Against a backdrop of uncertainty, people are searching for new sources of control and stability. Where science and ancient wisdom have been conventionally pitted against one another, many are moving towards an integrated approach to authority that draws from the best of both worlds.

The past decade has seen political polarisation – accelerated by social media’s filter bubbles and echo chambers – deepen and mutate. An ominous era of a polycrisis has shattered any remaining societal consensus. Meanwhile, powerful anti-establishment voices have stepped into the void.

Alternative forms of belief are increasingly infiltrating mainstream culture, with ‘conspiritualism’ gaining mass exposure following the storming of the Capitol Building. But who are the ‘conspiritualists’? And why might the ‘brovolution’ create problems for conventional healthcare?

Conservative commentators and media outlets have long complained of an ‘anti-conservative bias’ on Facebook and Twitter, but a report from NYU suggests these accusations are unfounded. Increased transparency and greater user control could help persuade those who remain unconvinced.

As fake news continues to flourish across the web, people are looking to tech companies to take charge of the issue and make long-term adjustments to restore the credibility of online news. But with misleading media easier than ever to manufacture, how can trust be created and maintained?

With concerns around data security and censorship driving a growing sense of dissatisfaction with Big Tech, some people are searching for ways to communicate, socialise, and organise online outside of mainstream social media platforms. How will this shift transform the digital space?