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.

BeReal once dominated the charts of app stores in 2022, but its glory days are ending in the western parts of the world. Meanwhile, the platform has rebirthed itself in Japan, captivating young Gen Z users thanks to the respite it offers against the norms of its society.

Nospace, an app offering Gen Zers a nostalgic, Myspace-style social media experience, has garnered a waitlist of over 380,000 people. Combined with nostalgia for the early days of the internet, the desire for authentic online connection is driving Gen Zers towards alternative social media.

Put off by curated feeds, social media users are posting less and turning to group chats and 'dark socials' for deeper online connections with like-minded people and niche communities. Platforms can embrace this shift by leaning into the organic metamorphosis of these online spaces.

In an increasingly curated and commercialised social media landscape, how much do Britons value authenticity over idealised posts? And what’s behind the rise of ‘Finsta’ accounts? Canvas8 spoke to people from across the UK to find out how much they’re willing to share online.