Regulators are turning up the heat on child data practices, with TikTok and ByteDance facing a US$400m settlement that puts every ad driven platform under the microscope. When rules tighten, money often shifts. Some stocks exposed to this news could see perceived risks change, while others may find fresh investor interest. This article walks through three such US listed social media and digital advertising stocks to watch right now.

The stocks covered below are just a starting sample from this theme. The full screen has surfaced 7 more US listed social media and digital advertising companies with equally compelling stories that are not discussed here. To identify and analyze the highest conviction opportunities right now, head straight to the US-listed Social Media & Digital Advertising Platforms screener.

Perion Network (PERI)

Overview: Perion Network is a digital advertising company that helps brands, agencies, retailers and publishers run and optimize campaigns across social, video, search, connected TV and digital out of home, tying its business closely to where online ad budgets flow. Its Perion One platform, Outmax AI agent and related tools aim to direct spend toward higher performing channels on large platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Meta, which is the type of exposure many investors look for in a social media and digital advertising theme.

Operations: Perion Network currently generates all of its reported revenue, about $436 million, from its High Impact Advertising Solutions segment.

Market Cap: $374 million

Perion Network operates in the center of digital ad budgets and the current regulatory focus on large social platforms, which is why it merits closer attention. The company is focusing on higher quality areas such as connected TV, retail media and digital out of home, while adding AI tools such as Outmax that are already being used to run campaigns on TikTok and other major channels. At the same time, investors may want to consider ongoing losses, reliance on external borrowing and recent insider selling alongside the presence of a sizeable cash position and an active buyback program. For those monitoring how ad spend may shift as regulators scrutinize larger platforms, Perion represents a focused but execution-heavy way to gain exposure.

Perion Network is trying to pivot toward higher quality ad channels while carrying losses and external borrowing. Before deciding how that trade off stacks up, review the 3 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

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AppLovin (APP)

Overview: AppLovin runs an AI driven advertising platform that helps mobile app and content owners find and monetize users across phones, games and connected TV. This places it in the middle of performance advertising where budgets can shift away from platforms like TikTok into other app and social environments. Its tools such as Axon Ads Manager, MAX bidding, Adjust analytics and Wurl for streaming video link advertisers to user engagement across the wider app ecosystem rather than relying on a single social network.

Operations: AppLovin generates all of its reported revenue, about US$6.8b, from its Advertising segment, split roughly evenly between the United States and the rest of the world.

Market Cap: US$103.3b

AppLovin may be of interest if you are looking at AI driven ad tech that reflects where mobile users actually spend time. The company currently earns all its revenue from advertising and is expanding Axon and self serve tools into areas such as e commerce and connected TV, tying it closely to the theme of budgets moving between social and app platforms. TikTok’s US$400m settlement keeps regulatory attention focused on child data practices, which could encourage some advertisers to rebalance spend across alternative channels that AppLovin serves. At the same time, investors may want to consider execution questions after recent growth concerns, high debt that magnifies both potential returns and risk, and insider selling that suggests possible near term volatility.

AppLovin’s AI ad engine is reshaping how budgets move across apps and connected TV, yet many investors still treat it like a typical ad stock. Get the full analyst forecasts for AppLovin and see what might be hiding in plain sight.

DoubleVerify Holdings (DV)

Overview: DoubleVerify Holdings runs media effectiveness platforms that help advertisers check where their digital ads appear, how they perform and whether they are safe and fraud free across social media, video and other online channels. Its tools span areas like brand suitability, viewability, contextual targeting and AI driven campaign optimization. This ties the business closely to how ad budgets are deployed and monitored as scrutiny of major platforms increases.

Operations: DoubleVerify Holdings reports all of its revenue, about $769 million, from Data Processing services that support its media effectiveness and measurement platforms.

Market Cap: $2.1b

DoubleVerify Holdings may appeal to investors who care where social and video ad dollars actually go rather than just which platform they land on. Advertisers use DV to measure fraud, brand safety and attention across TikTok, Meta, YouTube and newer formats such as connected TV and audio. This is connected to regulatory focus on child data and content quality. The business is already profitable, with positive net margins and a history of earnings growth, and it trades at a premium P/E that reflects expectations about its verification role. That premium and its dependence on large partners present risks, but for investors who see potential value in independent checks on social and ad tech platforms, DV offers a focused way to gain exposure to that theme.

DoubleVerify’s independent checks on social and video ads are gaining attention as scrutiny rises, yet many investors may only focus on its premium P/E. Read the analysis report for DoubleVerify Holdings and see what that premium might be missing.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.