensure user data is not used ‘improperly.’
Scrutiny is rising on all sides – users / businesses / regulators. Technology-driven trends are changing so rapidly that it’s rare when one side fully understands the other…setting the stage for reactions that can have unintended consequences. And, not all countries & actors look at the issues through the same lens.
We focus on trends around data + personalization; high relative levels of tech company R&D + Capex Spending; E-Commerce innovation + revenue acceleration; ways in which the Internet is helping consumers contain expenses + drive income (via on-demand work) + find learning opportunities. We review the consumerization of enterprise software and, lastly, we focus on China’s rising intensity & leadership in Internet-related markets.