As people grow more aware of the vast spectrum used to define gender and sexuality, there’s an expectation for the media to wise up and represent LGBTQ issues faithfully. With digital magazine Them, Condé Nast is giving queer voices a platform to talk about pop culture, politics and news.

In China’s conservative society, LGBT individuals have long been living under the radar, even after same-sex relationships were decriminalised in the late ‘90s. Yet a wind of change is blowing and social media is helping this community emerge as a consumer group of great interest for brands.

In February 2018, America saw its third-worst school shooting in history at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. In the wake of the tragedy, the teenage survivors have sought to mobilize the country both online and off, demonstrating Gen Z’s desire to engage with the big issues.

As political views polarize along generational and cultural lines in the US, echo chambers are inhibiting civic conversations. For Freedoms is tackling this state-by-state by creating billboards in partnership with artists, sparking public discussion ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

Although GDPR is giving web users more control over their personal data, few seem to pay attention to what they sign up for online; 44% of Britons rarely or never read the Ts & Cs of digital services. Canvas8 spoke to 20 people from across the UK to learn why the small print is so often ignored.

With more circular initiatives surfacing – from small start-ups to corporate strategies – not everybody is on the same page about what a circular economy entails. As global debates in academic, business and consumer circles heat up, will a zero-waste lifestyle move from a fringe movement to the mainstream?

As more social media users develop an aversion to flawless feeds, while the #skinpositivity movement champions supposed ‘imperfections’, brands across sectors are facing calls to stop retouching reality. But why exactly are airbrushed images so problematic, and should they carry warning labels?

‘Sex sells’ was once the mantra of the fashion industry, but this sentiment is looking increasingly dated. Why? Because a consumer backlash is in full swing, with people having little time for old stereotypes. How have brands that once prided themselves on exclusivity become more inclusive?