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.

Social media platform Geneva has become popular among Gen Zers who wish to connect privately and directly with other users who share similar interests. As people reject performative social feeds in favor of authentic online interactions, how are community-oriented apps keeping users engaged?

Why are people turning to TikTok rather than Google for their online searches? How are new social platforms tapping into a sense of nostalgia for the early internet? What are peer-led networks doing to rewrite cultural and historical narratives? And why might brands choose to stay quiet online?

Fizz is a social media app created for college students that aims to address the isolation that many feel when they arrive on campus. Started by two college dropouts, the app favors candid interaction over the curated nature of legacy social media – just like its Gen Z user base.

Rising awareness among consumers and brands about the negative impacts of social media use is altering the way that influencers post and engage with their audiences across digital channels. This comes as lawmakers work to enact regulations that aim to protect younger users online.