Amber Rawlings is a freelance journalist and copywriter covering subjects related to film and culture. She has written for 

, and has an MA in film studies. When she’s not watching Adam Sandler movies, Amber enjoys contributing to Canvas8.

Aware of hidden agendas, people no longer believe in the possibility of absolute truth or complete transparency from institutions, public figures, and individuals. Yet they are still drawn to honesty, integrity, and – at times – even vulnerability, which they expect from peers and brands alike.

Radical Transparency 

In the turbulent economic environment, money is losing its value. Consumers are reevaluating their spending across sectors. With a looming crisis of trust in financial institutions, how are people managing their budgets? And how can brands navigate the complex relationship between value and cost?

Critical Spenders

Alex Carapiet is the head of social at the Gen Z marketing agency Seed. Alex has over a decade of experience working in social media and has worked on campaigns with brands like YouTube, Sky, Nike, and Gillette.

Jayde Powell is an Atlanta-based social media strategist-turned-content creator. She's the founder of the content and creative development agency The Em Dash Co, host of 

, and co-founder of Weed For Black Women. Powell has ten years of experience in the marketing and advertising industry. 

United States

Eating and Drinking

Social networking

Tubefilter

Interview with Jayde Powell conducted by the author

GlobeNewswire

Marketing Charts

Interview with Alex Carapiet conducted by the author

Instacart

Decider

L'Officiel

CNBC

Cosmopolitan

The New York Times

Statista

For TikTok influencer Chef Reactions, honesty is key. Building off his experience as a chef, he gives his honest opinions on the best and worst of viral food content. His success taps into a broader trend toward videos that eschew engagement bait for authenticity and value practicality over excess.