As the world went into lockdown in spring 2020, people were looking for interactive ways to stay connected and inject some fun into the weekly Zoom call. Jackbox Games is keeping friend and family catch-ups lively with a suite of multiplayer games that can be enjoyed remotely.

NY Times podcast Still Processing provides a space in which cultural figures and works are explored, offering discussion and understanding amid the cancel and call-out context. It encourages listeners to meditate on cultural moments, and form an opinion through considered conversation.

Influencer Bobrisky has leveraged her power on social media – on Instagram and Snapchat, in particular – to turn herself into a household name in both Nigeria and across Africa. In doing so, she has helped to bring conversations about trans identity into mainstream culture.

Ghanaian-British pop sensation Bree Runway is tackling stigma within the music industry and using it to fight against a much bigger cause: colourism. She’s using her celebrity status to empower Black women and bringing genre-bending musical styles more into the mainstream.

Changing algorithms, non-stop advertising, and the dissemination of misinformation all contribute to declining trust in social media giants. Enter the passion economy: online community platforms built around niche passions. What does this mean for the state of social play?

NFTs are dominating the cryptocurrency conversation and have taken the art world by storm. But with musicians starting to get in on the action, the potential to disrupt the music industry is clear – and Kings of Leon is leading the way by releasing an NFT album, the first band ever to do so.

With countries laying out plans to gradually end pandemic restrictions, party-goers around the world are eagerly anticipating a return to the club and festival scene. But what are event organisers doing to ensure that attendees remain safe? And could virtual events remain a long-term fixture?

After a year of sheltering in place, it’s no surprise that people are starting to plan for better times. But with safety concerns high and different states opening up before others, what do Americans think about live events? Canvas8 polled 1,000 Americans and spoke to nine people to find out.