Whether to stay connected, informed, or distracted, social media plays multiple roles in people’s day-to-day lives – and it’s proving especially useful during the COVID-19 crisis. Canvas8 polled 1,000 Americans and spoke to nine people to find out what they want from these platforms and why.

Builder Bot is an AI prototype from Meta, which would let anyone build their own virtual environment in the VR platform using solely speech commands. Amid worries about big yech’s metaverse monopoly, inclusive opportunities for personalisation and creativity could appeal to young users.

Technological advances are continuously reshaping how people interact, engage, and communicate with one another in the digital world. But how will people navigate social situations in the metaverse? Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Guo Freeman about how people form relationships in social VR.

Social media giants have been repeatedly criticised for their harmful impacts on users' mental health. But TikTok’s updated suite of features, which are designed to support users who experience various mental health issues, may rewrite the entire industry.