Isabella Gannon is a junior behavioural analyst at Canvas8. She holds a BA in European Studies from Trinity College Dublin, and there became interested in the relationship between media, identity and visual culture. Outside of work, she’s frequently reading, going to gigs, and navigating obscure corners of wikipedia.

The self-made mythos is as powerful as ever, despite societal upheaval testing its limits. Even mundane pastimes have been monetised as people cash in on massive audiences and leave no niche unexplored. Selling out is no longer a source of embarrassment, it’s just what makes the world go round.

Generation Sell

Gen Z (born 1997-2010)

Gen Alpha (born 2011-present)

Global

France

Sports

Travel and Leisure

Media and Entertainment

Social networking

A wave of Olympic athletes are appearing on TikTok with sponsored fashion hauls courtesy of brands like Nike, Ralph Lauren, and Skims. The videos are courting a new generation of social-first sports fans who have come to view sports fandom within broader entertainment terms.

Cultivate

Values and Identity

Connection and Belonging

Influencer Olympians unbox sponsored gear on TikTok