Tech Report: Global smartphone market to shrink 13% in 2026 amid memory chip shortage, eBay cuts jobs, Instagram adds teen safety alerts

The global smartphone market is expected to contract 13 percent in 2026.

(LILAMAX) -The global smartphone market is expected to contract 13 percent in 2026, according to new projections from International Data Corporation.

IDC says soaring demand for advanced memory chips used to power artificial intelligence tasks has drained global supply, creating a shortage that could last well into next year.

With fewer smartphones available, consumers could see higher prices — although major manufacturers have not publicly commented on potential pricing changes.

In other tech industry news, eBay announced it will eliminate about 800 jobs, roughly 6% of its full-time workforce. This marks the company’s third major round of layoffs since 2023.

The cuts come just days after eBay completed its $1.2 billion acquisition of Depop from Etsy, a move aimed at expanding its reach among Gen Z shoppers in the secondhand fashion market.

Instagram will soon begin alerting parents if teen users repeatedly search for content related to suicide or self-harm.

The new parental notification feature is set to roll out next week in the United States. Both parents and teenagers must opt in for the alerts to be activated.

Parent company Meta Platforms is currently facing multiple legal challenges related to child safety, placing added scrutiny on how its platforms protect young users.

Meanwhile, Burger King is introducing a new artificial intelligence chatbot named “Patty” to monitor customer interactions.

The voice-enabled system will operate through employees’ cloud-connected headsets and collect data to ensure workers are saying “please” and “thank you” and maintaining a friendly tone.

The rollout reflects a broader trend of companies using AI tools to improve efficiency — and in some cases, replace certain job functions.