From decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) run on Discord to city-wide mutual aid groups, people are finding safety and optimism in numbers. For growing numbers of people, collective action is emerging as the only viable solution to compounding crises and deepening alienation.

Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

As fervour for mobile gaming remains high, the tile-matching gameSheep-A-Sheephas become a sensation in China. Though it’s extremely hard, it’s earning success by tapping regionalist sentiments and fostering belonging – bringing a local element to the wide world of online gaming.

Crafting and promoting a strong personal brand is key to finding success as an influencer, but is this creative labour always a solo activity? Canvas8 spoke to Colten Meisner, researcher at Cornell University, about how livestreaming creates a unique interplay between fans and creators.

MrBeast’s particular brand of outrageous stunts paired with his everyman sensibility has earned him a trusting, loyal, and rapidly expanding fanbase. As he becomes only the second independent content creator to reach 100 million subscribers, what does his popularity say about audience expectations?

Open-world games often boast sprawling virtual environments, innumerable questlines, and character customisation options that keep players coming back over weeks, months, and even years. But how do working adults find the time for these titles between their responsibilities and other entertainment?