Exhausted and disillusioned with China’s oppressive work culture, young people there are embracing a defeatist ideology that takes inspiration from the act of lying down. As more people reject the grind, they're pining for simpler living away from the pressures of traditional expectations.

Emerging at the peak of China’s virtual idol mania comes Ayayi, who is the country’s first metahuman. As virtual key opinion leaders gain more clout in China’s social commerce realm, it’s reflecting a shift of people’s aspirations as they look towards meta idols as figures of collective identity.

With the pandemic forcing people to spend closer to home and heightened geopolitical tensions shining a spotlight on national identity, it’s no surprise that local brands are thriving in China. But how exactly are companies playing up their heritage? And what does ‘made in China’ now imply?

Americans’ approach to using technology in their shopping journeys has fundamentally shifted due to COVID-19, providing new opportunities for brands as pandemic restrictions come to an end. Canvas8 polled 1,020 people and spoke to eight individuals to explore this topic in depth.