Stans are passionate, and while they generally post about the object of their obsession, strong social media presence and large numbers mean they can mobilize to dominate social feeds. Showing the power of online community, they’re promoting BLM and quashing racism.

As people demand more varied representation, they’re looking for realistic depictions of their lives. Make Motherhood Diverse counters the lack of diversity in mainstream portrayals of motherhood by sharing the stories and experiences of real mums from all walks of life.

Many brands recognise that evoking laughter is a sure-fire way to get people’s attention – but that’s easier said than done. Canvas8 spoke to Caleb Warren, a marketing professor at the University of Arizona, to learn about the difficulties of using humour in ads and how this impacts brand loyalty.

TikTok’s challenges and tutorials have become an integral part of digital life for Gen Zers, inspiring many of them to recreate intricate dance routines in their bedrooms or out in public spaces. But why is this form of expression so popular on the platform? And how can brands get involved?

With nightlife venues across the world shuttered due to COVID-19, partygoers embraced digital hedonism by skipping queues for virtual club nights and attending marathon DJ sets. How have online raves helped reimagine out-of-home experiences? And how can brands keep the party going?

With data-sharing enabling everything from smarter cities to more sinister surveillance, the public debate around privacy is becoming increasingly complex. Canvas8 spoke to Alisa Frik, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, to understand how people are weighing up the pay-offs.

Dismissed as creepy at best and dangerous at worst, Snapchat’s Snap Map enables users to share their real-time locations. Although the feature was universally panned, it’s been instrumental in documenting social unrest and helping protesters organize without relying on media.

From messages of support to those that aim to entertain, how can brands deepen their relationships with people during a pandemic? Canvas8 spoke to Tom Doctoroff, author of Twitter Is Not a Strategy, to understand the role brand behaviour plays during a time of uncertainty and crisis.