Blessing ceremonies? Power stones? Cultivating one’skienergy? Gen Yers in Japan aren't just embracing these things – a growing number are spending on them, too. Amid economic turmoil and rampant Americanisation, young Japan is turning to religion for both their personal and national identities.

The 2016 US presidential election showed just how much online habits can influence the offline world. So rather than limiting their political activism to physical spaces,Second Lifeusers are also protesting on the virtual platform via projects like Avatars Against Trump.

Virtual reality is set to become a $1 billion (£710 million) industry by the end of 2016, so it’s understandably an appealing platform for marketers. But with a new study suggesting that 34% of Brits don't care about the tech, where should brands invest for the best return?

Studies show that our ability to empathise has greatly diminished over the last 30 years. It’s due in part to the uptake of smartphones and social media – we’re all too busy thinking about ourselves. But while it might be part of the problem, could technology also be used to make us more empathetic?