As COVID-19 shut down inessential retail and entertainment venues across the UK, many people channelled their leisure time towards nature – and in varied ways. With lockdowns and social distancing set to persist into 2021, how can brands help facilitate connections with the natural world?

Several beauty brands are harnessing the power of ASMR on TikTok to appeal to anxious Gen Zers. The tingle-inducing sensation, which forms the basis of an entire YouTube genre, is hitting the mainstream as brands look to connect with people in meaningful ways within the context of a pandemic.

The surge in screen-time sparked by COVID-19 has left some people mentally and emotionally fatigued. Yet online habits don’t have to be defined by ‘doomscrolling’ and unrealistic social feeds. How can ‘digital gardens’ facilitate a calmer and more cooperative way to interact on the web?

From 'coffee shop radio' to 'sad and sleep beats', YouTube channels specialising in lo-fi, lyricless hip-hop have taken off during the pandemic. Listeners are tuning in to set ambiance and take their mind off daily stresses whilst also paring back their media consumption.