> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nearmedia.co/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # VZ Sells Yahol, Amazon Liability, No Herd Immunity - URL: https://www.nearmedia.co/yahol-amazon-herd/ - Published: 2021-05-03T18:46:37.000Z - Updated: 2021-05-03T18:58:48.000Z - Author: Greg Sterling - Tags: News ### Yahoo's Death By 1000 Cuts Continues with PE Sale Verizon is selling its media and ad-tech assets, AOL and Yahoo, to Apollo Global Management for $5 billion. The company paid nearly $9 billion for the two companies in separate transactions. The [press release](https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-media-be-acquired-apollo-funds?ref=nearmedia.co) is all smiles: "The corporate carveout will allow Verizon Media to aggressively pursue growth areas and stands to benefit its employees, advertisers, publishing partners and nearly 900 million monthly active users worldwide." Verizon receives $4.25 billion in cash and a 10% stake in Verizon Media. The surviving brand post-transaction will be Yahoo. But let's fondly reflect on one of the worst branding mistakes in recent memory: [Oath](https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-completes-yahoo-acquisition-creating-diverse-house-50-brands-under-new-oath-subsidiary?ref=nearmedia.co) (the original Verizon Media business unit name). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/05/Screen-Shot-2021-05-03-at-11.13.45-AM.png) **Our take:** - Verizon Media made several recent announcements about [new partnerships](https://www.nearmedia.co/verizon-goes-to-the-store-abertsons-google-integration-consumer-pent-up-demand/), [business models](https://www.nearmedia.co/local-revenge-spending/) and [innovations](https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-media-launches-next-gen-solutions?ref=nearmedia.co) – suggesting momentum. - The deal is an admission of VZ's failure. There's no reason that Apollo will fare any better, though it's probably looking to IPO ultimately. - It has been painful to watch the slow-motion decline of Yahoo, starting with its [ill-fated search deal with Microsoft](https://searchengineland.com/a-search-eulogy-for-yahoo-23267?ref=nearmedia.co) in 2009\. ### What Amazon Strict Liability Case May Mean for Others Amazon was recently [found strictly liable](https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/california-court-of-appeal-finds-amazon-46886/?ref=nearmedia.co) for a defective Chinese product under California law. The California Court of Appeal, in Bolger v. Amazon.com, LLC, held that Amazon was "[strictly liable](https://www.justia.com/injury/negligence-theory/strict-liability/?ref=nearmedia.co)" for a defective third-party product it didn't make or fulfill, but was merely sold on its website. The court also found that Amazon was not shielded by the [Communications Decency Act](https://www.eff.org/issues/cda230?ref=nearmedia.co) (CDA). Amazon has appealed to the California Supreme Court and could appeal to the US Supreme Court beyond that. If the decision holds, the implications are quite significant for e-commerce marketplaces (e.g., eBay, Etsy) and potentially for internet publishers and platforms (e.g., Facebook). **Our take:** - Though in CA, if the case sticks, online marketplaces would become liable for defective products, fraud and other problems. Enter lawsuits. - I'm making a leap: the fact the CDA didn't apply here (specific circumstances) potentially erodes it as a liability shield in other contexts. - Separately, section 230 reform is [definitely coming](https://www.nearmedia.co/section-230-reform/), which will impose further duties, burdens and liability on publishers. ### Herd Immunity Out of Reach: What Does That Mean? Given that a substantial percentage of the US population ([25%](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/04/07/984697573/vaccine-refusal-may-put-herd-immunity-at-risk-researchers-warn?ref=nearmedia.co)) won't take the vaccine, out of fear or ideological defiance, the US won't reach herd immunity. Get used to it and the social and economic consequences (for better and worse). It means variants will keep emerging and that the COVID vaccine ritual will be an annual event. Life will never fully return to "the way it was before." However people [are trying](https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/01/politics/pandemic-return-to-activities-analysis/index.html?ref=nearmedia.co), indicated by an [increase in air travel](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/15/air-travel-recovers-as-vaccinations-spur-bookings.html?ref=nearmedia.co), [store visitation growth](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/15/air-travel-recovers-as-vaccinations-spur-bookings.html?ref=nearmedia.co) and the [return to restaurants](https://www.opentable.com/state-of-industry?ref=nearmedia.co) (graphic below). Yet consumer behavior patterns will forever be changed, the full extent remains to be seen. There are many more implications for us to debate later. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/05/Screen-Shot-2021-05-03-at-10.46.35-AM.png) Source: OpenTable (May 2021) **Our take:** - Traditional retail disruption will continue as commodities and a big chunk of apparel shopping go online – nearing 30% of retail by 2023\. - No business can operate as before; digital is now the center of everything. Service businesses will have to do much more online. - The post-COVID market will be more concentrated with fewer, bigger winners (see last week's [boffo earnings](https://www.nearmedia.co/earnings-blowouts-goog-owns-reviews-no-bribes-for-idfa-tracking/)). Smaller SMBs will suffer. ## Recent Analysis - ****Amazon's Ruthless Efficiencies:** [the human cost of its profit machine](https://www.nearmedia.co/amazon-ruthless-efficiencies-cartoon/). - [Latest podcast](https://www.nearmedia.co/memo/): Amazon profits, Yelp's predicament, Apple's tracking paternalism. ## Short Takes - Travel search site **Kayak's first hotel in Miami Beach** is [now open](https://www.kayakmb.com/?ref=nearmedia.co). - Macy's employees [win](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/30/macys-store-employees-score-victory-in-challenging-self-checkout-.html?ref=nearmedia.co) commission ruling over **in-app self-checkout**. - New pockets of [innovation](https://knightfoundation.org/articles/opportunities-for-local-news-entrepreneurs-are-proliferating/?ref=nearmedia.co): Maybe **local news isn't dead** after all. - SEO: **Thin-content service area pages** [don't rank](https://searchengineland.com/case-study-more-content-is-not-always-better-for-ranking-in-google-348324??ref=nearmedia.co). - **The rise of "local justifications"** in [SERPs](https://moz.com/blog/influence-local-justifications?ref=nearmedia.co). - **Online percentage of larger SMBs' revenue** [jumps](https://newsroom.kabbage.com/news/research/recovery%5Freport%5F1/?ref=nearmedia.co) to 57%. - **MasterCard tries to be a [channel](https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/business/overview/grow-your-business/offers.html?ref=nearmedia.co)** forSaaS, SMB marketing companies. - **Global e-commerce** [grows](https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/article/global-ecommerce-sales/??ref=nearmedia.co) nearly $1 trillion to $4.2 trillion in 2020\. - **"Live commerce"** [set for big growth](https://www.retaildive.com/news/livestreaming-popularity-expected-to-grow-in-2021-coresight-research/599121/?ref=nearmedia.co) in 2021, as COVID lingers. - **Clubhouse**: unlikely [free speech beacon](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/02/world/middleeast/clubhouse-iran-egypt-mideast.html??ref=nearmedia.co) in authoritarian countries. - **Baidu self-driving Taxi service** [now live](https://www.zdnet.com/article/baidu-to-roll-out-fully-automated-self-driving-taxi-service-in-beijing/??ref=nearmedia.co) in Beijing. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/02/near_memo_banner.png)](https://nearmedia.co/memo?ref=nearmedia.co) Please let us know what you think. Email [gsterling@nearmedia.co](mailto: gsterling@nearmedia.co) with suggestions and recommendations.