Technologies fade, style is eternal

The good old days of the internet

After years of the internet becoming increasingly centralised and monopolised, users now want to go back to the time when the internet was fun. Suspicion surrounding big social media companies is leading people to spend less time on their platforms and more on niche and self-owned spaces such as forums and private groups. Studies show that social media has become everything but, and with our feeds now dominated by influencers, brands, and AI slop, it’s little wonder people are fleeing.

Privacy, screen time, and connectivity

With increasing tech users becoming concerned about privacy and their personal screen time, some are beginning to shun technology altogether. The rise of minimalist tech and the return of dumbphones demonstrates a desire to return to real-world connections. Upcoming technologies must amplify rather than hinder human empathy and creativity.

No next big thing

Despite everyone seeking the next big iPhone moment, it really hasn’t happened yet. Widespread adoption of new tech such as smartwatches and VR hasn’t translated into a truly revolutionary user experience, be it because of technological constrictions or market fragmentation. As smartphone design has all but flatlined, tech giants scramble to bet on the next big shift.

Ethics descend into anarchy

Our regulatory systems lag behind as technological advancement accelerates exponentially, meaning the laws governing tech are often out-of-date, woefully inadequate, or absent completely. In this vacuum, the onus is on tech companies to self-govern their own technologies with their own code of ethics, dragging them into the murky waters of political influence and the threat of being rebuffed by a polarised general public.

Streaming is a mess

The pandemic made streaming the hot new pie that every company wanted a slice of. This mad dash to cash in left user experience by the wayside, and customers are now forced to pay for a new streaming platform for every film or series that they want to watch. When users sometimes have to contract multiple services just to watch different seasons of the same series, it’s no shock to see media piracy back on the rise.