As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and pessimism, we are moving away from a moment in which consumers expected brands to rise up to society's challenges and into one when they’re demanding genuine allyship from businesses.

The past decade has seen political polarisation – accelerated by social media’s filter bubbles and echo chambers – deepen and mutate. An ominous era of a polycrisis has shattered any remaining societal consensus. Meanwhile, powerful anti-establishment voices have stepped into the void.

Today, audiences are shaping the cultural agenda. Empowered to speak up for the causes they believe in, people are actively calling out brands they see as inauthentic. What are the main drivers of this behavioural shift? And how can brands win the trust of these outspoken advocates?

Consumers expect brands to be activists, yet many attempts fall short or are perceived as opportunistic ‘woke washing’. How can brands participate in activism while maintaining authenticity? Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Abas Mirzaei about the key dimensions of brand activism authenticity.

People are seeking to avoid censorship around the Israel-Palestine conflict by using the watermelon emoji, intertwining historical movements with 'algospeak'. The emoji's popularity highlights how people are hacking algorithms to express their values as trust in mainstream platforms and media wanes.

Featuring global artists, the concert aims to generate aid for the ongoing crises in Gaza and Sudan. This event highlights the evolution of the way in which crisis and culture intertwine, built on a message of the power and resilience that can come through collective action and consciousness.

Artists worldwide have joined an initiative where proceeds from sales of their prints go toward medical aid in Gaza. The intersection of art and activism speaks to interesting shifts in how people are approaching fundraising and charitable giving in the context of geopolitical crises.