As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and pessimism, we are moving away from a moment in which consumers expected brands to rise up to society's challenges and into one when they’re demanding genuine allyship from businesses.

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.

In the face of economic crises, climate anxieties, and global wars, people are seeking solace through connection. They want to be sure someone will hold their hand in the face of hardship. As a result, they have higher expectations of care and understanding from interactions with brands, social systems, and p...

Frustrations with legacy social media platforms are increasing, with targeted algorithms causing more distress than desire. To challenge this, RTRO utilises ChatGPT to offer an anti-algorithm social platform that foregrounds positivity and community – a refreshing alternative amid digital fatigue.

Social media platform ETHOS connects Gen Z with people around the world through their values, as opposed to their visual story or follower count, it’s combating the negative effects of traditional social media, making them fall in love with a new way to engage digitally, socially, and emotionally.

Frond aims to build communities around shared interests, creating new avenues for people to develop online conversations. It is part of a series of social platforms launching in response to growing distrust of legacy services, tapping the in-between space of community-building and socialising.

Every major social media channel has at least one problem that threatens to drive users away, whether it’s questionable data collection practices or a toxic virtual atmosphere. As people begin to question the value of mainstream platforms, where are they finding a sense of connectedness online?