Phones are more than just a vehicle for communication – increasingly, they’re an emotional crutch, too. A study has found that people disclose more personal information via their phones than they do via computers, findings that have implications for brands operating in online spaces.

There have been countless headlines about the dangers of smartphone addiction, but what benefits could these devices have on our mental state? Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Shiri Melumad, a marketing professor at the Wharton School, about how our phones can provide comfort in times of stress.

Across America, social distancing is causing people to find alternative modes of communication to in-person hangouts – and it’s the humble phone call that’s coming in hot. Eager for modes of speaking that feel intimate but not exhausting, people are reassessing the communications options on offer.

What does a lack of IRL interaction mean for virtual communities? Can influencers remain apolitical? How can Big Tech firms win back people’s trust? In this part of the 2021 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about how communications are shifting in the wake of a crisis-filled year.