As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and pessimism, we are moving away from a moment in which consumers expected brands to rise up to society's challenges and into one when they’re demanding genuine allyship from businesses.

With social media giving everyone a voice and helping to raise awareness of corporate missteps, people are more critical of brands than ever. But ‘call-out culture’ doesn’t have to be a source of concern – it can be an opportunity to create authentic identities both reactively and proactively.

As social media becomes a bigger and bigger part of our life, brands are tapping into this with ‘social-first’ strategies that meet people on their beloved platforms. But as we click-til-you-drop, how are luxury labels finding their voice and appealing to people in this new landscape?

How are climate concerns impacting everyday decisions? Why is honest discussion essential to breaking down old stigmas? And what actions are people taking to live up to their values? The 2020 Expert Outlook features 42 members of the Canvas8 Network on what to expect in the year ahead.

Authenticity has long been a buzzword in marketing, but with 51% of people saying that less than half of brands create ‘authentic’ content, there’s a significant disconnect with audiences. Canvas8 spoke to Dr. James Oakley to find out what factors affect whether something is seen as genuine.