In the US, the pandemic and accompanying recession have put millions out of work. Faced with a convoluted benefits application system, the hardship of unemployment, and growing self-reliance, laid-off workers are turning to online communities for crowdsourced support.

Savers are looking for new ways to safeguard their money, as interest rates drop due to the pandemic. From bitcoin to stocks, people are investing in alternate methods to avoid long-term stagnation, giving banks the chance to diversify their investment plans to include a wider range of options.

The US hospitality industry was hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Many workers that found themselves without work have turned to side hustles. In Chicago, Alt Economy is an organization that aims to support those ventures through tools, resources, and community events.

Social media’s endless feeds are part of everyday life. But how does mindless scrolling make people feel? Canvas8 spoke to PhD candidate Ludmila Lupinacci to understand why some people struggle to escape social media’s rabbit holes while others see the infinite scroll as a form of self-help.