Introduction to Tariffs and Digital Storage

With the ever-evolving trade war and tariffs that likely include digital storage and memory products as well as other electronics, it seemed like a good idea to point out that most of the world’s digital storage and memory products are made outside of the USA. Let’s look at the numbers.

The Importance of Digital Storage and Memory

Digital storage and memory are where the data lives that will fuel the growth of AI training and applications and drive the growth of data centers. For instance, high bandwidth memory used with GPUs uses stacks of DRAM. Revenue for DRAM used in all applications was more than $28B in CQ4 2024. According to Trendforce, Samsung and SK hynix, both based in Korea, together make over 75% of the world DRAM revenue, followed by Micron, based in the US, at about 22%. The other DRAM suppliers are also based in Asia.

NAND Flash Revenue

Likewise, Samsung and SK hynix, including SK’s Solidgm business unit, made about 56% of NAND flash revenue in CQ4 2024. Kioxia and SanDisk, recently spun off from WDC, and with all NAND die manufacturing in Japan, together made about 26% of that quarter’s revenue. Micron, the only one of these manufacturers with production in the USA, made about 14% of CQ4 2024 NAND flash revenue. Total NAND flash memory revenue in CQ4 2024 was about $16.5B according to Trendforce.

Hard Disk Drives and Other Storage Devices

All hard disk drives are assembled in Asia with components that go into those drives mostly from various places in Asia, including China. Also, magnetic tape is manufactured in Japan as are many of the optical discs. In addition to manufacturing the storage and memory devices, many storage systems that use these devices are assembled in Asia with many of the other components locally sourced as well. Coughlin Associates estimates that total HDD CQ4 2024 revenue was about $5.7B. Perhaps magnetic tape revenues were somewhat over another $1B.

Total Storage and Memory Revenue

Altogether, CQ4 2024 storage and memory revenue was somewhat higher than $51B. There are other standalone memory products on the market, but their shipping volume and revenue are much less than for DRAM and NAND Flash.

Impact of Tariffs

So, aside from Micron, none of the other memory and storage suppliers make their products in the USA and thus these products could see at least 10% tariffs or higher, depending upon how these tariffs evolve. Even Micron makes most of its leading-edge memory devices in Japan and Taiwan, although it is expanding its US manufacturing footprint in Boise, Idaho and Clay, New York, with advanced chips manufactured domestically in 2026.

Conclusion

So, tariffs will likely lead to price increases for all types of memory and storage technology unless these products are made exempt from tariffs. This could impact the growth of new data centers for developing AI products and applications. Most digital storage and memory devices are manufactured in Asia as are their components. Tariffs on these products will increase their costs and that could be a drag on data center growth to support AI and other applications.

FAQs

Q: Where are most digital storage and memory products manufactured?
A: Most digital storage and memory products are manufactured in Asia.
Q: What is the potential impact of tariffs on digital storage and memory products?
A: Tariffs will likely lead to price increases for all types of memory and storage technology unless these products are made exempt from tariffs.
Q: Which companies are the leading manufacturers of DRAM and NAND flash?
A: Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron are the leading manufacturers of DRAM, while Samsung, SK hynix, Kioxia, and SanDisk are the leading manufacturers of NAND flash.
Q: What is the estimated total revenue of the storage and memory market in CQ4 2024?
A: The estimated total revenue of the storage and memory market in CQ4 2024 is somewhat higher than $51B.

With Future of work innovations revolutionizing the modern workforce, the gig economy has emerged as a dominant force, transforming the way we work and interact with employers. The rise of freelancing has created new opportunities for individuals to take control of their careers, offering flexibility, autonomy, and unlimited earning potential. As the gig economy continues to grow, it’s essential to understand its impact on the workforce and the benefits it offers to both workers and employers.

What is the Gig Economy?

The gig economy refers to a labor market characterized by short-term, flexible work arrangements, often through online platforms. This economy has created a new breed of workers, known as freelancers or independent contractors, who offer their skills and services on a project-by-project basis. The gig economy has disrupted traditional employment models, providing workers with the freedom to choose their own projects, set their own rates, and! work at their own pace.

Key Characteristics of the Gig Economy

The gig economy is defined by several key characteristics, including flexibility, autonomy, and project-based work. Freelancers are not tied to a single employer, and they can choose to work on multiple projects simultaneously. This flexibility allows workers to pursue their passions, develop new skills, and create a career that aligns with their values and goals. Additionally, the gig economy has created new opportunities for entrepreneurship, as freelancers can market their services and build their own client base.

The Benefits of Freelancing

Freelancing offers numerous benefits to workers, including flexibility, autonomy, and unlimited earning potential. Freelancers can choose their own projects, set their own rates, and work at their own pace, allowing them to achieve a better work-life balance. Additionally, freelancing provides opportunities for skill development, as workers can pursue projects that align with their interests and goals. Freelancers also have the freedom to work with multiple clients, diversifying their income streams and reducing their dependence on a single employer.

Financial Benefits of Freelancing

Freelancing offers financial benefits, including the potential for higher earnings and diversified income streams. Freelancers can set their own rates, allowing them to earn more than they would in a traditional employment arrangement. Additionally, freelancers can work with multiple clients, creating multiple income streams and reducing their financial risk. Freelancers also have the freedom to pursue high-paying projects, allowing them to increase their earnings and achieve financial stability.

The Impact of the Gig Economy on Employers

The gig economy has also had a significant impact on employers, providing them with access to a global talent pool and reducing their labor costs. Employers can hire freelancers on a project-by-project basis, allowing them to reduce their overhead costs and increase their flexibility. Additionally, the gig economy has created new opportunities for innovation, as employers can tap into the skills and expertise of freelancers to develop new products and services.

Challenges Facing Employers in the Gig Economy

Despite the benefits of the gig economy, employers face several challenges, including the need to manage a remote workforce and ensure compliance with labor laws. Employers must also develop new strategies for attracting and retaining top talent, as freelancers have the freedom to choose their own projects and clients. Additionally, employers must navigate the complexities of intellectual property and confidentiality, as freelancers often work on multiple projects simultaneously.

The Future of Work in the Gig Economy

The gig economy is expected to continue growing, with more workers turning to freelancing as a way to achieve flexibility, autonomy, and unlimited earning potential. As the gig economy evolves, we can expect to see new innovations and technologies emerge, making it easier for workers to find projects and for employers to manage their remote workforces. Additionally, governments and regulatory bodies will need to develop new policies and laws to govern the gig economy, ensuring that workers are protected and that employers are compliant with labor laws.

Preparing for the Future of Work

To prepare for the future of work in the gig economy, workers and employers must develop new skills and strategies. Workers must be adaptable, flexible, and willing to continuously develop new skills to remain competitive. Employers must develop new management strategies, including the use of technology to manage remote workforces and ensure compliance with labor laws. Additionally, governments and regulatory bodies must develop new policies and laws to govern the gig economy, ensuring that workers are protected and that employers are compliant with labor laws.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the gig economy has transformed the way we work, offering flexibility, autonomy, and unlimited earning potential. As the gig economy continues to grow, it’s essential to understand its impact on the workforce and the benefits it offers to both workers and employers. By developing new skills and strategies, workers and employers can thrive in the gig economy, achieving success and financial stability in a rapidly changing workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the gig economy?

The gig economy refers to a labor market characterized by short-term, flexible work arrangements, often through online platforms.

What are the benefits of freelancing?

Freelancing offers numerous benefits, including flexibility, autonomy, and unlimited earning potential. Freelancers can choose their own projects, set their own rates, and work at their own pace, allowing them to achieve a better work-life balance.

How do I get started as a freelancer?

To get started as a freelancer, you’ll need to identify your skills and expertise, develop a professional online presence, and create a portfolio of your work. You can then use online platforms to find clients and projects that align with your skills and goals.

What are the challenges facing employers in the gig economy?

Employers face several challenges in the gig economy, including the need to manage a remote workforce and ensure compliance with labor laws. Employers must also develop new strategies for attracting and retaining top talent, as freelancers have the freedom to choose their own projects and clients.

How can I prepare for the future of work in the gig economy?

To prepare for the future of work in the gig economy, you’ll need to develop new skills and strategies, including adaptability, flexibility, and a willingness to continuously develop new skills. You’ll also need to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and innovations, and be willing to pivot and adjust to changing circumstances.

Introduction to Fizz

While most social platforms are trying to become the next TikTok, one startup is building something very different. Fizz is a pseudonymous, hyperlocal app born on college campuses. Until recently, it was known as a kind of private campus message board; part Reddit, part group chat, but with the intimacy of a dorm hallway. No followers, no influencers, no pressure to perform. Just students talking to each other, anonymously or under pseudonyms, about the stuff that actually makes up daily life: dining hall food, econ finals, party rumors, roommate drama.

The Evolution of Fizz

But five months ago, Fizz started quietly testing something new: a cross-campus product that connects students not just within their university, but across the country. The new feed layers shared identity, interests, geography and more, all while maintaining the local anonymity that made Fizz thrive in the first place. Now, the results are in. Fizz’s daily active users in the new product cohort have jumped 50% in three weeks. Content creation has nearly doubled. Engagement time has soared. And the app has grown by more than 50 campuses in just the last month—with zero marketing spend.

From Dorm Room Dropout To National Feed

Teddy Solomon, 23, co-founded Fizz during the pandemic after dropping out of Stanford. The app, originally conceived as a hyperlocal space for students to speak freely, grew virally thanks to a flyer campaign and a thousand donuts hand-delivered to campuses. But from day one, Solomon had a bigger vision. “We always knew that once we became the dominant college app, we could offer something bigger,” he says. “A global experience built around the same values: shared context, identity, experience—but across schools.”

How Fizz Works

The new version of Fizz, which rolled out to a quarter of its campuses this year, is exactly that. It uses a new personalized feed, powered by a recommendation engine, to surface content not just from a student’s university, but from adjacent communities they naturally overlap with. “If you’re a Stanford student from New York, why shouldn’t you see what’s happening at Columbia or NYU?” Solomon says. “If you’re at Dartmouth, you probably have a lot in common with someone at Princeton. Or if you’re at UT Austin, you might care what’s going on at Texas A&M.”

Fizz’s High Engagement Numbers

Fizz didn’t publicize the new feed at launch. They wanted to know: would people actually use it? Would it be sticky? Would it still feel authentic? Now, five months in, they have their answer. “We’ve nearly doubled the content creation rate within the cross-campus cohort,” Solomon tells me. “Engagement time has gone way up. And our daily user base has grown 1.5x just in the last few weeks.” The app is also now adding 50 campuses a month, without paid acquisition, brand deals, or growth hacking.

Not An Entertainment App—A Social One

Fizz’s rise says as much about what it isn’t as what it is. “We’re not TikTok,” Solomon says bluntly. “We’re not entertainment. We’re not about performative content. We’re about what’s happening now, in your world, with people who get you.” It’s a key distinction. While Instagram and TikTok chase global virality, Fizz leans hard into hyper relevance: the inside joke, the anonymous confession, the econ final everyone just bombed. On most platforms, only 1% of users post. On Fizz, 30% of weekly active users create content.

Expansion Beyond College

The momentum isn’t stopping at campuses. “In the next week, we’re expanding beyond college,” Solomon says. “We’ve built something that works for Gen Z more broadly—whether they went to college or not.” That move is significant. Most Gen Z social platforms don’t make it past the campus stage. But Fizz is already seeing demand from users who dropped out, opted out, or never enrolled in the first place. “When I visit campuses with 10% graduation rates, I know 90% of those students won’t still be there in three years,” Solomon says. “But they still deserve a community. They still deserve a voice.” Fizz is about to give them one.

A New Era Of Social Media

With over $40 million raised, Fizz is quickly becoming one of the most important social startups in years. And it’s doing it without the things we’ve come to associate with “success” in the creator economy: no massive influencers, no addictive videos, no virality-first algorithms. “We’re building social media the way it was supposed to be,” Solomon says. “Real connections. Real people. Real time.”

Conclusion

Fizz is redefining the social media landscape with its pseudonymous, hyperlocal approach. By focusing on real connections and communities, Fizz is creating a new era of social media that values authenticity and relevance over entertainment and virality. As the app continues to grow and expand beyond college campuses, it will be exciting to see how it shapes the future of social media and online communities.

FAQs

• What is Fizz? Fizz is a pseudonymous, hyperlocal social media app that connects students on college campuses and beyond.
• How does Fizz work? Fizz uses a personalized feed to surface content from adjacent communities, allowing users to connect with others who share similar interests and experiences.
• What sets Fizz apart from other social media platforms? Fizz focuses on real connections and communities, rather than entertainment and virality, and allows users to post anonymously or under pseudonyms.
• Is Fizz only for college students? No, Fizz is expanding beyond college campuses to include users who did not attend college or dropped out.
• How many users does Fizz have? Fizz has grown to over 50 campuses in the last month, with a 50% increase in daily active users and a nearly doubling of content creation.