The parent company of YouTube and Google smashed its previous record, earning $50.4bn from advertising in the second quarter of 2021, according to the latest company reports.

Why it matters

Google Search had a notable decline in advertising revenue last year but it has recovered strongly, rising 68.1% to reach $35.8bn in Q2 2021. YouTube is growing rapidly and has doubled its advertising revenue in the past two years, showing the continued importance of online video for audiences and advertisers.

Takeaways

• Following an 8.1% decline in Q2 2020 during the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Alphabet advertising revenue has...