The past decade has seen political polarisation – accelerated by social media’s filter bubbles and echo chambers – deepen and mutate. An ominous era of a polycrisis has shattered any remaining societal consensus. Meanwhile, powerful anti-establishment voices have stepped into the void.

Against a backdrop of uncertainty, people are searching for new sources of control and stability. Where science and ancient wisdom have been conventionally pitted against one another, many are moving towards an integrated approach to authority that draws from the best of both worlds.

A real-life ‘Gossip Girl’ is ‘spilling the tea’ on celebrities with the help of its 430K+ followers. Born out of lockdown boredom, the @Deuxmoi Instagram account is offering a distraction from the seriousness of 2020, appealing to our base desire to get the scoop, even in the midst of a pandemic.

From poetry readings to live music tutorials, COVID-19 is transforming the ways celebrities interact with fans. But how are influencers and celebs using or misusing their platforms to broadcast how relatable and accessible they are? And how will the cult of celebrity evolve post-pandemic?

In the wake of renewed scrutiny around the environmental impact of mining cryptocurrency, Elon Musk has announced a pause in Bitcoin transactions for Tesla sales. Critics view the move with scepticism, given Musk’s personal investment in dogecoin, and it could end up undermining the entrepreneur.

Tesla didn’t set out just to challenge the automotive sector – it wants tochangeit. It ranks in the top five brands among motor enthusiasts, and celebrity fans of Tesla include Jay-Z, Ben Affleck and Jay Leno. But how has an electric car company become a cool cult brand?