The fear of being ‘canceled’ is causing some people to stay out of political conversations altogether. Amid #isover hashtags taking over Twitter and an uptick in public firings due to bad behavior, a survey has found a growing number of Americans are concerned about sharing their views in public.

When indie developer Glumberland announced an exclusive distribution deal with Epic Games, the response from fans was swift and furious. With gamer communities becoming as important as the games themselves, the backlash shed light on the power of players – and some of their toxic behaviors.

The Met has made its entire art collection available to upload in Animal Crossing so players can create galleries of their own. At a time when visiting cultural institutions is impossible, there are opportunities to digitise the experience and create new touchpoints with a wider and younger audience.

With people spending more time at home, they’re turning to entertainment to break the monotony of the everyday and channel their anxiety into something more hands-on. But can escapism really help people feel more empowered? And how do they want brands to speak to them during a pandemic?