The enthusiasm for cryptocurrency has led mainstream industries to begin 

 into their business structures, both to make their own operations run more smoothly and to 

 that the technology inspires, with some brands adding ‘blockchain’ to their company name just to 

. But it’s the charity sector that has seen the most intuitive use of cryptocurrency’s built-in transparency. 

 enables people to track how their donations are being used, while start-up 

 facilitates loans to aspiring female entrepreneurs in countries where corruption threatens traditional finance.

As blockchain tech migrates from the fringes of society into mainstream consciousness, it’s prompting a push by governments and start-ups to bring crypto knowledge to the masses and lessen any

 is gamifying blockchain technology to help familiarise people with it, while Japan has 

 to spread the gospel of Bitcoin. For those who have heard of virtual currencies but haven’t mastered using them, 

 has designed an easy-to-use digital wallet for managing crypto assets, while 

 has launched a dedicated crypto debit card to make payments easier.

In the wake of the steepest drop in trust in recent history, established business, media, and government institutions are being eyed with suspicion. Canvas8 spoke with Rachel Botsman, author of Who Can You Trust?, to understand who holds sway in the midst of a global trust implosion.

Where do people place their trust?

Giftcoin is the world’s first cryptocurrency designed for transparent charitable giving. Could this use of cryptocurrency – which was until recently an alternative or niche way of spending – be a step towards seeing radical ideas becoming mainstream models?

Giftcoin: charitable giving goes transparent

Indian fintech startup Jupiter is refashioning banking in India at breakneck speed. With its live expense tracking, easy investment channels and smart saving tools, Jupiter takes on the role of a financial partner to Indian Gen Y and Z. But how did it make its name in the sacred space of banking?

How Jupiter simplifies money management for Gen Y Indians

With youth unemployment at an all-time high and forecasts for Chinese GDP indicating a continued slowdown, young people are saving in an attempt to take control. In contrast to global trends, China’s youth are shirking impulsive purchases and setting extreme saving challenges on social media.

Chinese Gen Z are ‘revenge saving’ for economic security

Despite being seen as high-tech, Japan has been slow to adopt fintech solutions. The country ranks among the top in APAC that are slow to embrace cashless payments. However, this situation may soon change as Olive tailors its app and all-in-one card to promote cashless living in Japan.

How Olive manages Japanese people’s cashless confidence

Belong is a new savings app targeting UK Gen Yers who feel priced out of the housing market. It wants to help them find new approaches to building their personal wealth, but how can their strategies help to boost people’s financial outlook in the long term?

How Belong helps Gen Y Brits build long-term wealth

Gen Zers are driving membership in big-box stores like the Walmart-owned Sam’s Club, pointing to changing money-saving behaviors among young Americans. As belts continue to tighten, young people are investing in cost-cutting memberships to afford daily indulgences.




Cost-conscious Gen Zers flock to Sam's Club

Tito’s Handmade Vodka has launched a campaign targeting those going on ‘staycations’ this summer, looking to connect with those relaxing at home instead of traveling for holidays. As more people embrace staycations as economic concerns force cutbacks, they’re looking for ways to relax at home.

Tito's Vodka taps into staycation behaviors

Mschf Plays Venmo invites fans to join a social experiment-style lottery game. Players collaborate, make secret deals, and form alliances, employing strategies reminiscent of popular shows like The Traitors and Squid Game, and offering users an opportunity to deepen their connections.

Mschf Plays Venmo lottery builds on fan co-participation

Stunted by the cost of living, young Singaporean couples are turning to early marriage to secure affordable housing through the government, leading to regret for some. As both marriage and divorce rates rise among the young, there's a need for more comprehensive financial support and education.

Couples in Singapore get married earlier to afford homes

In an attempt to beat ‘shrinkflation’ and restore consumer confidence in supermarket retailers, the French government has introduced compulsory ‘shrinkflation’ labels. As brand loyalty takes a hit amid rising prices and faltering trust, transparency is one way of restoring faith.

Shrinkflation labels encourage supermarket transparency

As energy prices soar, so does anxiety, which is causing many Aussies to forgo brand loyalty in favour of lower costs. As inflation encourages consumers to rethink their spending, energy companies are considering taking steps to earn trust and prioritise consumer retention.

Money conscious Aussies switch power providers

Unsure what the future holds and still making up for years of restrictions, Gen Y and Z are prioritizing the here and now and splurging on non-essentials. As a result, they're turning to credit and their parents' support, signaling both a desire for escape and a need-it-now mentality.

Gens Y and Z turn to parents instead of saving

Monzo has introduced innovative app-based security features to protect their customers' savings from thieves and fraudsters. With increased phone theft and fraud rates among Britons, people are seeking reassurance, and banks are working to protect their best interests.

Monzo launches tools to protect customers from fraud

Some young Americans are rejecting the dream of homeownership, arguing instead that renting offers flexibility that makes more sense for their budgets and lifestyles. As homeownership becomes less attainable, young people are shifting their priorities and looking for new paths to success.

Some American Gen Yers are giving up on homeownership

Many young Chinese singles are focusing on themselves rather than getting married and starting a family. Although a rising singles economy leads to lower birth rates and an ageing population, changing social norms have allowed Chinese youth to explore who they are and their adult life priorities.

A new era of Chinese singles is shaping the economy

Credit Karma has revealed that young Americans are determined to have a summer of fun, even if it damages their finances. As they reckon with uncertain futures, people are looking to satisfy their escapist desires sooner rather than later and are prioritizing fun-filled travel to fulfil this need.

Young Americans are prioritizing summer fun over finance

For the last five years, Mastercard and its CMO, Raja Rajamannar, have been committed to creating a brand that people can recognise through all five of their senses. Though the awareness such an approach drives doesn't necessarily translate to trust, it can bolster perceptions of competency.

Mastercard’s multi-sensory branding builds trust

India's PM Narendra Modi won a third term, but his party lost an outright majority. Luxury spending rises, but the class divide grows. Tech innovations loom but also spread misinformation. Why? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore behavioural norms shared by people in India in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of India: 2024

What began as revenge spending post-pandemic has now become par for the course, with Indians splurging on sprawling residences, lavish holidays, fashion, tech, and more. Simultaneously, however, India’s income inequality and unemployment numbers are soaring through the roof.

How luxury spending in India thrives amid a turbulent economy

A survey has shown that America's view on tipping culture is changing, with three in five Americans now viewing tipping negatively. As people continue to operate with a heightened sense of value in a cost of living crisis, brands will face increased pressure to prove their equitable offerings.

Americans are viewing tipping differently

‘Farmfluencers’ play an important role in shaping the perception of products and agricultural methods in the farming community. Green loans company HeavyFinance is making brand ambassadors out of highly respected, digitally savvy farmers who are helping spread the word about sustainable practices.

How HeavyFinance engages climate-conscious farmers

Climate change is creating a home-insurance crisis in America, with minority and lower-income households more likely to be the worst affected. Understanding the impacts and where the pain is most felt will enable insurance firms and other organizations to help consumers navigate new risks.

What’s behind the rise of uninsured homes in the US?

A housing crisis, financial precarity, and distrust in corporations have led many Gen Yers in Australia to be more conscious of their spending than ever before. Yet why do many continue to splurge on experiences, products, and services that fall somewhere between the forever and the everyday?

Aussie Gen Yers' unstable finances are shaping their spending

For Gen Y, the cultural script for adulthood is in flux. With increasing numbers of this cohort now choosing to delay or forego traditional life milestones, new research suggests that, for many Gen Yers, the infamous mid-life crisis is just another financial impossibility.

Gen Yers can’t afford a midlife crisis

A study has revealed that teens from lower-income households in South Korea are less inclined to have a family in the future, signalling the deep-seated inequalities within Korean society. Financial pressures are putting young people off starting a family, changing and altering life milestones.

Money woes put Korean teens off the idea of marriage

The post-pandemic return to travel is seeing many over-60s pack their bags and jet off overseas. But as Boomers take full advantage of their renewed sense of exploration, what must insurance firms understand about their hopes and fears? How can they provide a sense of safety on holiday?

What do Boomers want from travel insurance?

In South Korea, office workers are swapping their go-to lunch restaurants for cafeterias and office-based canteens in an attempt to save on their lunch-related expenses. Amid the cost of living, people are having to adjust to decreased budgets and adopt new spending habits.

Cost-savvy Koreans are turning to cafeterias for lunch

Overwhelmed by rising day-to-day spending, Americans are grappling to control their finances. Many are embracing loud budgeting and small investments, but are these methods bringing them any closer to their life milestones? Canvas8 spoke to eight people from across the US to find out.

How is the cost of living shaping Americans’ life milestones?

Buying a house? Having a baby? Retiring? Many Britons feel the necessity to reframe their expectations in the face of prolonged financial pressure and the housing crisis. Canvas8 spoke to eight people from across the UK to find out how this shift plays out across generations.

How is the cost of living shaping Britons’ life milestones?

South Koreans celebrate their ‘Chuseok’ holidays with a mix of traditional and modern practices, reflecting the nation’s economic fluctuations and wealth disparities. How are these factors influencing gift-giving habits, and what strategies can brands adopt to cater to people’s diverse needs?

The economic crisis is changing how Koreans celebrate Chuseok

Inflation, stagnant wages, and the cost of living crisis have forced people to become financially literate and savvy. Hacking their way to staying afloat, people are looking for ways to get more from their money, embracing risk, and abandoning traditional financial strategies.

Finance Hackers 

Finance platforms are increasingly gaining customers' attention by making finance more 'fun' and accessible, often through gamification and content. While this is an effective way of getting people involved in finance and understanding its importance, there are dangers involved when money and income are treated more like a game than gold.

Gamified Gains

People are feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis on their intimate relationships and families. The strain on their wallets means people are approaching love and friendships through finance-first lenses and finding value in financial compatibility. This is also reshaping home dynamics, as Gen Zers find themselves moving back into their family homes and Gen Xers grapple with the burden of caregiving for their children and parents.

Finance-first Relationships

Gen Z and Y are feeling considerable pressure from the prolonged cost-of-living crisis, which is warping their expectations and understanding of finances. Often making conflicting choices and shuffling milestones, it's challenging for them to develop a clear financial strategy.

Money Dysmorphia

How does money dysmorphia affect young people and their expectations of the future? What are the pros and cons of the increasingly widespread financial gamification? How is the cost of living crisis affecting dating and family relationships? Why are people turning to financial hacks?




Money Sector Snapshot: May 2024

Chinese Gen Zers’ financial concerns are changing where and how they shop on social channels. From deal hunting to virtual influence, what do brands need to know about the new realities of social commerce in the country – and where do the biggest opportunities for innovation lie?

Gen Zers’ thrifty mindsets are changing social shopping in China

Despite inflation, affluent consumers continue to spend on luxury travel experiences – and even greater numbers are using the American Express Platinum Card to do so. Why has the card maintained its enduring appeal, and how is it adapting to luxury consumers’ changing tastes?

How American Express has maintained its exclusive edge

Amid the cost of living crisis hitting Aussies, Gen Zers are finding new ways to save up despite the difficult job market and rising costs of goods. Younger generations are taking control of their finances, holding themselves accountable, and relinquishing their fear of judgement around money.

Why are Aussie Gen Zers embracing loud budgeting?

How is Japan’s shrinking, ageing population impacting locals’ decisions? Are government efforts to regulate work hours actually leading to shifts in Japan’s notoriously overworked society? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore the behavioural norms shared by people in Japan in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of Japan: 2024

A 2024 study has demonstrated that the face of luxury shopping is changing, revealing that young parents are becoming the most likely to make luxury purchases. As economic uncertainty has shoppers remaining hesitant to make big purchases, luxury shopping is becoming increasingly aspirational.

Luxury demographics are skewing younger

Economic challenges, marketing saturation, changing relationship patterns, and the move towards digital interaction have diminished the vibrancy and engagement usually associated with Valentine’s Day and White Day – one example of Korean and Japanese people’s fatigue surrounding ‘Day’ marketing.

Does the decline of White Day prove people are getting tired of ‘Day’ marketing?

‘Sari-sari’ (literally, ‘variety’) stores remain staples in Filipino neighbourhoods despite the rise of convenience stores. They balance affordability and accessibility with modernisation and adapt to changing needs by providing reasonably priced essential goods, making them a pillar in the country.

Why Filipino neighbourhood ‘sari-sari’ shops flourish amid convenience stores

Disillusioned with the state of the housing market, Gen Yers are giving up on their goals of homeownership and focusing on making their rentals their own with renovations. This is a signal of changing attitudes towards major life milestones and the troubling economic state of play.

Gen Yers are renovating rentals instead of buying homes

As Gen Zers and Yers come to terms with not having it like their parents did, they're turning to crypto and 'financial hacks' to make things work. Amid a decline in trust in traditional financial institutions, brands have an opportunity to help young adults manage their finances in new ways.

Gen Z and Y are trying to hack home ownership

The mobile payments app GCash has revolutionised financial services by bringing banking to Filipinos' fingertips. Through its innovative features, strategic partnerships, and commitment to financial inclusion, GCash empowers millions to control their finances and easily pierce the digital economy.

How GCash dispenses financial inclusion to mobile Filipinos

A survey has found that adults in the US are struggling to stay afloat, with the majority of adults living paycheck to paycheck. As inflation continues to threaten financial security, people are searching for brands and products that can provide holistic solutions and financial education.

Ongoing inflation impact is entrenching financial stress

China’s young people are abandoning their retirement plans as low pay and a difficult labour market hurt their future prospects. Gen Zers and Yers are looking for financial support and education as their optimism dissipates and an uncertain and potentially difficult future looms.

Disillusioned Chinese Gen Zers abandon retirement plans

According to a new poll, Gen Zers and Yers believe that they’re spending too much money on streaming subscriptions. Mobile content is proliferating while young people are looking to cut costs, leading many to change their streaming behaviors and look for more affordable solutions.

Gen Zers look to cut back on streaming subscriptions

Ongoing financial pressure is putting strain on Britons’ love lives, with dating, divorce, and even staying single becoming more expensive, and the future they imagined looking different with their budgets. How can brands support people in their romantic lives during the cost-of-living crisis?

How is financial strain affecting Britons’ love lives?

Several approaches have been developed to teach young Southeast Asians money management. However, economic issues and hustle culture make lessons hard to remember. That’s why The Simple Sum keeps financial literacy simple through bite-sized comic strips about real-life budget experiences.

Why The Simple Sum strips money talk down to comic truths

Why are China’s youth giving up their hard-earned credentials to become ‘full-time children?’ How did rest become an act of rebellion? How has the pandemic affected shopping habits in China? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore the behavioural norms shared by people in China in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of China: 2024

While BNPL options have become widely available, there's a gap in understanding how consumers view them and why they use them. Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Philippa Ward, Dr. Anita Zhao, and Dr. Ruffin Relja to unveil the world of BNPL customers – their perceptions, usage, and brand recommendations.

I’m saving so much! The science of BNPL perception

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is lagging behind other European nations in embracing digital finance, but post-pandemic shifts and economic challenges are presenting diverse opportunities in this space. How can brands respond to the digital transformation?

What's driving digital finance in Germany?

Boutique grocery stores, including those run by brand giants, are popping up more and more in the inner cities of Australia amid an anti-supermarket sentiment. The question is, how did this happen, and are Aussies buying the cost of convenience and bougier atmosphere these places are offering?

Behind the success of boutique grocery stores in Australia

Urban youth in Vietnam are feeling increasingly disillusioned by the promise of social mobility due to a housing crisis and the effects of ‘flex’ culture, leading them to redefine their adulthood. What does this mean for brands looking to engage with Vietnamese Gen Zers?

Why adulthood looks different for Vietnamese Gen Zers

The 2024 Generational Snapshot of Generation Y in the Asia-Pacific region explores how a move towards purposeful living and stable life has Gen Ys spending with more intention, taking care of their health and overall wellness, and enjoying the freedom that comes with not having children.

2024 APAC Gen Y Snapshot

Robinhood, the stock trading app that shot to fame in 2021 as the app of choice among ‘memestock’ traders, is gearing up for a UK launch. What opportunity has it seen among British investors, and how can it convince them to make more informed money decisions and pick stocks on its platform?

Why Robinhood wants to get Britons onto the stock market

Facing turbulent economic times, many couples are navigating new terrain when it comes to spending and saving. Canvas8 spoke to Scott Rick, a marketing professor at the University of Michigan, about how people can better handle their finances without risking their relationships.

Scott Rick on the future of finances in relationships

The grim financial outlook for young people is no secret – and they’re catching on. Their intense worries have given rise to ‘money dysmorphia’, with their fiscal anxiety spiraling even when their situation isn’t that bleak. How can brands help to soothe them and make them feel more in control?

Money dysmorphia is changing young spending habits

Gen Y women are set to inherit more money than their male counterparts, opening up a new wealth landscape that will emerge over the coming decades. Women have different investing habits compared to men, presenting diversification opportunities for existing financial products and organisations.

Future wealth transfer will benefit Gen Y women most

Investing company Australian Ethical has launched a new campaign that focuses on showing how they align investments with values. However, with opinions on ESG funds becoming polarised, transparency around the true environmental impact of these investments will be vital to winning audience trust.

Australian Ethical caters to conscientious investing 

Moniepoint is emerging as the most preferred payment system in Nigeria, thanks to its lower transaction decline rates and instant reversals of transactions if payments fail. With rising distrust among traditional banks, people are increasingly turning to challenger options they find more reliable.

Moniepoint offers financial reliability to Nigerians

According to new research, Americans are working less since the pandemic, with high earners and young people leading the charge. An increased desire for flexibility is helping to reshape the American workweek, with top talent making their preferences clear in the early 2020s.

High-earning Americans are looking to work less

With US Boomers already demonstrating their openness to alternative financial strategies, regulation changes by the Securities and Exchange Commission mean more of their wealth could go into Bitcoin. As trust in traditional retirement plans and institutions wanes, Boomers are diversifying.

Regulation changes may sway Boomers to Bitcoin

In response to the increasing prevalence of gig work, Robinhood Retirement has introduced a savings plan tailored to the needs of those working through TaskRabbit, Grubhub, and Gopuff. As the working world changes, there are increasing expectations for financial products to adapt too.

Robinhood launches retirement product for gig workers

By giving workers in Indonesia early access to their salaries, Wagely helps them be more financially secure, ensuring they don’t take loans they can’t repay. As economic uncertainty hits people globally, consumers expect the system to adapt and help them cope with monetary pressures.

Early pay access is safeguarding Indonesian workers

Money

Slow Factory is a fast-growing digital platform that champions climate justice and human rights through engaging and intentional content. By centering marginalized voices and creating digestible news on social media, it has built a loyal community of people seeking radical change.

How Slow Factory articulates climate justice for Gen Z

Rebind is partnering with a team of literary experts to power AI-driven, interactive reading experiences. Amid a growing sense of unease about the role of emerging technology within the arts, the app is positioning AI as a tool that can enhance – not replace – human creativity.

Rebind is bringing literary texts to life with AI

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has taken home the Industry Craft Grand Prix at Cannes Lions for its 100th edition featuring holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. As harrowing crises play out globally, people are looking for empathy and integrity.

German newspaper wins a Grand Prix for emotive campaign

With reading skills declining globally, Playbrary is targetting tech-savvy youth to boost interest in literature. It uses a custom ChatGPT prompt to transform classic books into immersive and interactive games based on the plots of classic novels, enabling deeper fandom while inspiring new readers.

Playbrary allows GenAI to be immersed in classic fantasy 

In partnership with Real Simple magazine, Pinterest has launched a shoppable issue featuring product recommendations and easy purchase options. This move highlights how brands are trying to bridge online inspiration with real-life shopping to make things more accessible to consumers.

Pinterest co-creates shoppable magazine

Long before the ‘hot girl’ movement propelled reading into the mainstream consciousness, China was already a country filled with bibliophiles. Today, its bookstores are fulfilling a new role, serving as community hubs and brand opportunities to strengthen customer loyalty.

How China’s bookstores are evolving experiential retail

The Tokyo-based start-up Orange has secured $19 million in investments to develop AI software that can translate manga titles into English. While the tech may broaden global readers’ access to Japanese media, it could also threaten the role of the fan translator in the proliferation of such content.

Orange uses AI to speed up manga translations in English

The New York-based newsletter distribution start-up Beehiiv has raised $33 million in series B funding on the promise of continued growth. With people growing wary of being plugged into social media, newsletters allow them to engage with niche communities at a slower pace.

Beehiiv banks on newsletters’ appeal to niche audiences

Rihanna has given readers a peek into her life like never before, speaking on her relationship and future plastic surgery plans. Fans are increasingly interested in honest depictions of their favorite cultural icons and want to hear the unfiltered truth directly from the source.

Rihanna interview taps desires for celeb transparency

A parody game in which users play editor-in-chief and choose headlines shows users how coverage of crises impacts The NYT's business. The game highlights declining trust in mainstream media and offers an immersive understanding of competing interests that may influence editorial decision-making.

Meta news game trains users on editorial framing bias

Come for explicit photos of celebrity crushes, stay for the community. From an Instagram page to organising physical exhibits, Y2K Kabaklaan’s intentions are simple – to usher in a safe space for pent-up gay desires and to document an unforgettable epoch in Filipino pop culture.

Why Y2K Kabaklaan archives Filipino queer desires

Inspired by the 'romantasy' communities of TikTok, elaborate fantasy events like book balls are gaining traction among Gens Y and Z. Driven by people’s desire for connection, escapism, and worldbuilding, brands have the opportunity to create immersive activations and experiences.




BookTok fuels a resurgence of immersive fantasy events 

The US has witnessed a surge in book bans in schools and libraries. The increasing controversy over reading materials highlights increased polarization in the US, with activist groups pressing to ban books and brands seeking to counter restrictions and improve access to literature. 

Record number of books banned from US libraries in 2023

In response to backlash, online bookstore Allstora has reversed its decision to continue to stock anti-LGBTQ content despite its commitment to uplifting marginalized voices. As polarization deepens, audiences are becoming more assertive about their expectations of brands in doing their part.

Online bookstore removes anti-LGBTQ books after backlash

Gen Zers in the UK are flocking to book clubs, looking for free and healthy ways to socialise amid changing habits and a desire to disconnect. Young people are turning away from pubs and clubs as the default way of spending time with friends, seeking out community in those with similar interests.

UK Gen Zers are bringing book clubs back

Slowquest combines digital gaming UI with a choose-your-path comic book format, bridging the digital and physical realms. Slowquest taps into both the desire for tech-driven experiences and a nostalgic return to offline print media – offering up a dual-format entertainment landscape.

Slowquest immerses gamers in phygital TTRPG zines

In the face of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza – and declining faith in institutions to take action – writers have united globally to support the cause,  auctioning off signed copies of books to raise money to fund reconstructive surgery for critically injured children.

Writers raise money for Gaza's children with auction

The "Light Blue Embryologist" explores the hurdles of infertility treatments in Japan. It sheds light on women's stress and depression in infertility treatments and educates men on the stressful process of IVF. The manga offers an accessible way for men to learn more and support their partners.

Manga demonstrates how husbands can support IVF process

Death, political division, and the climate crisis. Not your classic kids’ book topics. But then, Begin Again isn’t your classic kids’ book. Designed to bridge generation divides, can it help people of all ages talk about important global topics by offering tactile escapism, and even a little hope?

How Begin Again uses tactile media for deep connection 

Audible has launched its 'This is The Story' campaign, showcasing the range of genres available on the audio storytelling platform. The campaign aims to highlight how storytelling can transform everyday life and its ability to transport listeners into different worlds, providing escapism.

Audible billboards illustrate escapism of a good book

Originating from the Spicy BookTok community, a surreal new social media trend has young people donning Ghostface masks before seducing their partners. Mixing horror and porn aesthetics, book lovers can inspire publishing brands to tap into idiosyncratic Halloween activations and campaigns. 




The Ghostface trend ignites erotic macabre among Gen Z

Despite being digital natives, Gen Zers are being drawn to an institution that’s thousands of years old – the public library. The ability to foster a community, disconnect from the web, and access a plethora of stories for free are just a few reasons why these spaces are pulling in young readers.

Why Gen Zers are finding community in libraries

Free from the shackles of shareholders but without the cash that VCs have historically splashed, 404 Media is joining the small but significant number of journalist-owned-and-operated publications looking to offer readers the kind of distinctive journalism they feel is worth paying for.

404 Media: indie platform for mainstream news skeptics

Casual Readers isn’t your average book club; it focuses on conversations and communal reading to build diverse literature spaces for women from minority ethnic backgrounds. What does this shift say about what modern readers value and how they’re making reading more inclusive?

Casual Readers Club: creating community with literature

Spotify is starting a new chapter for its audiobook offerings by making them available to all its Premium subscribers. By offering personalised music, podcasts, and audiobooks on a single platform, the move gives users a superior way to connect with their favourite creators and artists in one spot.

Spotify gives Premium users access to free audiobooks

The Guardian has launched a campaign that doubles down on its editorial independence. With financial constraints forcing independent media out of business, the campaign aims to let readers know they can have quality journalism they can trust and that's freely available to all.

'Not for Sale' takes pride in editorial independence

Penguin Random House is launching a nationwide tour with the 'Banned Wagon,' a vehicle making stops around the US handing out free copies of outlawed books. As culture war issues persist, parents are looking for brands to support their children’s intellectual curiosity.

The 'Banned Wagon' champions outlawed books in America

A novel newsfeed is being promoted as a healthier way to consume news online with its anti-doom scrolling feature. As people reckon with the negative effects of continued crises on their mental health, they’re looking to forms of curation that aren’t just based on the currency of attention.

SmartTake offers users reprieve from permacrisis news

Publishing

People are experimenting with cryptocurrencies

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