From stockpiling toilet paper to dropping £100 on a plain t-shirt, hype can get people doing all sorts of seemingly strange things. Canvas8 spoke to Gemma Milne, author of Smoke & Mirrors, to learn more about this psychological phenomenon and the role it can play in a public health crisis.

Fear and uncertainty around the coronavirus crisis is leading more people to read more news content as they attempt to keep up with the fast-evolving situation and access practical advice. According to media analytics firm Chartbeat, people are reading more articles and spending more time doing so.

With news around COVID-19 rapidly evolving every day, there’s a lot of noise to cut through. But a global Edelman survey has revealed that as people cautiously seek reliable news, they find their employers and people ‘like themselves’ to be the most credible sources of information.

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the nature of daily life, from postponing major events and shutting down entire industries to restricting the movement of billions worldwide. Canvas8 spoke to 19 people to understand how they’re coping with and adapting to these changes.