While still largely dominated by younger age groups, social media is flush with 

 as an opportunity to showcase their identities online. With 64% of Americans aged 50 to 64 and 37% of those aged 65-plus active on social media, people in older age groups are using the sites more to give others an insight into their lifestyles, express their opinions, and build their personal brands. Similarly, 

 are using social media to redefine femininity and embrace fitness regimens often characterised by men. And, with more than 21 million posts on Instagram tagged with #girlswholift, the movement is emblematic of a broader shift of changing body ideals.

Reality TV has embedded itself into the world of social media

. ITV’s Love Island, for example, has bridged the offline and online worlds, by providing a platform on which viewers can connect and dissect the show’s gossip-laden content. The show’s massive success highlights how people are craving a shared experience. Even if those participating are more closely associated with the archetypal influencer we’ve become accustomed to, it provides a TV-watching experience and simultaneously offers up endless talking points for conversation on a wide range of social issues, like gender inequality, sexism, unsuccessful romantic pursuits, and masculinity. As a result, it humanises the participants in a way that is rarely seen through a social media account.

The weights section of the gym used to be dominated by men who flaunted their muscles and machismo. But with increasing numbers of young women building their physical and mental strength through weight training, girls who lift are challenging outdated ideals of the female form.

Girls Who Lift: women who aren’t afraid to go heavy

Instagram has long been the domain of the young and glamorous, but a small group of older women is stepping up to claim a slice of the pie. These Boomers are using social media to subvert social norms around ageing, remaining as outspoken in later life as they were in their youth.

Insta Boomers: older women making ageing glam online

TikTok is launching a new photo-sharing app, TikTok Notes, to rival Instagram, reflecting the growing trend of personalized online experiences and the decentralization of information. However, TikTok's algorithm-driven approach has already received some pushback from users.



TikTok challenges Instagram with new 'Notes' photo app

Billie Eilish has gained nearly seven million Instagram followers in two days after adding all followers to her Close Friends stories. Social media has evolved to become more exclusionary, and communications are shifting to favor more closed-door communities to create a sense of connection.

Billie Eilish Instagram stunt adds millions of followers

The solar eclipse created a wave of online discourse, from Reddit forums about feeling its bodily effects to doomsday declarations. Though often untrue, people are projecting meaning onto cosmic events, with astrological phenomena a way for people to process and make sense of anxieties on Earth.

Solar eclipse reactions blend astrology and conspiracy

Motion sickness medication Dramamine has produced a documentary on the history of the barf bag, a playful nod to a technology made less common by the medication. Playful, oddball content is growing in popularity – creating an opportunity for 'serious' products to tap into a new cultural milieu.

Dramamine releases playful barf bag documentary

Despite the common assumption that younger generations worry most about the environment, recent studies reveal a more nuanced picture. For businesses focused on sustainability comms, there's a fresh opportunity to engage older audiences on eco values while tapping into affluent demographics. 

Boomers' eco anxiety shows nuanced generational attitudes

E.l.f Cosmetics has partnered with punk rock water brand Liquid Death to release a heavy-metal-inspired makeup collection, tapping into fandom for niche subcultures. Brands are tapping into unusual subcultures and finding inspiration in the past to stand out to adventurous, irreverent Gen Zers.

E.l.f. uses 'Corpse Paint' to tap into metal fandom

‘Cool’ may be hard to commodify, but cult independent newsletter Perfectly Imperfect has done just that. By creating a digital oasis where cultural insights and recommendations are shared free from algorithms and advertising, it maintains integrity by prioritizing genuine user taste exchange.

How Perfectly Imperfect broadcasts cultural cool

PNC Bank has launched a campaign asserting itself as the 'boring' bank, pushing back against instability in the financial sector throughout the early 2020s. As people react to volatility in the crypto market and the conventional economy, they’re looking for brands to project stability.

PNC Bank uses 'boring' label to promote stability

Government censorship, sexual harassment, and anti-feminist sentiments have driven Chinese women away from their favourite social networking apps, which has translated to an ever-growing ‘she-economy’ in which they are making purchases – and even creating new brands – that empower them further.

How Chinese women are reclaiming social media from anti-feminists

Cancel culture has evolved into a public accountability tool fueled by commitments to diversity and the desire for brands to mirror personal values. However, if not organized strategically and with a clear purpose, it becomes an avenue for virtue signaling rather than leading to substantive change.

Is anyone ever truly cancelled?

Climate change is a leading issue and the UK government has committed to a net zero emissions pledge by 2050. To reach it, voters must also take action and need political parties to support them. But in economically unstable times, how can political parties mobilise Gen Z voters?

How do UK voters feel about climate policy?

In a post #metoo era, young women are creating and watching more feminist content on social media. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of young men are consuming and voicing anti-feminist views. How can tech companies, brands, and advertisers help to bridge the growing divide?

How can brands bridge the growing gender divide?

As the first generation of true digital natives, it’s no surprise that Gen Alphas are already engaged in the news. Australian youth stay in the loop through video explainers and short-form updates – but these kids are still in need of more robust digital literacy skills and forums for discussion.

How are Australian Gen Alphas getting their news?

Internet blackouts are being used to disrupt farmers' protests in India as they demand fair prices for crops. Ahead of the 2024 elections, this type of digital authoritarianism is an alarming signal of human rights infringements and the need to protect access to online spaces.

Internet blackouts used to disrupt protests in India

In 2024, there will be decisive elections in the US, UK, and Germany while the cost of living crisis is likely to intensify. Instead of engaging in serious rhetoric, how might brands harness humour to diffuse societal tensions and engage consumers with a more playful tone of voice?

Why humour will be essential for 2024

Snap has announced the return of its AR Ramadan mall, complete with new features to heighten the immersive retail experience during the festive season. It’s an example of successful localisation that goes beyond product to become an integral companion in the everyday lives of local customers.

Snap uses AR to bring Ramadan shopping to life

Utah’s first-of-its-kind social media regulation – slated for March 2024 – has been pushed back by legal challenges by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). The nonprofit claims that the Social Media Regulation Act will limit protected expression for at-risk youth in the state.

Lawsuit delays Utah’s social media crackdown

The Clicks Creator Keyboard offers a nostalgic alternative to the iPhone 14 screen, resembling old Blackberry buttons. With young people increasingly yearning for real-world connections, this keyboard enables users to touch the past and challenge the prevalence of touch screens in their lives.

Clicks makes iPhone part Blackberry for tactile nostalgia

Gen Alphas have produced the youngest social media influencers in history, many promoting skincare products and following TikTok trends. As this young cohort of influencers becomes an inevitability, how can brands take precautions to avoid targeting inappropriate products to this audience?

What’s driving the rise in Gen Alpha influencers?

More and more Gen Alpha gamers in Southeast Asia are finding support and community via online games, creating multiple opportunities for brands looking to join the fun. Savvy marketers have begun partnering with popular Twitcher streamers and YouTubers, tapping into the gaming community's idols.

Why games are the new social media for Southeast Asian Gen Alpha

A report has revealed that almost half of adults using TikTok have never posted a video. Combined with its increasing use as a news source, the use of the social media platform solely for consumption increases the challenge for brands to ensure the information they share is verified.

Report reveals that TikTok has more lurkers than posters

Klarna's AI assistant managed two-thirds of customer service chats in its debut month, showing efficiency and customer satisfaction. The trend towards AI customer service reflects a preference for quick, accessible support, alongside a debate on AI's impact on jobs and service quality.

Klarna celebrates AI handling the majority of customers

Following a number of politically and socially polarising events unfolding on the global stage, brands have come under heightened scrutiny to respond. Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Francesca Sobande about the role of brands in social justice advocacy in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Dr. Sobande on the future of social justice marketing

Cuffed addresses swipe fatigue by allowing users to match with only one person at a time. This approach aims to foster more meaningful connections, focusing on individual conversations, increasing the likelihood of long-term romance, and reducing cognitive overload from an overload of options.

Dating app Cuffed offers mindful matches one at a time

McDonald's has introduced a four-episode campaign to pay tribute to the chain’s omnipresence in anime and manga, reacting to the art form's growing popularity among young people worldwide. Even heritage brands like McDonald's are getting in on the act, demonstrating the rising power of fandom.

McDonalds taps anime fandom with limited series

The European Digital Services Act (DSA) has officially come into force, and Dutch digital rights foundation Bits of Freedom is helping to educate critical influencers, such as NGOs and activists, on how to use it to amplify their voices. Meanwhile, trust in Big Tech continues to decline.

Bits of Freedom empowers users to tackle Big Tech

Home Buddies, the Facebook group-turned-company reshaping Filipino homes, has mastered the art of organising communities online. The mammoth user-led group has become a safe space for Filipino home enthusiasts to share their living spaces, home design tips, and shopping recommendations.

How Homes Buddies gathers a village of home designers

Pacsun is pioneering a strategy to co-create and build a community around its brand with creatives. As people demand transparency from businesses and expect them to step up to society's challenges, collaboration opens up communication in ways that could lead to increased trust and loyalty.

Pacsun initiative collaborates with creatives on brand

Social media is seeing a rise of influencers who have been ‘cancelled’ rebranding themselves with conservative values and aesthetics to achieve redemption. This growing acceptance of conservative viewpoints online, packaged as nostalgia, signals an interesting shift in political outlooks.

Influencers adopt conservative values to find redemption

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.

How BeReal relieves Japanese Gen Zers from social curation

An Re/Max ad has humorously tackled the issue of getting recommendations from strangers on big decisions like buying a house. It emphasises its agents as trusted experts amid the pitfalls of word-of-mouth recommendations, positioning the brand as a reliable authority and source of truth.

Re/Max ad tackles unsolicited housing advice

Pizza Hut is offering customers a personalized pizza to break up with their would-be paramore ahead of Valentine’s Day. Young people are growing pessimistic about the holiday, and there's an opportunity for brands to use a playful irreverence to resonate with disillusioned consumers.

Pizza Hut offers 'Goodbye Pies' for Valentine's break-ups

The Soul app has proved successful in combating loneliness among China’s Gen Z population by promoting healthy social relationships. Now, brands are using it to better understand the generation’s nationalistic tendencies and need for connection, leading to various marketing success stories.

How Soul helps lonely Chinese Gen Zers make more friends

Yelp has introduced a series of AI-driven features to provide quicker pathways to the information that diners care about when looking for recommendations. As AI becomes the norm for recommendations, consumer expectations for accuracy, immediacy, and ease of use are increasing.

Yelp uses Ai to enhance user recommendations

Saucony found that the average American swipes their phone screen for 78 miles a year. In response, the brand has launched the Marathumb Challenge to promote physical activity over screen time – addressing collective unease about screens and helping people to rebalance their relationship with tech.

Saucony pushes Americans to run further than they scroll

The University of Iowa independent student newspaper has purchased two weekly local newspapers in the state – increasing their reach and giving students more chances to grow their reporting skills. This comes amid a nascent resurgence of print and an increase in youth political engagement.

Student journalists take local news into their own hands

In an oversaturated K-pop industry and global media market, fourth-generation girl group NewJeans enjoys a rare dominating success. Through Phoning, a NewJeans-specific, Y2K-branded app, the girl group grants superfans the illusion of hyper-personalised inside scoops into the lives of group members.

Why Phoning recalls the flip-phone experience for Gen Zers

Peanut Butter brand Jif has launched its 'Save The Celery' campaign ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, looking to encourage eaters to go with unconventional dips at their game-day watch parties. People are turning to healthy – if less conventional – snacks, and brands are encouraging experimentation.

Jif targets adventurous eaters in Super Bowl ad

TikTok's 'legging legs' trend has fuelled the spread of toxic beauty standards as young girls discuss the 'perfect' body shape. With signs that harmful body image tropes are returning via social media, platforms have a responsibility to protect users from potentially detrimental content.

'Legging Legs' trend signals toxic beauty standards

Faced with algorithmically enforced censorship on social media, users are relying on algospeak, a form of coded speech, to communicate. How can platforms protect free cultural and political expression while ensuring that algospeak isn’t used to disguise harmful online speech?

How is 'algospeak' changing online activism language?

Lucy & Yak has responded to the ban on FKA twigs' Calvin Klein campaign with its 'Baring All' clothing range – which celebrates body diversity, specifically breasts. People want to shop with brands that align with and understand their values and ethics and actively support and amplify them.

Lucy & Yak encourages Britons to bare their breasts

Social media has long been a part of Indonesian politics, but the campaigning season for the 2024 election saw presidential candidates establishing social media personas and working closer with influencers. What’s going on, and what can brands learn from this shift towards online campaigning?

Inside the influencer-ification of Indonesian politics

Despite facing various controversies, Southeast Asian Gen Zers remain active on Twitter, now known as X, utilising its features for news and video discovery. The online platform offers brands the opportunity to engage in sociopolitical conversations and tap into fandom subcultures.

How Twitter and X changed ads and news for Gen Z in Southeast Asia

A photo of two people sat outside talking

For Gen Zers, Black History Month can be a period marked by constant skepticism. Equipped with ample knowledge about corporate virtue-signaling, they’re wary of any statement of support for Black causes and communities. So, how can brands ensure they’re seen as authentically engaged allies?

How do American Gen Zers feel about Black History Month?

Former Cloudflare employee Brittany Pietsch decided to film herself being fired to show her friends and family but received an outpouring of support when she shared it on TikTok. Brands are having to respond to the challenge of increased scrutiny as social media makes consumer trust more precarious.

TikTok layoff convos highlight elevated brand scrutiny

Year-on-year growth of TikTok’s monthly active users slowed markedly in December 2023, and some commentators are suggesting TikTok Shop could be to blame. Users are frustrated by an overload of advertising content when they value TikTok for its ability to facilitate community.

TikTok users frustrated by overload of shopping content

From fuelling global protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death to driving boycotts against ‘woke’ brands, the impact of social media on grassroots movements has become impossible to ignore. Why are these channels so valued by activists? And how can brands navigate through contentious issues?

How social media became an engine for change

'Bookshelf wealth' has become a TikTok interior design trend. Featuring stacked bookshelves of loved books, some are calling it a less moody 'dark academia'. The trend's emphasis on curated objects of personal inspiration pushes back against a landscape dominated by algorithmic decision-making.

'Bookshelf wealth' opposes algorithmic taste-making

With 2024 seeing a significant chunk of the world’s population go to the ballot boxes, OpenAI has announced new measures to curb misinformation and disinformation. Brands are challenged with minimising consumer concern over safety and agency as fears over its potential effects continue to simmer.

OpenAI reassures AI anxious about misinformation

A study by AI company Anthropic has found that much like humans, AI can also learn the skill of deception and possibly become increasingly adept at it. As fears around deepfakes continue to grow, there’s an opportunity to use tech as a means to enhance transparency – not diminish it.

Research shows that AI can engage in deceitful behaviour

The notion of ‘anti-fandom’ has come a long way since its fan fiction roots. Rather than subverting existing fandoms due to a disliked IP or artist, individuals and communities are critiquing entire fan groups and ideologies. What does this suggest about people’s engagement with media and culture?

How anti-fandom is subverting pop culture norms

Consumers expect brands to be activists, yet many attempts fall short or are perceived as opportunistic ‘woke washing’. How can brands participate in activism while maintaining authenticity? Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Abas Mirzaei about the key dimensions of brand activism authenticity.

Is this legit? The science of ‘woke’ authenticity

Cancel culture is real, but are Gen Zers more forgiving than we think? Fashion brands Sunnei and Reformation spent 2023 sharing negative feedback for the world to see, and social media consumers are loving it. So how can criticism be spun into a successful marketing tactic?

How fashion brands use criticism to their advantage 

The Stanley Quencher – a colorful insulated tumbler – has enjoyed an explosion of viral popularity, selling out on shelves and fetching impressive resale prices online. Items like Stanley’s tumblers offer customizable, functional status symbols, catering to a desire for self-expression.

TikTok causes engagement with Stanley tumblers to boom

Gen Zers are digitally tracking their outfits to monitor how often they wear each piece and move towards slower models of fashion consumption. As budgets get tighter and sustainability awareness increases, young people are looking to become more intentional with their money choices.

Gen Zers turn to wardrobe tracking to manage consumption

A holiday cruise around the world has become the latest Tiktok obsession, as users anticipate the drama that will unfold over its 9-month voyage. People’s desire for organic and spontaneous content may be leading to the creation of an entirely new genre of social media-led reality entertainment.

TikTok turns nine-month cruise into a reality show genre

In an era where micro-trends reign supreme and everyone’s a critic, Data, But Make it Fashion is cutting through the noise to provide fashionistas with technology-based information on what’s actually trending and worth investing in. How is the platform shaping the future of fashion?

How Data, But Make it Fashion reshapes shopping trends

Aiming to harness social media and channel it into a powerful force for social impact, Roar Social has exciting ambitions to revolutionise the world. Courting Gen Zers and business leaders alike, the app is a smart and effective way of democratising the process of giving.

Why Roar Social reimagines social media for impactful change

Instagram is rising as one of Korea's most popular platforms for reading web-based cartoon strips – webtoons. With community and co-creation central to how people consume media, Instagram is winning with fans who want to easily share webtoons and consume media in shorter formats. 

'Instatoons' rises in popularity in South Korea

Central Cee is the British rapper injecting a fresh and vibrant energy into the hip-hop scene which is garnering the attention of a new generation of global music fans. With his raw and unfiltered template of authenticity, what can brands learn about the power of utilising such a figurehead?

Why Central Cee is taking UK rap music to global fans

One of Germany’s biggest multimedia companies recently announced that it would be cutting jobs, replacing some with AI technologies. How are Germans reacting to digital changes overall and what interest is there among Germans amid this shift toward an AI-supported workplace?

AI is coming for German news habits. What will change?

Pantone has announced Peach Fuzz as its color of the year for 2024. The shade of orangey-pink represents caring, community, and collaboration. As people pay more attention to hues and how they can alter moods, there’s an opportunity for brands to play with contemporary color associations.


Pantone's Peach Fuzz signals community and connection

Influencers have emerged as key political figures in the lead-up to Indonesia’s 2024 general elections. While social media has long played a pivotal role in Indonesian democracy, the rise of such creators reflects the increasing overlap between politics, entertainment, and the influencer economy.

Influencers are shaping Indonesian electoral politics

For the 23rd edition of its annual Write for Rights campaign, Amnesty International is using illustrations to demonstrate the power of writing to end violations of human rights. Leading with a hopeful message, this campaign balances urgency with a desire for softness to empower people to act.

Amnesty harnesses the power of illustration for activism

From scoring partnerships with Dyson and Aveeno to being featured in British Vogue and The Times, Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe has cornered the luxury influencer market – a space that rarely puts Black creators front and centre. What is it about her personality that keeps her fans and brands engaged?

How Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe bolsters Black luxury

Communications

Acting as a home away from home, equipped with gaming consoles, board games, vinyl players, and film screens, a new breed of socialising spaces is encouraging visitors to connect and engage in person. These venues foster community and belonging in an increasingly isolated digital landscape.

Why Southeast Asian hobbyists are flocking to co-playing spaces

Mountain Dew has reached out to gamers and outdoor enthusiasts alike in an unlikely crossover, looking to market to niche audiences with a line of outdoor gear. Brands are intentionally targeting interest-based communities to build loyalty and excitement among peer groups online and in person.

Mountain Dew targets gamers and outdoor enthusiasts

PepsiCo has created a distinct Flamin’ Hot brand, separating it from its former place scattered under different flavors of chips. Gen Zers have exhibited a strong preference for spicy food, and brands are responding by adding heat across their product lines to cater to adventurous eaters.

PepsiCo brings the heat with Flamin' Hot rebrand

'Sexy water' has flooded TikTok with content, as creators add functional ingredients to water to romanticize hydration rituals. People are looking for fun ways to build healthy habits, creating an opportunity for beverage brands to capitalize on rampant customization behaviors.

'Sexy water' offers customizable hydration

Coffee Mate has teamed up with Dr Pepper to release a creamer made specifically for ‘dirty soda’ – a TikTok trend featuring heavily doctored and customized soft drinks. Gen Zers are more adventurous in their tastes, and brands are looking for novel ways to play to their desire for customizable combos.

Coffee Mate develops creamer for customizable dirty soda

Overhanging counters, adjustable lighting, and acoustic dampening are all part of Starbucks' new Inclusive Spaces Framework, set to launch across the US. The move reflects the increased expectations for commitment to diverse community needs amid increased demands for spaces that cater to all.

Starbucks brings store accessibility the forefront

The job offers aspiring content creators the opportunity to promote the drink while on a tour of the United States. This campaign leans into the sense of ownership people want to have with their favorite brands and how immersive experiences can encourage meaningful fan-led co-creation with brands.

Olipop unveils 'dream job' for soda fans

Ele.me's campaign spoke to those returning to work after the Lunar New Year holidays, highlighting a season of rest. Young people in China are turning to tradition and spirituality to navigate high stress levels, and campaigns like this speak to their concerns and allow them to feel heard.

Delivery service’s marketing fights seasonal blues

Amid growing awareness of unfair pay and labour conditions in supply chains and manufacturing countries, people want brands to pay back to these communities. Lipton Teas & Infusions has made a significant step in this direction by co-funding the Tea Innovation & Technology Academy in Kenya.

Lipton launches tea academy to empower Kenyan workers

Dunkin', long synonymous with coffee, is now targetting Gen Z with a move toward energy drinks – embracing the shift towards bright, wellness-oriented beverages appealing to younger consumers. This pivot reflects a trend as the brand adapts to evolving ideas around beverage functionality.

Dunkin' trades coffee for energy drinks to capture Gen Z

Punk rock water brand Liquid Death has expanded its product offering with electrolyte drink mixes called “Death Dust”. The product aims to appeal to a new wave of health-conscious consumers looking to enhance their water intake or simply those who want to make drinking water less 'boring'.

Liquid Death's 'Death Dust' targets functional drinkers

Spicy lattes – with sliced chillis and hot pepper powder – are the latest iteration of crazy coffee flavours that have emerged in recent years in China. While the drink makes for great content, it also nods to a growing interest in innovative recipes that draw on the country's traditional culture.

Spicy lattes are the latest iteration of crazy coffee

Along with new permanent flavours, Coca-Cola has unveiled limited-edition flavours to be sold on TikTok shop, tapping into social media hype culture. As brands innovate their product lines, keeping things playful and experimental helps them stand out to people looking for unique food experiences.

Coca-Cola launches limited TikTok shop flavour

Grind has grown from a single location in Shoreditch into an international coffee brand that speaks to the lifestyles of young professionals. As Britons remain willing to splash out on their caffeine hits, the brand has become a hub for those seeking little luxuries amid high inflation.

How Grind turned coffee into a lifestyle companion

The Super Bowl plays host to prime advertising real estate as well as the two best teams in the NFL on any given year. But people tend to forget the majority of adverts they see in a crowded media landscape, leaving brands with the challenge of sustaining their Super Bowl-assisted awareness.

Super Bowl ads look to sustain attention post-game

Carrefour has pulled PepsiCo’s products off the shelves due to the latter’s price hikes, sparking a dispute between the two firms. Ahead of EU elections, businesses and politicians are put in the hot seat as people demand concrete solutions – not bread and circuses – to address cost of living woes.

Carrefour and PepsiCo clash over shrinkflation in France

Pepsi Wild Cherry has launched a campaign targeted at older Gen Yers, lovingly poking fun at the reality of a wild night being a tamer in one’s late 30s than it may have been in the past. As notions of indulgence change with time, brands are tapping into nostalgia to connect with aging Gen Yers.

Pepsi's 'Get Wild' campaign targets aging Gen Yers

KFC has tapped into rising interest in Buddhism among China's youth with a coffee launch and partnership with a sacred site. Amid high levels of unemployment and a turbulent post-pandemic economy, young people are driving interest in religious locations in search of supportive spirituality.




KFC coffee launch taps growing spirituality in China

Starbucks has introduced a program allowing the use of reusable mugs for drive-thru and app orders across North America, investing in more sustainable solutions for takeaways. Brands like Starbucks are innovating to offer customers customization without compromising their eco-priorities.

Starbucks initiative makes drive-thru more sustainable

With coffee's well-known environmental impact, Atomo is focusing on shaking up the system by introducing new, coffee-esque ingredients with more positive eco implications. The move taps into eco and experiential mindsets, offering a chance for Atomo to stand out in the coffee space.

Atomo opts for beanless coffee for sustainable caffeination

Research has found that one in four British coffee drinkers have ‘no idea’ where their coffee comes from. The finding speaks to the disconnect many people experience between the food they consume and its origins and production, and there’s room for brands to close this knowledge gap.

British coffee-drinkers are confused about product origin

Very little can compare to a freshly brewed, slowly made cup of coffee. But with Southeast Asia’s entrepreneurship environment prioritising speed and innovation, tech-enabled chains are poised to reshape cafe culture. Will these companies continue to pick up steam, or are they not meant to stay?

Southeast Asians welcome convenient and accessible tech-enabled coffee

New York City-based About Time Coffee is leveraging tech to speed up takeaway coffee, challenging traditional coffee consumption norms, and becoming a haven for on-the-go caffeine lovers. How can brands learn from its success and what does this mean for the future of convenience?

How About Time Coffee brews success for new coffee fans

Finding Hylas offers Malaysians a subscription to kombucha flavours they can personalise for their own taste. By catering to specific health needs and prioritising eco-consciousness, the brand highlights how to provide the bespoke products people are looking for without compromising on values.

Customisable Malaysian kombucha entices eco-conscious homes

Ocean Spray's 'How You Cran' campaign asked consumers hard-hitting questions ahead of Thanksgiving – are they #TeamCanned or #TeamHomemade? The campaign ties into how traditional meals are being twisted for modern palettes, taking a dose of nostalgia and offering fun alternatives.

'How You Cran' campaign updates Thanksgiving traditions

In collaboration with local brands, luxury ‘baijiu’ (clear Chinese liquor) brand Moutai delivers novelty and surprise with baijiu latte and baijiu chocolate – a hit in online resale. This effort reintroduces the ‘old man liquor’ to younger generations and the burgeoning market of Chinese coffee.

Why Moutai remade Chinese liquor for a new generation

Nespresso, Mammut, and HeiQ have joined forces to produce The Extraordinary Jacket, made out of transformed coffee pods. This collaboration shows how companies across sectors can collaborate on their sustainable missions by tackling post-consumer waste and meeting eco-demands.

Mammut jacket keeps wearers warm with Nespresso waste

Coca-Cola has released its Christmas campaign. With the headline ‘The World Needs More Santas’, the brand is encouraging people to spread a bit more kindness. As people are increasingly overcome with the pressures of the world, they expect brands to recognise their need for care and connection.

Coca-Cola encourages people to spread Christmas kindness

Starbucks has debuted its Intenso Collection in China, which doubles down on strength and comes in an elevated cup design. As China's interest in coffee grows, caffeine drinkers are looking for niche, strong, and culturally aligned coffee offerings, as well as a focus on premium products.


Starbucks leans into budding Chinese coffee culture

Taj Mahal Tea has unveiled a rainfall-powered billboard that plays the Raag Megh Malhar, Hindustani classical music traditionally associated with the monsoon season. With increased appetites for immersive experiences, brands are integrating participatory elements into their comms strategies.

Taj Mahal Tea rain billboard honours monsoon season

Coffee and soft drinks

People want content from diverse influencers

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