The COVID-19 pandemic has seen women dropping out (or being forced out) of the workforce in record numbers. What are the reasons behind this shift and how might they affect gender equality in the long run? Additionally, how can brands support mothers as they strive to find success and balance?

Social media platforms may have cracked down on public hate speech, but some of those abusive messages have moved into users’ DMs. To tackle this while maintaining people’s privacy, Instagram is introducing a filtering tool that automatically blocks messages containing harassment.

Instagram has introduced a ban on weight-loss ads, with a focus on protecting vulnerable teens. With the link between social media use and poor mental health in teenagers widely publicised, Instagram is hoping to regain confidence by demonstrating a commitment to user safety and wellbeing.

Social media has the ability to send its users into a spiral of self-pity one day and transform their lives through the power of community the next. Canvas8 spoke to Sarah Raphael, co-author ofMixed Feelings, about our love-hate relationship with social media and what this means for brands.