Today, audiences are shaping the cultural agenda. Empowered to speak up for the causes they believe in, people are actively calling out brands they see as inauthentic. What are the main drivers of this behavioural shift? And how can brands win the trust of these outspoken advocates?

Against a backdrop of uncertainty, people are searching for new sources of control and stability. Where science and ancient wisdom have been conventionally pitted against one another, many are moving towards an integrated approach to authority that draws from the best of both worlds.

Political polarization in the US is fueling heated debates and widespread outrage around censorship – whether that's in the form of deplatforming or book bans. But who is being most deeply impacted by such restrictions? And what can brands do to navigate tensions around free speech and self-expression?

In the age of pervasive social media, platforms like TikTok and YouTube become critical to preserving indigenous cultures and passing them on to younger generations. However, rigid censorship rules often impede this work, which calls for a designated approach to such content on these platforms.

In the face of nationwide book bans, FCB Chicago and Digital Public Library of America have launched the digital library ‘The Banned Book Club’. By providing the public with free access to banned titles, the organization platforms the importance of access in an increasingly polarized society.

Amid a global literacy crisis, Filipino readers continue to show a resilient passion for reading. Big Bad Wolf supplements this by bringing affordable books and organising physical events, which promote a growing value for real-life experiences and a community built around reading.