Money Talking

Google's Advertising Monopoly


Listen Later

Advertising has become a big business for Big Tech—and it keeps getting bigger. Google now controls a whopping 91 percent of the search advertising market.

The tech giant’s monopoly means it’s almost impossible for businesses not to advertise with Google. That’s especially true if you’re a company that exists entirely online, like the ride-sharing app Lyft, or mattress brand Tuft & Needle. Lyft, for example, spent 92 million dollars on ads placed with Google last year. As a recent article in Bloomberg notes, that’s about 10 percent of Lyft’s 2018 net loss.

And if a business decides not to advertise on Google, a competing brand might buy its keywords and place an ad against them. It’s an advertising Catch-22.

This week on Money Talking, Ilya Marritz speaks with Jake Swearingen, a contributor for New York Magazine’s Intelligencer, about how Google came to dominate search advertising—and what it means for businesses and consumers alike.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Money TalkingBy WNYC

  • 3.9
  • 3.9
  • 3.9
  • 3.9
  • 3.9

3.9

86 ratings


More shows like Money Talking

View all
Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,837 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,881 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,609 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,913 Listeners

On the Media by WNYC Studios

On the Media

9,238 Listeners

The Brian Lehrer Show by WNYC

The Brian Lehrer Show

1,576 Listeners

Death, Sex & Money by Slate Podcasts

Death, Sex & Money

7,718 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,467 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

113,121 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,944 Listeners

Spooked by KQED and Snap Studios

Spooked

16,653 Listeners

The Anthropocene Reviewed by Complexly, John Green

The Anthropocene Reviewed

9,334 Listeners

Dolly Parton's America by WNYC Studios & OSM Audio

Dolly Parton's America

16,405 Listeners

Terrestrials by WNYC

Terrestrials

1,183 Listeners