The Great BTN Bake (Take) Off — Gen Alpha Trends for 2026: YouTube vs. TikTok Use and Gaming as Social Media | Behind the Numbers

Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing how, as Gen Alpha turns 13, the war between time spent on YouTube and TikTok will heat up—and how gaming will become an alternative social media space for this young generation. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Analyst Paola Flores-Marquez and Vice President of Research Jennifer Pearson. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.   Get more insights like these with our free, industry-leading newsletters covering advertising, marketing, and commerce. Sign up at emarketer.com/newsletters Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: [email protected] For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at [email protected] For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-great-btn-bake-take-off-gen-alpha-trends-2026-youtube-vs-tiktok-gaming-behind-numbers   © 2026 EMARKETER