Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

From decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) run on Discord to city-wide mutual aid groups, people are finding safety and optimism in numbers. For growing numbers of people, collective action is emerging as the only viable solution to compounding crises and deepening alienation.

Research suggests that a minority of American Twitter users account for the vast majority of political messages on the platform, with over-50s leading this discourse. As social networks become more splintered along generational lines, their politics are also becoming more polarized.

Social media has become omnipresent in our daily lives and is a fundamental resource for understanding the world around us. But what impact does society's evolving relationship with the news and Big Tech platforms have on our individual understanding of conflicts and crises?

The physical restrictions imposed during the pandemic caused the digital divide between generations to close drastically as Boomers turned to tech in their droves. But how exactly have they been using digital tools to entertain themselves, connect with loved ones, and maintain their wellbeing?

With QAnon and conspiracy theories impacting mainstream discourse, tech companies are having to take greater control of what’s published on their platforms. Increasingly active on social media, American Boomers are caught up in the misinformation wars - but what draws them to fake news?