Whether it's Snapchat or PewDiePie – the internet is always spewing out hype-shrouded phenomena, often understood exclusively by Gen Z. The latest is Periscope; one in a slew of apps that let users film live-streamed video from their smartphones. Do we really want to watch someone film a video selfie?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – so how many is a video worth? In 2015, the number of social media users watching clips of cat videos and movie trailers directly from their newsfeeds reached new heights. What does this say about the way we're using these platforms?

“Damn Daniel,” cries Josh Holz in a Twitter post that gained he and Daniel immediate viral fame. “At it again with the white Vans.” The clip's popularity, which went viral in early 2016, left many onlookers scratching their heads. But Vans isn’t complaining, having seen a 30% rise in online sales.

Pinterest holds the shopping wish lists of women around the world. Whether you’re deciding between lipstick shades or party looks, it's a great place to browse through all kinds of beauty inspiration. And now, L’Oréal is finding success with promoted video pins on the platform.

People don’t like ads, and the success of Spotify Premium shows that they'll pay to avoid them. YouTube is now offering a similar option in the form of YouTube Red, giving users an ad-free experience and exclusive content. How might the loss of commercials impact the future of the ad industry?

If you knew that this was the only chance you’d ever get to read this sentence, would you pay closer attention? Snapchat’s ephemeral messages are a more human way of relating digitally, but they offer more than just a carefree share. Their fleeting nature asks us to stop and pay attention.

China’s Golden Shield Project – or the ‘Great Firewall’ – has long posed problems for video moguls looking to please domestic audiences. But with new regulations tightening censorship even further, how are media sites staying relevant in an increasingly crowded and insular market?

2015 will see an avalanche of virtual reality devices appear in the mass market, with the likes of Sony, Google, Facebook and Microsoft targeting gamers across the globe. The technology may now be an attainable reality, but will it be used for anything beyond video games?