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Ayurveda Daily Rhythm / Dinacharya Awareness

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Ayurveda Daily Rhythm / Dinacharya Awareness

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People are becoming more aware that when you do things (eat, sleep, move, rest) can matter as much as what you do. Ayurvedic timing (aligned with circadian rhythms / doshas) is getting attention as a means to better digestion, mood, energy and hormonal balance

Trying to fix persistent low-energy or stress not by adding more tasks, but by adjusting schedules (e.g. wake up, sleep, main meals) to match natural internal rhythms.To reduce fatigue, digestive discomfort, mood swings, burnout by better aligning daily routine with body’s natural clock.Urban/metro health/wellness-curious individuals (often women) who follow wellness blogs, yoga/ayurveda practitioners.Wellness blogs and Ayurveda practitioners publishing content on “dinacharya” and timing hacks.
Suggestion of habit-shifts like eating main meal midday (when digestion is strongest), going to bed before 10 pm, toning down late evening stimulation.Rhythm adjustment is low investment but can have high ripple effects (better sleep, metabolic health, mood).

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How Daily Rhythm Shapes Your Energy, Digestion, Weight, and Mood
🎧 Listen now: "It's Not Just What You Do - It's When You Do It"

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right, eating well, moving your body, trying to rest, but still feel exhausted, bloated, or just not yourself?

The missing piece might not be what you're doing, but when you're doing it.

Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, has long taught that timing is everything.

Your body follows a natural rhythm tied to the activity of the doshas through the day (and night), influencing movement and stillness, hunger and rest.

When you align your daily routine with this rhythm, your body can function optimally. It's a little bit like swimming with the stream.
But when you ignore it, things start to go awry - even if you have the best intentions. That's like swimming upstream (we're not salmons, after all 😊).

Create Healthy Eating Habits in 5 Easy Steps with our FREE 5-Day Email Challenge.

Subscribe to our weekly Sunday Read newsletter & the Rooted in the Seasons Blog posts like this one.

Ayurveda and the Circadian Rhythm

And now, finally, modern science is catching up. Studies show that when you eat, sleep, and even turn off your lights, it affects everything from your metabolism to your hormones and mood.
(If you're curious, I've linked a few fascinating ones at the end of this post.)

What Ayurveda has known for thousands of years: your body is deeply connected to the circadian rhythm, a 24-hour cycle governed by the sun.

During the 1980s, scientists discovered that every cell in your body contains its own "clock," and those clocks affect everything from your digestion to your energy level.

Do you remember your last long-haul flight and how the jet lag felt? One long-haul flight can throw off your sleep, digestion, focus, and emotional state for days. That's the power of your internal clock. The actual time of your location is no longer in alignment with the master clock in your brain.

Now imagine what happens when that rhythm is disrupted every day by skipping breakfast, eating dinner late, staying up on screens, or doing high-intensity exercise at night. The result is a quiet but steady build-up of specific imbalance depending on your behavioural patterns:

Looking at

Your daily routine reveals whether your energy flows or crashes.

When you eat shows if your digestion feels light or heavy.

When you exercise determines if it's building strength or draining your reserves.

What time you go to bed shows how easily stress gets under your skin.

When you sleep, tells if you wake refreshed or reach for caffeine to get through the day.

What Ayurveda Offers Instead

The sages of old observed this thousands of years ago and placed particular importance on the timing of our activities throughout the day, through something called dinacharya, daily routines aligned with the doshas present at different times of the day. I call it the roadmap back to balance or back to health.

Ayurveda teaches that each dosha is active at specific times:

Vata: 2:00-6:00 AM and PM
This creates lightness in the morning and clarity, but it's a time of weak digestive fire, so it's best to eat easy-to-digest food in the evening.

Pitta: 10:00-2:00 AM and PM
This is when the digestive fire is strongest. It's the best time for your main meal. And at night, it's important to be in bed before 10 PM to avoid catching a second wind.

Kapha: 6:00-10:00 AM and PM
Heavy, stable, and steady. If you get up after 6 AM, you might feel that Kapha heaviness linger. Digestion is sluggish here, too, so both breakfast and dinner should be light.

It's not about long to-do lists. It's about swimming with the stream and doing the right things at the right time, staying in the flow of energy. Remember, you are not a salmon.

Here are a few simple examples of little tweaks to start the process:

Eat your main meal when digestion is strongest (midday).

Move your body in the morning to energise, not overstimulate.

Wind down as the sun sets, to signal rest to your nervous system.

Sleep before 10 pm, when rest comes most naturally.

Not sure where to start? Try this Ayurvedic Morning Blueprint →

These small changes have a tremendous ripple effect, resulting in improved sleep, better digestion, more stable moods, hormonal balance and increased energy throughout the day.

Maybe you remember my client Rupee, with her on-the-go sandwich lunches and afternoon crisps. She lost over 8 kg by introducing just one essential component: a warm, sit-down lunch, which automatically stopped her regular afternoon snack.

That's what swimming with the stream means.
No complicated diet. No extra effort.

Final Thoughts

You don't need to do more to feel better. You don't need to follow every trend and fad because it's not you. It's your rhythm.

Realign your schedule with your body's natural rhythm - that's all that's needed.

Whether you're dealing with stress, fatigue, weight gain, burnout, or hormonal imbalances, Ayurveda shows us that the solution often lies not in another supplement or workout, but in the timing of the habits we already have.

Ready to transform your daily rhythm?

This is exactly what we master inside Stress Less, Live More, where I'll walk you through the exact Ayurvedic habits that work for busy people.

Want to dive deeper?

If you're curious about the science behind all this, here are some fascinating studies that explore how our internal clocks affect metabolism, weight, sleep, and stress:

Absolutely - it's a great idea to include direct links to the studies you've referenced. Here are the links to the studies mentioned in your blog post:

And if gut health is your thing (who isn't into that these days?), here are two deeper reads:

Circadian Clocks and Metabolism
Kiser, K., & Bass, J. (2005), PubMed Central
→ A foundational paper linking your body's clock to chronic metabolic issues like diabetes.

Now, I'd love to hear from you: What is your day structured like? Did any of the imbalances ring true? Let's chat in the comments!

Let's start a conversation. Leave a message on Instagram, Facebook, or even a good old email OR comment below :)

I love hearing from you!

Katja x

P.S. Following the daily rhythms automatically creates healthy eating habits :)

Katja Patel is a Yoga Teacher and Ayurveda Consultant with 25 years of experience helping women reduce stress and restore balance. Through her online courses and workshops, she makes Ayurveda simple and practical for everyday life. After overcoming scoliosis and chronic pain herself, Katja is passionate about showing women how yoga and Ayurveda can build resilience and confidence.

Download her free guide, "5 Ayurvedic Shifts to Feel Less Overwhelmed in a Week," or listen to her podcast, Rooted in the Seasons, at zestforyoga.com.

https://www.zestforyoga.com/

How Daily Rhythm Shapes Your Energy, Digestion, Weight, and Mood
🎧 Listen now: "It's Not Just What You Do - It's When You Do It"

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right, eating well, moving your body, trying to rest, but still feel exhausted, bloated, or just not yourself?

The missing piece might not be what you're doing, but when you're doing it.

Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, has long taught that timing is everything.

Your body follows a natural rhythm tied to the activity of the doshas through the day (and night), influencing movement and stillness, hunger and rest.

When you align your daily routine with this rhythm, your body can function optimally. It's a little bit like swimming with the stream.
But when you ignore it, things start to go awry - even if you have the best intentions. That's like swimming upstream (we're not salmons, after all 😊).

Create Healthy Eating Habits in 5 Easy Steps with our FREE 5-Day Email Challenge.

Subscribe to our weekly Sunday Read newsletter & the Rooted in the Seasons Blog posts like this one.

Ayurveda and the Circadian Rhythm

And now, finally, modern science is catching up. Studies show that when you eat, sleep, and even turn off your lights, it affects everything from your metabolism to your hormones and mood.
(If you're curious, I've linked a few fascinating ones at the end of this post.)

What Ayurveda has known for thousands of years: your body is deeply connected to the circadian rhythm, a 24-hour cycle governed by the sun.

During the 1980s, scientists discovered that every cell in your body contains its own "clock," and those clocks affect everything from your digestion to your energy level.

Do you remember your last long-haul flight and how the jet lag felt? One long-haul flight can throw off your sleep, digestion, focus, and emotional state for days. That's the power of your internal clock. The actual time of your location is no longer in alignment with the master clock in your brain.

Now imagine what happens when that rhythm is disrupted every day by skipping breakfast, eating dinner late, staying up on screens, or doing high-intensity exercise at night. The result is a quiet but steady build-up of specific imbalance depending on your behavioural patterns:

Looking at

Your daily routine reveals whether your energy flows or crashes.

When you eat shows if your digestion feels light or heavy.

When you exercise determines if it's building strength or draining your reserves.

What time you go to bed shows how easily stress gets under your skin.

When you sleep, tells if you wake refreshed or reach for caffeine to get through the day.

What Ayurveda Offers Instead

The sages of old observed this thousands of years ago and placed particular importance on the timing of our activities throughout the day, through something called dinacharya, daily routines aligned with the doshas present at different times of the day. I call it the roadmap back to balance or back to health.

Ayurveda teaches that each dosha is active at specific times:

Vata: 2:00-6:00 AM and PM
This creates lightness in the morning and clarity, but it's a time of weak digestive fire, so it's best to eat easy-to-digest food in the evening.

Pitta: 10:00-2:00 AM and PM
This is when the digestive fire is strongest. It's the best time for your main meal. And at night, it's important to be in bed before 10 PM to avoid catching a second wind.

Kapha: 6:00-10:00 AM and PM
Heavy, stable, and steady. If you get up after 6 AM, you might feel that Kapha heaviness linger. Digestion is sluggish here, too, so both breakfast and dinner should be light.

It's not about long to-do lists. It's about swimming with the stream and doing the right things at the right time, staying in the flow of energy. Remember, you are not a salmon.

Here are a few simple examples of little tweaks to start the process:

Eat your main meal when digestion is strongest (midday).

Move your body in the morning to energise, not overstimulate.

Wind down as the sun sets, to signal rest to your nervous system.

Sleep before 10 pm, when rest comes most naturally.

Not sure where to start? Try this Ayurvedic Morning Blueprint →

These small changes have a tremendous ripple effect, resulting in improved sleep, better digestion, more stable moods, hormonal balance and increased energy throughout the day.

Maybe you remember my client Rupee, with her on-the-go sandwich lunches and afternoon crisps. She lost over 8 kg by introducing just one essential component: a warm, sit-down lunch, which automatically stopped her regular afternoon snack.

That's what swimming with the stream means.
No complicated diet. No extra effort.

Final Thoughts

You don't need to do more to feel better. You don't need to follow every trend and fad because it's not you. It's your rhythm.

Realign your schedule with your body's natural rhythm - that's all that's needed.

Whether you're dealing with stress, fatigue, weight gain, burnout, or hormonal imbalances, Ayurveda shows us that the solution often lies not in another supplement or workout, but in the timing of the habits we already have.

Ready to transform your daily rhythm?

This is exactly what we master inside Stress Less, Live More, where I'll walk you through the exact Ayurvedic habits that work for busy people.

Want to dive deeper?

If you're curious about the science behind all this, here are some fascinating studies that explore how our internal clocks affect metabolism, weight, sleep, and stress:

Absolutely - it's a great idea to include direct links to the studies you've referenced. Here are the links to the studies mentioned in your blog post:

And if gut health is your thing (who isn't into that these days?), here are two deeper reads:

Circadian Clocks and Metabolism
Kiser, K., & Bass, J. (2005), PubMed Central
→ A foundational paper linking your body's clock to chronic metabolic issues like diabetes.

Now, I'd love to hear from you: What is your day structured like? Did any of the imbalances ring true? Let's chat in the comments!

Let's start a conversation. Leave a message on Instagram, Facebook, or even a good old email OR comment below :)

I love hearing from you!

Katja x

P.S. Following the daily rhythms automatically creates healthy eating habits :)

Katja Patel is a Yoga Teacher and Ayurveda Consultant with 25 years of experience helping women reduce stress and restore balance. Through her online courses and workshops, she makes Ayurveda simple and practical for everyday life. After overcoming scoliosis and chronic pain herself, Katja is passionate about showing women how yoga and Ayurveda can build resilience and confidence.

Download her free guide, "5 Ayurvedic Shifts to Feel Less Overwhelmed in a Week," or listen to her podcast, Rooted in the Seasons, at zestforyoga.com.

https://www.zestforyoga.com/

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How Daily Rhythm Affects Digestion, Energy & Stress | Ayurveda - Zest for Yoga & Ayurveda

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Feel like you're doing everything right but still feel off? Discover how Ayurveda and your daily rhythm affect digestion, energy, and stress levels.

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More people reducing meat/dairy without going fully vegan — flexitarian diet gaining.

awareness of sedentarism; seeking easy, integrated movement.better health, avoid stiffness/chronic issues, maintain energy.desk-workers, remote workers, older age groups too.wellness trend articles include “movement snacks over workouts.”app prompts; product/service opportunities; corporate wellness.

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India's health and wellness landscape is undergoing a major transformation. People are making more conscious choices about their physical, mental and emotional well-being. While some of these shifts are here to stay, some are still emerging and some are sparking debates. Let's explore the top 10 health trends that are shaping the way India approaches wellness today.

Join us as we take a look at the top 10 health trends in India that are influencing the way we live, eat, and stay fit.

1. Gut health is the new wellness buzzword

What's trending? Everyone is talking about the gut-brain connection and how digestion impacts immunity, mood and even skin health. Probiotics, fermented foods and gut-friendly diets are making their way into everyday conversations.

What's emerging? People are moving beyond yoghurt and kombucha and experimenting with lesser-known fermented foods like kanji, kimchi and kefir. Ayurvedic gut cleanses are also getting popular.

What's sparking conversations? Many are questioning whether prebiotic and probiotic supplements are actually necessary or just another marketing gimmick. Plus, the debate over gluten and dairy continues.

2. Ayurveda is back but with a modern twist

What's trending? Ayurveda is no longer just for the older generation. Young Indians are embracing it for skincare, immunity, stress relief and digestion. From ashwagandha for stress relief to haldi doodh for immunity, Ayurvedic wisdom is becoming a daily practice again.

What's emerging? Modern brands are launching everything from Ayurvedic protein powders to herbal teas tailored to specific health concerns. People are experimenting with adaptogens, detox teas and holistic healing practices.

What's sparking conversations? There's a growing debate over whether modernised Ayurveda is authentic or if it's being diluted for commercial gains. The Ayurveda vs. allopathy discussion also remains a hot topic.

3. Plant-based diets are going mainstream

What's trending? More people are cutting down on meat and dairy, not necessarily becoming vegan, but opting for plant-based milk, protein and snacks.

What's emerging? Alternatives to meat substitutes. Jackfruit, soy chaap and mushroom-based 'meats' are becoming mainstream. Big brands and startups alike are introducing almond milk, oat milk and soy-based protein options. Even restaurants are adding plant-based options to their menus.

What's sparking conversations? The protein debate. Can plant-based diets provide enough protein? Also, traditional dairy lovers argue about nutritional differences between dairy and its plant-based alternatives.

4. Mental wellness & digital detox are priorities

What's trending? Indians are recognizing that mental health is as important as physical health. Burnout, work-life balance and stress are making people rethink their social media and screen time habits.

What's emerging? Offline retreats. People are signing up for meditation getaways, silent retreats and forest therapy to reset their minds. Many are embracing journaling, mindfulness apps and dopamine detoxes to combat digital addiction.

What's sparking conversations? While awareness is rising, the stigma around mental health issues still exists, making open conversations about therapy and treatment a challenge. Plus the toxic hustle culture is making it hard for people to slow down

5. Functional fitness over traditional gyms

What's trending? Gym workouts are taking a backseat as people are opting for Pilates, callisthenics and strength training over treadmill marathons.

What's emerging? New-age home workout tech, including smart fitness trackers, AI-based personal trainers and interactive fitness platforms, is making it easier for people to stay fit without going to the gym.

What's sparking conversations? The gym vs. at-home workout debate continues, with questions about which method delivers better results and long-term consistency.

6. Biohacking: The new-age approach to wellness

What's trending? Indians are experimenting with intermittent fasting, red light therapy, cold showers and nootropics for better focus, energy and longevity.

What's emerging? DNA-based personalised health plans, customised supplements and wearable tech that tracks metabolism, sleep and stress levels are gaining traction.

What's sparking conversations? Is biohacking just a wellness fad? Critics argue that extreme biohacking methods might not be scientifically proven or safe in the long run.

7. Conscious eating: Quality over quantity

What's trending? People are shifting towards home-cooked, locally sourced and chemical-free food. Millets, cold-pressed oils and ghee-based cooking are making a comeback.

What's emerging? The rise of slow eating and portion control. It's not just about what you eat but how you eat. The rise of AI-driven health tracking is enabling people to get real-time data on their body's needs.

What's sparking conversations? Labels can be misleading! Many organic and natural products aren't as pure as they claim to be, making people sceptical.

8. Personalised healthcare & at-home testing

What's trending? People are taking health into their own hands with at-home testing kits for vitamins, food intolerances, and hormone levels.

What's emerging? The rise of AI-driven health tracking is enabling people to get real-time data on their body's needs. Customised supplement plans based on genetic reports and gut microbiome tests are becoming the next step in personalised nutrition.

What's sparking conversations? The accuracy of at-home tests. Are they reliable enough compared to lab-based tests?

9. The revival of ancient healing practices

What's trending? Along with Ayurveda, traditional healing methods like Siddha, Unani and naturopathy are getting renewed attention.

What's emerging? More people are turning to sound healing, energy medicine, and chakra balancing as alternative therapies.

What's sparking conversations? The lack of scientific studies proving the effectiveness of these practices raises concerns.

10. Sleep optimisation & circadian health

What's trending? Indians are finally prioritising quality sleep over late-night binge-watching. Blue light reduction, sleep-tracking apps, and white noise machines are becoming popular.

What's emerging? More people are following circadian rhythm-based routines, aligning their work, eating, and sleeping schedules with natural light cycles .

What's sparking conversations? The 'grind culture' still glorifies lack of sleep, making rest seem like a luxury rather than a necessity.

India's health trends are evolving rapidly and people are looking for smarter, more sustainable ways to stay healthy. It's clear that the future of health in India isn't just about following trends, it's about making informed, balanced choices that truly work for you. Whether you're embracing these changes or watching from the sidelines, one thing is certain, the conversation around health has never been more dynamic.

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Top 10 health trends that are redefining wellness in India - Bigbasket Lifestyle Blog

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India's health and wellness landscape is undergoing a major transformation. People are making more conscious choices about their physical, mentalContinue Reading

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Spas are moving from purely relaxing spaces to multi-sensory, immersive environments: combining design (light, scent, sound), art, interactive elements, and atmosphere to evoke emotional and physiological states (awe, connection, deep rest) rather than just muscular/muscle relaxation.

Human Behaviour

Guests seek more than the basic spa treatment; they want emotional experiences, Instagrammable/restorative environments.

Human Need / Intent

To restore: stress reduction, deeper emotional / mental rest beyond superficial relaxation

Demographic

Younger, socially-conscious wellness consumers who care about aesthetics, experience, shareability.

ASPA International

Phenomenon (Visible Evidence)

Spa design studios (e.g., Atmosphere) layering scent, LED lighting, spatial & nature-inspired materials, art & projections.

Interesting Elements

Design becomes part of wellness: architecture, light, scent, sound all carry equal weight.

Spa experiences are becoming more share-worthy / media friendly. This gives both marketing appeal and expectation shift.

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Ayurveda Daily Rhythm / Dinacharya Awareness

# data[].attributes.subject
Ayurveda Daily Rhythm / Dinacharya Awareness

# data[].attributes.body
People are becoming more aware that when you do things (eat, sleep, move, rest) can matter as much as what you do. Ayurvedic timing (aligned with circadian rhythms / doshas) is getting attention as a means to better digestion, mood, energy and hormonal balance

Human Behaviour

Trying to fix persistent low-energy or stress not by adding more tasks, but by adjusting schedules (e.g. wake up, sleep, main meals) to match natural internal rhythms.

Human Need / Intent

To reduce fatigue, digestive discomfort, mood swings, burnout by better aligning daily routine with body’s natural clock.

Demographic

Urban/metro health/wellness-curious individuals (often women) who follow wellness blogs, yoga/ayurveda practitioners.

Phenomenon

Wellness blogs and Ayurveda practitioners publishing content on “dinacharya” and timing hacks.

Suggestion of habit-shifts like eating main meal midday (when digestion is strongest), going to bed before 10 pm, toning down late evening stimulation.

Interesting Elements

Rhythm adjustment is low investment but can have high ripple effects (better sleep, metabolic health, mood).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How Daily Rhythm Shapes Your Energy, Digestion, Weight, and Mood
🎧 Listen now: "It's Not Just What You Do - It's When You Do It"

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right, eating well, moving your body, trying to rest, but still feel exhausted, bloated, or just not yourself?

The missing piece might not be what you're doing, but when you're doing it.

Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, has long taught that timing is everything.

Your body follows a natural rhythm tied to the activity of the doshas through the day (and night), influencing movement and stillness, hunger and rest.

When you align your daily routine with this rhythm, your body can function optimally. It's a little bit like swimming with the stream.
But when you ignore it, things start to go awry - even if you have the best intentions. That's like swimming upstream (we're not salmons, after all 😊).

Create Healthy Eating Habits in 5 Easy Steps with our FREE 5-Day Email Challenge.

Subscribe to our weekly Sunday Read newsletter & the Rooted in the Seasons Blog posts like this one.

Ayurveda and the Circadian Rhythm

And now, finally, modern science is catching up. Studies show that when you eat, sleep, and even turn off your lights, it affects everything from your metabolism to your hormones and mood.
(If you're curious, I've linked a few fascinating ones at the end of this post.)

What Ayurveda has known for thousands of years: your body is deeply connected to the circadian rhythm, a 24-hour cycle governed by the sun.

During the 1980s, scientists discovered that every cell in your body contains its own "clock," and those clocks affect everything from your digestion to your energy level.

Do you remember your last long-haul flight and how the jet lag felt? One long-haul flight can throw off your sleep, digestion, focus, and emotional state for days. That's the power of your internal clock. The actual time of your location is no longer in alignment with the master clock in your brain.

Now imagine what happens when that rhythm is disrupted every day by skipping breakfast, eating dinner late, staying up on screens, or doing high-intensity exercise at night. The result is a quiet but steady build-up of specific imbalance depending on your behavioural patterns:

Looking at

Your daily routine reveals whether your energy flows or crashes.

When you eat shows if your digestion feels light or heavy.

When you exercise determines if it's building strength or draining your reserves.

What time you go to bed shows how easily stress gets under your skin.

When you sleep, tells if you wake refreshed or reach for caffeine to get through the day.

What Ayurveda Offers Instead

The sages of old observed this thousands of years ago and placed particular importance on the timing of our activities throughout the day, through something called dinacharya, daily routines aligned with the doshas present at different times of the day. I call it the roadmap back to balance or back to health.

Ayurveda teaches that each dosha is active at specific times:

Vata: 2:00-6:00 AM and PM
This creates lightness in the morning and clarity, but it's a time of weak digestive fire, so it's best to eat easy-to-digest food in the evening.

Pitta: 10:00-2:00 AM and PM
This is when the digestive fire is strongest. It's the best time for your main meal. And at night, it's important to be in bed before 10 PM to avoid catching a second wind.

Kapha: 6:00-10:00 AM and PM
Heavy, stable, and steady. If you get up after 6 AM, you might feel that Kapha heaviness linger. Digestion is sluggish here, too, so both breakfast and dinner should be light.

It's not about long to-do lists. It's about swimming with the stream and doing the right things at the right time, staying in the flow of energy. Remember, you are not a salmon.

Here are a few simple examples of little tweaks to start the process:

Eat your main meal when digestion is strongest (midday).

Move your body in the morning to energise, not overstimulate.

Wind down as the sun sets, to signal rest to your nervous system.

Sleep before 10 pm, when rest comes most naturally.

Not sure where to start? Try this Ayurvedic Morning Blueprint →

These small changes have a tremendous ripple effect, resulting in improved sleep, better digestion, more stable moods, hormonal balance and increased energy throughout the day.

Maybe you remember my client Rupee, with her on-the-go sandwich lunches and afternoon crisps. She lost over 8 kg by introducing just one essential component: a warm, sit-down lunch, which automatically stopped her regular afternoon snack.

That's what swimming with the stream means.
No complicated diet. No extra effort.

Final Thoughts

You don't need to do more to feel better. You don't need to follow every trend and fad because it's not you. It's your rhythm.

Realign your schedule with your body's natural rhythm - that's all that's needed.

Whether you're dealing with stress, fatigue, weight gain, burnout, or hormonal imbalances, Ayurveda shows us that the solution often lies not in another supplement or workout, but in the timing of the habits we already have.

Ready to transform your daily rhythm?

This is exactly what we master inside Stress Less, Live More, where I'll walk you through the exact Ayurvedic habits that work for busy people.

Want to dive deeper?

If you're curious about the science behind all this, here are some fascinating studies that explore how our internal clocks affect metabolism, weight, sleep, and stress:

Absolutely - it's a great idea to include direct links to the studies you've referenced. Here are the links to the studies mentioned in your blog post:

And if gut health is your thing (who isn't into that these days?), here are two deeper reads:

Circadian Clocks and Metabolism
Kiser, K., & Bass, J. (2005), PubMed Central
→ A foundational paper linking your body's clock to chronic metabolic issues like diabetes.

Now, I'd love to hear from you: What is your day structured like? Did any of the imbalances ring true? Let's chat in the comments!

Let's start a conversation. Leave a message on Instagram, Facebook, or even a good old email OR comment below :)

I love hearing from you!

Katja x

P.S. Following the daily rhythms automatically creates healthy eating habits :)

Katja Patel is a Yoga Teacher and Ayurveda Consultant with 25 years of experience helping women reduce stress and restore balance. Through her online courses and workshops, she makes Ayurveda simple and practical for everyday life. After overcoming scoliosis and chronic pain herself, Katja is passionate about showing women how yoga and Ayurveda can build resilience and confidence.

Download her free guide, "5 Ayurvedic Shifts to Feel Less Overwhelmed in a Week," or listen to her podcast, Rooted in the Seasons, at zestforyoga.com.

https://www.zestforyoga.com/

How Daily Rhythm Shapes Your Energy, Digestion, Weight, and Mood
🎧 Listen now: "It's Not Just What You Do - It's When You Do It"

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right, eating well, moving your body, trying to rest, but still feel exhausted, bloated, or just not yourself?

The missing piece might not be what you're doing, but when you're doing it.

Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, has long taught that timing is everything.

Your body follows a natural rhythm tied to the activity of the doshas through the day (and night), influencing movement and stillness, hunger and rest.

When you align your daily routine with this rhythm, your body can function optimally. It's a little bit like swimming with the stream.
But when you ignore it, things start to go awry - even if you have the best intentions. That's like swimming upstream (we're not salmons, after all 😊).

Create Healthy Eating Habits in 5 Easy Steps with our FREE 5-Day Email Challenge.

Subscribe to our weekly Sunday Read newsletter & the Rooted in the Seasons Blog posts like this one.

Ayurveda and the Circadian Rhythm

And now, finally, modern science is catching up. Studies show that when you eat, sleep, and even turn off your lights, it affects everything from your metabolism to your hormones and mood.
(If you're curious, I've linked a few fascinating ones at the end of this post.)

What Ayurveda has known for thousands of years: your body is deeply connected to the circadian rhythm, a 24-hour cycle governed by the sun.

During the 1980s, scientists discovered that every cell in your body contains its own "clock," and those clocks affect everything from your digestion to your energy level.

Do you remember your last long-haul flight and how the jet lag felt? One long-haul flight can throw off your sleep, digestion, focus, and emotional state for days. That's the power of your internal clock. The actual time of your location is no longer in alignment with the master clock in your brain.

Now imagine what happens when that rhythm is disrupted every day by skipping breakfast, eating dinner late, staying up on screens, or doing high-intensity exercise at night. The result is a quiet but steady build-up of specific imbalance depending on your behavioural patterns:

Looking at

Your daily routine reveals whether your energy flows or crashes.

When you eat shows if your digestion feels light or heavy.

When you exercise determines if it's building strength or draining your reserves.

What time you go to bed shows how easily stress gets under your skin.

When you sleep, tells if you wake refreshed or reach for caffeine to get through the day.

What Ayurveda Offers Instead

The sages of old observed this thousands of years ago and placed particular importance on the timing of our activities throughout the day, through something called dinacharya, daily routines aligned with the doshas present at different times of the day. I call it the roadmap back to balance or back to health.

Ayurveda teaches that each dosha is active at specific times:

Vata: 2:00-6:00 AM and PM
This creates lightness in the morning and clarity, but it's a time of weak digestive fire, so it's best to eat easy-to-digest food in the evening.

Pitta: 10:00-2:00 AM and PM
This is when the digestive fire is strongest. It's the best time for your main meal. And at night, it's important to be in bed before 10 PM to avoid catching a second wind.

Kapha: 6:00-10:00 AM and PM
Heavy, stable, and steady. If you get up after 6 AM, you might feel that Kapha heaviness linger. Digestion is sluggish here, too, so both breakfast and dinner should be light.

It's not about long to-do lists. It's about swimming with the stream and doing the right things at the right time, staying in the flow of energy. Remember, you are not a salmon.

Here are a few simple examples of little tweaks to start the process:

Eat your main meal when digestion is strongest (midday).

Move your body in the morning to energise, not overstimulate.

Wind down as the sun sets, to signal rest to your nervous system.

Sleep before 10 pm, when rest comes most naturally.

Not sure where to start? Try this Ayurvedic Morning Blueprint →

These small changes have a tremendous ripple effect, resulting in improved sleep, better digestion, more stable moods, hormonal balance and increased energy throughout the day.

Maybe you remember my client Rupee, with her on-the-go sandwich lunches and afternoon crisps. She lost over 8 kg by introducing just one essential component: a warm, sit-down lunch, which automatically stopped her regular afternoon snack.

That's what swimming with the stream means.
No complicated diet. No extra effort.

Final Thoughts

You don't need to do more to feel better. You don't need to follow every trend and fad because it's not you. It's your rhythm.

Realign your schedule with your body's natural rhythm - that's all that's needed.

Whether you're dealing with stress, fatigue, weight gain, burnout, or hormonal imbalances, Ayurveda shows us that the solution often lies not in another supplement or workout, but in the timing of the habits we already have.

Ready to transform your daily rhythm?

This is exactly what we master inside Stress Less, Live More, where I'll walk you through the exact Ayurvedic habits that work for busy people.

Want to dive deeper?

If you're curious about the science behind all this, here are some fascinating studies that explore how our internal clocks affect metabolism, weight, sleep, and stress:

Absolutely - it's a great idea to include direct links to the studies you've referenced. Here are the links to the studies mentioned in your blog post:

And if gut health is your thing (who isn't into that these days?), here are two deeper reads:

Circadian Clocks and Metabolism
Kiser, K., & Bass, J. (2005), PubMed Central
→ A foundational paper linking your body's clock to chronic metabolic issues like diabetes.

Now, I'd love to hear from you: What is your day structured like? Did any of the imbalances ring true? Let's chat in the comments!

Let's start a conversation. Leave a message on Instagram, Facebook, or even a good old email OR comment below :)

I love hearing from you!

Katja x

P.S. Following the daily rhythms automatically creates healthy eating habits :)

Katja Patel is a Yoga Teacher and Ayurveda Consultant with 25 years of experience helping women reduce stress and restore balance. Through her online courses and workshops, she makes Ayurveda simple and practical for everyday life. After overcoming scoliosis and chronic pain herself, Katja is passionate about showing women how yoga and Ayurveda can build resilience and confidence.

Download her free guide, "5 Ayurvedic Shifts to Feel Less Overwhelmed in a Week," or listen to her podcast, Rooted in the Seasons, at zestforyoga.com.

https://www.zestforyoga.com/

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How Daily Rhythm Affects Digestion, Energy & Stress | Ayurveda - Zest for Yoga & Ayurveda

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Feel like you're doing everything right but still feel off? Discover how Ayurveda and your daily rhythm affect digestion, energy, and stress levels.

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Movement snacks (micro-movement / desk yoga etc.)

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Movement snacks (micro-movement / desk yoga etc.)

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Small bursts of activity during the day (stretch, walk, posture resets) instead of only structured workouts.

Behaviour: awareness of sedentarism; seeking easy, integrated movement.

Need/Intent: better health, avoid stiffness/chronic issues, maintain energy.

Demographic: desk-workers, remote workers, older age groups too.

Phenomenon: wellness trend articles include “movement snacks over workouts.

Interesting: app prompts; product/service opportunities; corporate wellness.

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57 Simple Ways To Get More Exercise Every Day

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Quick, easy movement snacks, or micro-workouts, you can use throughout the day - anytime and anywhere to get more movement in your daily life.

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Heart attack rates rise in younger women: Hidden risk factors that are potentially causing the surge

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Heart attack rates rise in younger women: Hidden risk factors that are potentially causing the surge

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Recent studies, including a Mayo Clinic research spanning 15 years, reveal a concerning rise in heart attacks among women under 65, with over half not linked to traditional artery blockages. Hidden risk factors such as chronic stress, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy-related complications, hormonal changes, and unhealthy lifestyle choices are significantly contributing to this surge. Moreover, women often experience atypical symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath, leading to delayed diagnoses. Experts emphasize the importance of regular health checkups, lifestyle modifications, and heightened awareness to mitigate these risks.

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Heart attack rates rise in younger women: Hidden risk factors that are potentially causing the surge

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For decades, heart attacks were considered a health crisis that mainly affected older men. But recent research is proving otherwise. Emerging studies are painting a worrying new picture: younger women are increasingly experiencing heart attacks, often without realizing they were even at risk.A landmark study released this month by the Mayo Clinic, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, sheds new light on why younger women are increasingly suffering heart attacks and why many of these heart attacks are not what doctors traditionally expect. Using data collected over 15 years from the Rochester Epidemiology Project, researchers examined hundreds of heart attacks in people aged 65 and under. The results were surprising: more than half of heart attacks in younger women weren’t caused by blocked arteries from plaque buildup, but by other hidden causes.Why is this happening? Experts point to a mix of hidden risk factors – ranging from hormonal changes and rising stress levels to autoimmune diseases, pregnancy complications, and lifestyle shifts. Unlike the “classic” image of a heart attack – sudden chest pain radiating down the arm – women’s warning signs can look very different, which means they may delay getting help until it’s too late.This surge is raising some urgent questions: Are we overlooking women’s heart health? Are hidden risks going unnoticed in everyday life? And most importantly, how can younger women spot the subtle signs before a crisis strikes?Let’s take a closer look at what’s fueling this trend and causing the spike.

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More people reducing meat/dairy without going fully vegan — flexitarian diet gaining.

Behaviour: shifting diet habits for health/environment; willingness to try plant-based options.

Need/Intent: health benefits, reduce environmental impact, ethical concerns.

Demographic: urban millennials, fitness community, younger families.

Phenomenon: BigBasket health trend blog notes plant-based diets going mainstream

Interesting: product supply chain; taste/texture; price sensitivity.

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India's health and wellness landscape is undergoing a major transformation. People are making more conscious choices about their physical, mental and emotional well-being. While some of these shifts are here to stay, some are still emerging and some are sparking debates. Let's explore the top 10 health trends that are shaping the way India approaches wellness today.

Join us as we take a look at the top 10 health trends in India that are influencing the way we live, eat, and stay fit.

1. Gut health is the new wellness buzzword

What's trending? Everyone is talking about the gut-brain connection and how digestion impacts immunity, mood and even skin health. Probiotics, fermented foods and gut-friendly diets are making their way into everyday conversations.

What's emerging? People are moving beyond yoghurt and kombucha and experimenting with lesser-known fermented foods like kanji, kimchi and kefir. Ayurvedic gut cleanses are also getting popular.

What's sparking conversations? Many are questioning whether prebiotic and probiotic supplements are actually necessary or just another marketing gimmick. Plus, the debate over gluten and dairy continues.

2. Ayurveda is back but with a modern twist

What's trending? Ayurveda is no longer just for the older generation. Young Indians are embracing it for skincare, immunity, stress relief and digestion. From ashwagandha for stress relief to haldi doodh for immunity, Ayurvedic wisdom is becoming a daily practice again.

What's emerging? Modern brands are launching everything from Ayurvedic protein powders to herbal teas tailored to specific health concerns. People are experimenting with adaptogens, detox teas and holistic healing practices.

What's sparking conversations? There's a growing debate over whether modernised Ayurveda is authentic or if it's being diluted for commercial gains. The Ayurveda vs. allopathy discussion also remains a hot topic.

3. Plant-based diets are going mainstream

What's trending? More people are cutting down on meat and dairy, not necessarily becoming vegan, but opting for plant-based milk, protein and snacks.

What's emerging? Alternatives to meat substitutes. Jackfruit, soy chaap and mushroom-based 'meats' are becoming mainstream. Big brands and startups alike are introducing almond milk, oat milk and soy-based protein options. Even restaurants are adding plant-based options to their menus.

What's sparking conversations? The protein debate. Can plant-based diets provide enough protein? Also, traditional dairy lovers argue about nutritional differences between dairy and its plant-based alternatives.

4. Mental wellness & digital detox are priorities

What's trending? Indians are recognizing that mental health is as important as physical health. Burnout, work-life balance and stress are making people rethink their social media and screen time habits.

What's emerging? Offline retreats. People are signing up for meditation getaways, silent retreats and forest therapy to reset their minds. Many are embracing journaling, mindfulness apps and dopamine detoxes to combat digital addiction.

What's sparking conversations? While awareness is rising, the stigma around mental health issues still exists, making open conversations about therapy and treatment a challenge. Plus the toxic hustle culture is making it hard for people to slow down

5. Functional fitness over traditional gyms

What's trending? Gym workouts are taking a backseat as people are opting for Pilates, callisthenics and strength training over treadmill marathons.

What's emerging? New-age home workout tech, including smart fitness trackers, AI-based personal trainers and interactive fitness platforms, is making it easier for people to stay fit without going to the gym.

What's sparking conversations? The gym vs. at-home workout debate continues, with questions about which method delivers better results and long-term consistency.

6. Biohacking: The new-age approach to wellness

What's trending? Indians are experimenting with intermittent fasting, red light therapy, cold showers and nootropics for better focus, energy and longevity.

What's emerging? DNA-based personalised health plans, customised supplements and wearable tech that tracks metabolism, sleep and stress levels are gaining traction.

What's sparking conversations? Is biohacking just a wellness fad? Critics argue that extreme biohacking methods might not be scientifically proven or safe in the long run.

7. Conscious eating: Quality over quantity

What's trending? People are shifting towards home-cooked, locally sourced and chemical-free food. Millets, cold-pressed oils and ghee-based cooking are making a comeback.

What's emerging? The rise of slow eating and portion control. It's not just about what you eat but how you eat. The rise of AI-driven health tracking is enabling people to get real-time data on their body's needs.

What's sparking conversations? Labels can be misleading! Many organic and natural products aren't as pure as they claim to be, making people sceptical.

8. Personalised healthcare & at-home testing

What's trending? People are taking health into their own hands with at-home testing kits for vitamins, food intolerances, and hormone levels.

What's emerging? The rise of AI-driven health tracking is enabling people to get real-time data on their body's needs. Customised supplement plans based on genetic reports and gut microbiome tests are becoming the next step in personalised nutrition.

What's sparking conversations? The accuracy of at-home tests. Are they reliable enough compared to lab-based tests?

9. The revival of ancient healing practices

What's trending? Along with Ayurveda, traditional healing methods like Siddha, Unani and naturopathy are getting renewed attention.

What's emerging? More people are turning to sound healing, energy medicine, and chakra balancing as alternative therapies.

What's sparking conversations? The lack of scientific studies proving the effectiveness of these practices raises concerns.

10. Sleep optimisation & circadian health

What's trending? Indians are finally prioritising quality sleep over late-night binge-watching. Blue light reduction, sleep-tracking apps, and white noise machines are becoming popular.

What's emerging? More people are following circadian rhythm-based routines, aligning their work, eating, and sleeping schedules with natural light cycles .

What's sparking conversations? The 'grind culture' still glorifies lack of sleep, making rest seem like a luxury rather than a necessity.

India's health trends are evolving rapidly and people are looking for smarter, more sustainable ways to stay healthy. It's clear that the future of health in India isn't just about following trends, it's about making informed, balanced choices that truly work for you. Whether you're embracing these changes or watching from the sidelines, one thing is certain, the conversation around health has never been more dynamic.

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Top 10 health trends that are redefining wellness in India - Bigbasket Lifestyle Blog

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India's health and wellness landscape is undergoing a major transformation. People are making more conscious choices about their physical, mentalContinue Reading

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Urban cooling & green infrastructure (inbuilt environmental wellness)

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Urban cooling & green infrastructure (inbuilt environmental wellness)

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Behaviour: concern over heat, pollution, water scarcity; desire for better built environment.

Need/Intent: health via environment; coping with climate change; better quality of life.

Demographic: city dwellers; local municipal governance; developers.

Phenomenon: Bengaluru lake restoration; UP green built environment initiatives

Interesting: policy + civic action; value in real estate; sensory experiences (cooler, green spaces).

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As climate risks grow, India’s Bengaluru is trying to save its vanishing lakes

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Southern India’s Bengaluru city, sometimes called India’s Silicon Valley because of the large number of tech companies that are based here, was home to 250 lakes in the 1960s, which by some estimates have now reduced to roughly 180, primarily due to encroachment for apartments and city infrastructur

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The Global Peace Index 2025, published by the Institute for Economics & Peace, evaluates 163 countries on societal safety, ongoing conflict, and militarization. The report highlights a continued global decline in peacefulness, with 59 active state-based conflicts—the highest since WWII—and significant international involvement. Violence had an economic cost of nearly $20 trillion in 2024. While South America showed improvement, regions like South Asia and Eastern Europe experienced the largest deteriorations. The report ranks Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand as the most peaceful countries, and Syria, South Sudan, and Afghanistan as the least peaceful.

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Global Peace Index 2022 results show that the average level of global peacefulness deteriorated by 0.03%. Although slight, this is the eleventh deterioration in peacefulness in the last fourteen years, with 90 countries improving, 71 deteriorating and two remaining stable in peacefulness, highlighting that countries tend to deteriorate much faster than they improve.

* Deaths from external conflict recorded a sharp deterioration driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
* Despite recent commitments, militarisation has improved in 113 countries since 2008.
* Terrorism continued to improve, with 70 countries recording no attacks in 2021. This is the best result since 2008.
* The rise in costs has increased food insecurity and political instability globally, with Africa, South Asia and the Middle East under greatest threat.
* The political terror scale, political insecurity, neighbouring country relations, refugees and IDPs reached their worst score since the inception of the GPI.
* The global economic impact of violence was $16.5 trillion in 2021, equivalent to 10.9% of global GDP, or $2,117 per person.
* Iceland remains the most peaceful country in 2022, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark and Austria.
* For the fifth consecutive year, Afghanistan is the least peaceful country, followed by Yemen, Syria, Russia and South Sudan.
* Seven of the ten countries at the top of the GPI are in Europe, and Türkiye is the only country in this region to be ranked outside the top half of the index.

Impact of the War in Ukraine on Peacefulness
* Two of the five countries with the largest deteriorations in peacefulness were Russia and the Ukraine.
* Social media is changing the way intelligence is gathered - it is now shared instantaneously, raw and with little analysis.
* In contrast to the global trend, positive sentiment in the Ukraine was rising in 2021. Support for the West was strong, with 58% wanting to join a Western economic union, and 54% supporting joining NATO.

Read more: Peacefulness declines to lowest level in 15 years

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Global Peace Index Map " The Most & Least Peaceful Countries

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GPI presents the most comprehensive data-driven analysis to-date on trends in peace. Most & least peaceful countries in the world. View Map.

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The Economic Opportunity of India’s Women Workers

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The Economic Opportunity of India’s Women Workers

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Goldman Sachs highlights the significant untapped economic potential of India's women workers. Despite a favorable demographic window, women's labor force participation remains low compared to global standards. Factors such as disproportionate domestic responsibilities, restrictive social norms, safety concerns, and limited role models contribute to this disparity. However, recent trends indicate a positive shift, with increased self-employment, especially in rural areas, and growing representation in sectors like Information Technology. To further harness this potential, the report emphasizes the need for a robust care economy, supportive corporate policies, and improved infrastructure

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Among major economies, India enjoys a unique demographic advantage. A large share of its population is poised to enter their working-age years, and India's age-dependency ratio-the share of economically dependent people compared to the working-age population-will be one of the lowest among major economies.

To further capitalize on this 20-year window of favorable demographics, India needs to boost its female labor force participation rate (LFPR), writes Chaitra Purushotham, Bengaluru head of Goldman Sachs Research. Just bringing the overall labor force participation rate to previous peak levels can add about 1 percentage point to India's potential growth, all else being equal.

We talked to Purushotham about why the female share of India's workforce has remained low over the decades, why it has now started to rise, and what implications that holds for India's economy.
Could you describe the trends behind India's broad, 20-year window of favorable demographics?
India's demographic transition is unfolding more gradually and over a longer period than we've seen in many other Asian countries. The main reason is that both birth and death rates are declining at a slower pace in India. As a result, over the next two decades, we believe India will have one of the lowest dependency ratios among major economies. That means there will be a relatively small proportion of people who are either under 15 years or over 65 years compared to the working-age population (15-65 years). We believe this will create a powerful window of opportunity for the country.
At present, how does women's participation in the Indian labor force compare to that of developed and emerging economies?
Right now, women's participation in India's labor force is significantly lower than what we see in major developed and many emerging market economies. According to the International Labour Organization, only about 31% of working-age women in India are in the labor force, relative to 54% in other major economies. Official Indian labor statistics show a higher participation rate, possibly because they count unpaid women workers who assist in household and other non-farm activities.
Declining fertility rates will eventually impact India's labor force. How can the participation of women in the workforce offset that, and what kind of economic impact could we project by raising female participation?
Well, as fertility rates decline, the pace of growth in India's labor force will naturally moderate. However, one way to offset the economic impact of this demographic shift is to boost women's participation in the labor force. We think creating more employment opportunities for women and encouraging their entry into jobs can potentially raise female labor force participation. Based on our prior estimates, just bringing the overall labor force participation rate to previous peak levels can add about 1 percentage point to India's potential growth, all else being equal.

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The economic opportunity of India's women workers

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India's female labor force participation rate has lagged that of major economies. But it is now on the rise, which, our economists estimate, can boost India's potential GDP growth rate.

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Column | Indian art in a global context

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Column | Indian art in a global context

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The article explores the evolving landscape of India's Modern and Contemporary Art market, highlighting its shift from traditional hubs like New York and London to emerging centers in Mumbai and New Delhi. This transformation began with the groundbreaking HEART auction in 1997 and has witnessed periods of significant growth and subsequent stagnation. The current phase indicates a sustained rise, reflecting the untapped potential of Indian art on the global stage.

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The hitherto unexplored potential of the India Modern & Contemporary Art market and what’s needed.

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"Tried Prescription Ketamine": Elon Musk On Drug Abuse Charge In Report

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"Tried Prescription Ketamine": Elon Musk On Drug Abuse Charge In Report

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Elon Musk has denied recent allegations reported by The New York Times, which claimed he used ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms extensively during the 2024 campaign trail. The report suggested that Musk's drug use led to health issues, including bladder problems. In response, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off." He acknowledged having tried prescription ketamine a few years ago to manage depression but emphasized that he hasn't used it since then. Musk also addressed a black eye he had during a farewell appearance with President Trump, attributing it to a playful incident with his young son.

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DLSA Sgr organises awareness programme on drug abuse, Right to Education, Prevention of Child Exploitation

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DLSA Sgr organises awareness programme on drug abuse, Right to Education, Prevention of Child Exploitation

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The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Srinagar, in collaboration with the School Education Department, conducted an awareness program at Higher Secondary School Gund Hassi Bhat. The event, chaired by Principal District and Sessions Judge Tasleem Arief, aimed to educate students on the harmful effects of drug abuse, sexual abuse, trafficking, and the rights of transgender children. Legal experts provided information on free legal aid services under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and highlighted the 15100 NALSA Helpline for immediate assistance. The program emphasized early intervention, peer support, and the importance of a safe and respectful school environment. A similar program was also held at GHSS Kothibagh.

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DLSA Sgr organises awareness programme on drug abuse, Right to Education, Prevention of Child Exploitation

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The programme, organised under the chairmanship of Tasleem Arief, Chairman DLSA (Principal District and Sessions Judge) Srinagar, and under the supervision of Sajad Ur Rehman, Sub-Judge and Secretary, DLSA Srinagar, was attended by students, teaching staff, and PLVs of DLSA Srinagar

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New brief on student mental health support in higher education released

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New brief on student mental health support in higher education released

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UNESCO IESALC’s brief addresses the growing mental health challenges faced by higher education students, with studies indicating that up to half of students experience some form of mental health issue. The brief emphasizes the importance of comprehensive, inclusive mental health services on campus, including in-person, online, and phone support. It also highlights the need to consider cultural diversity and accessibility to ensure that all students can access the help they need to succeed academically and maintain well-being.

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Explained: Generative AI’s environmental impact

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Explained: Generative AI’s environmental impact

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Generative AI models, such as GPT-4, are transforming industries by enhancing productivity and advancing scientific research. However, their rapid development and deployment come with significant environmental consequences. Training these models requires substantial computational power, leading to increased electricity consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, the cooling of hardware used for training and deploying these models demands large amounts of water, which can strain municipal water supplies and disrupt local ecosystems. The growing demand for high-performance computing hardware further contributes to environmental impacts through its manufacture and transport.

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MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Explained: Generative AI’s environmental impact

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MIT News explores the environmental and sustainability implications of generative AI technologies and applications.

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10 WORST SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AND ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES

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10 WORST SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AND ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES

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WWF Australia highlights the environmental impact of single-use plastics and advocates for sustainable alternatives. The organization identifies ten common single-use plastic items, such as plastic bags, straws, and cutlery, that contribute significantly to pollution. In response, WWF promotes eco-friendly substitutes like reusable bags, bamboo straws, and compostable cutlery to reduce environmental harm. By adopting these alternatives, individuals can significantly decrease their plastic footprint and support wildlife conservation efforts.

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In Australia, nearly 1.3 billion straws were used in 2020. They're lightweight, so once they're dropped or discarded, plastic straws easily blow into waterways and enter our oceans. Once in our oceans, they're extremely dangerous for our marine wildlife. Thankfully, these are now banned in most Australian states and territories, with a national ban complete by 2025.

2. Plastic drink stirrers

Cocktail stirrers are a fun accessory for drinks, but most are made from plastic and only used once before the novelty of them fades and they're thrown away. They end up in the trash, on our beaches and in our oceans.

What goes up must eventually come down. Helium balloons may be pretty, but they're also deadly. CSIRO research showsthey're one of the highest-risk plastic debris items for seabirds. And many balloons labeled as biodegradable simply aren't.

Did you know that 1.5 billion cotton buds are produced every day ? Sadly, many of these cotton buds end up in our oceans. Once the cotton tips dissolve, all that's left is essentially a small, rigid plastic stick which is easily ingested by birds, fish and other marine wildlife. These are already on the way out in Australia, with many states and territories including them in single-use plastic bans.

Plastic free alternatives: , bamboo cotton buds, organic cotton makeup pads or a reusable silicon swab. (And like my granny used to say - "Stick nothing in your ears smaller than your elbow!").

Eating out and getting takeaway often comes with more than just food. Plastic cutlery and plastic bags often come in the mix.

In Australia, plastic cutlery isn't easily recycled. Recycling machines generally can't sort them due to their shape, so many end up sitting in landfills for decades - potentially centuries. Plastic cutlery is now banned in many Australian states and territories.

910 million plastic cups are consumed every year in Australia. While lightweight and convenient, foam cups (made from polystyrene) can't be collected by most council kerbside recycling services and often end up as trash in landfills.

The good news is, polystyrene food containers are on the way out, with states and territories bringing in laws to ban them over the next few years. But single-use plastic containers are still everywhere, from supermarkets to our local cafes and take-away restaurants.

Plastic plates might be cheap and handy when hosting parties or at picnics or food courts, but once they're thrown away, they usually end up in landfills. Most recycling centres are unable to sort these plates due to their shape. These are also on the way out in many states and territories, but you can get ahead of the curve by switching to re-usables right now!

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10 worst single-use plastics and eco-friendly alternatives | WWF-Australia | 10 worst single-use plastics and eco-friendly alternatives | WWF Australia

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These are the 10 worst single-use plastics plaguing our planet - and here are some alternatives on what you can swap them with!

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From Mountains to Mandates: How Kerala’s Plastic Ban Pushes Sustainable Tableware Forward

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From Mountains to Mandates: How Kerala’s Plastic Ban Pushes Sustainable Tableware Forward

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On June 17, 2025, the Kerala High Court issued a landmark directive aimed at curbing plastic pollution in the state’s most fragile and frequented zones: its lush hill stations and public events. The order mandates a complete ban on single-use plastic items at ten tourist hotspots including Munnar, Thekkady, and Wayanad, as well as at all government-organized functions. The ruling bans plastic bottles of 5 liters or less, disposable plastic plates, cups, straws, plastic-lined bakery boxes, and cutlery. Instead, the court encourages the installation of public water kiosks, adoption of reusable containers, and exclusive use of compostable or biodegradable alternatives. The implementation deadline, set for October 2, 2025 (Gandhi Jayanti), marks not only symbolic alignment with Mahatma Gandhi’s values but also reflects urgency in addressing the state’s mounting waste crisis.

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From Mountains To Mandates: How Kerala’s Plastic Ban Pushes Sustainable Tableware Forward

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Kerala bans single-use plastics in tourist zones and public events. Discover how compostable tableware like bagasse bowls and PLA cups are leading the sustainable shift.

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Picasso canvas reappears in public 80 years after it was painted

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Picasso canvas reappears in public 80 years after it was painted

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Pablo Picasso’s Bust of a Woman in a Flowery Hat (Dora Maar), painted in 1943 during Nazi-occupied Paris, is being publicly revealed for the first time in 80 years. The oil on canvas, featuring Picasso’s muse and partner Dora Maar, will be auctioned by Lucien Paris on October 24 with a reserve price of €8 million. The artwork showcases Picasso’s late Cubist style, characterized by vibrant, fragmented color fields. Acquired by a private collector in 1944, it has remained unseen since and was last documented in a 1962 catalogue by Christian Zervos.

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Why The Summer I Turned Pretty needed to end, even if you didn’t want it to

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Why The Summer I Turned Pretty needed to end, even if you didn’t want it to

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The article "Why The Summer I Turned Pretty Needed to End, Even If You Didn't Want It To" from Vogue India discusses the conclusion of the popular teen drama series The Summer I Turned Pretty. The author, Meg Walters, reflects on the show's journey, acknowledging its cultural impact and the emotional investment of its audience. While many fans expressed a desire for more episodes, the piece suggests that the series' ending was timely and necessary for its narrative and thematic closure. The article delves into the reasons behind the show's conclusion, offering insights into its storytelling and the broader context of its reception.

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Why ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ needed to end, even if you didn’t want it to

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Although we may all think we want to see loads of happy together time for Bonrad, I don’t think we would like it much if we did

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Why are Indian musicians at the top of everyone’s playlists? Actually, it’s about time they were

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Why are Indian musicians at the top of everyone’s playlists? Actually, it’s about time they were

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Indian musicians are increasingly dominating global playlists, thanks to a blend of rich cultural heritage and modern innovation. Artists like Gayathri Krishnan, Avie Sheck, and Lara Raj are gaining international recognition by fusing classical Indian elements with contemporary genres. Platforms like Spotify and YouTube have provided a global stage for these talents, allowing them to reach audiences far beyond India's borders. This surge in popularity reflects a broader appreciation for diverse musical influences and the unique sounds emerging from India.

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Why are Indian musicians at the top of everyone’s playlists? Actually, it’s about time they were

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Vogue reflects on India’s emerging aural landscape and speaks to 12 artists across the country whose talents and tenacity have catapulted their tunes to the top of everyone’s playlists

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Why global stars like Coldplay and Ed Sheeran are hitting India

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Why global stars like Coldplay and Ed Sheeran are hitting India

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India’s live music scene is seeing a surge in international artists performing in the country, driven by rising demand, the country’s large youth population, and increased disposable income. Recent concerts by Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and upcoming shows by Ed Sheeran and Lollapalooza festival acts reflect this trend. For local Indian artists, the influx of global acts offers collaboration, learning, and exposure opportunities, though there are concerns that smaller artists could be overshadowed. Experts highlight the need for improved infrastructure, larger venues, and better planning to fully capitalize on India’s growing music market, projected to nearly double in value by 2026.

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Coldplay and Ed Sheeran: Why global stars are now hitting India

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Coldplay and Ed Sheeran are set to start their tours to sell-out crowds in the country.

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Sold out! How India's live-music scene hit high notes of Rs 1,000 crore

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Sold out! How India's live-music scene hit high notes of Rs 1,000 crore

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India's live music industry is experiencing a significant boom, with revenues projected to reach ₹1,000 crore by 2025. This growth is driven by a combination of factors, including increased disposable incomes, a burgeoning middle class, and a strong appetite for live entertainment experiences among younger audiences. Major international artists, such as Coldplay and Ed Sheeran, have performed in India, drawing large crowds and highlighting the country's potential as a prime destination for global music tours. Additionally, the rise of music festivals like Sunburn and NH7 Weekender has further fueled the demand for live music events. The industry's expansion is also contributing to job creation, increased tourism, and a boost to the local economy.

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Sold out! How India’s live-music scene hit high notes of Rs 1,000 crore

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India’s live music scene is booming, with concert revenues projected to hit Rs 1,000 crore by 2025. Fuelled by rising disposable incomes and a growing ‘experience economy,’ the industry is attracting global and Indian artists alike. Challenges persist, but the future looks vibrant and inclusive.

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TuneCore report explores the rise of independent Indian music

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TuneCore report explores the rise of independent Indian music

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A recent report by TuneCore highlights the rapid growth of independent music in India, driven by the proliferation of digital platforms and a shift towards diverse genres. Artists are increasingly leveraging platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram to reach global audiences, bypassing traditional industry gatekeepers. This democratization of music distribution has led to a surge in homegrown talent, with genres ranging from indie pop to regional music gaining prominence. The report underscores the importance of digital tools in empowering artists and reshaping the Indian music landscape.

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TuneCore report explores the rise of independent Indian music

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To mark five years since TuneCore launched in India, in July 2020, the distributor has launched the ‘Indian Independent Music Report’.

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How Will Artificial Intelligence Influence Filmmaking in India? Directors, Screenwriters, Editors Weigh In

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How Will Artificial Intelligence Influence Filmmaking in India? Directors, Screenwriters, Editors Weigh In

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Artificial Intelligence is increasingly transforming the Indian film industry, offering tools that enhance creativity, streamline production processes, and improve post-production efficiency. Directors and screenwriters are utilizing AI for script analysis, predictive analytics, and audience sentiment analysis, enabling more targeted storytelling. Editors are leveraging AI-driven software for tasks like color grading, sound design, and visual effects, reducing time and costs. While AI is seen as a valuable asset, industry professionals emphasize the importance of human creativity and intuition in filmmaking, ensuring that technology complements rather than replaces artistic expression.

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How Will Artificial Intelligence Influence Filmmaking in India? Directors, Screenwriters, Editors Weigh In

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When AI directs a scene, who holds the creative reins — human artists or machine logic?

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Indian cinema has made India popular in every part of the world: PM Modi at WAVES 2025

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Indian cinema has made India popular in every part of the world: PM Modi at WAVES 2025

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At the inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the global reach of Indian cinema, citing Raj Kapoor's popularity in Russia, Satyajit Ray's recognition at Cannes, and "RRR's" success at the Oscars. He emphasized India's rich tradition of storytelling across various fields and urged the youth to share the nation's untold stories with the world. Modi also noted the growing international audience for Indian content, especially through OTT platforms, and the expanding opportunities in the global animation industry, projected to double in value over the next decade. The government remains committed to supporting artists through initiatives like Skill India and startup schemes.

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Indian cinema has made India popular in every part of the world: PM Modi at WAVES 2025

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the WAVES 2025 event in Mumbai, celebrating Indian cinema’s global impact. He called on the youth to share India’s billion untold stories with the world through creativity and innovation.

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India ranks 20th for global music influence, 6th for uniqueness in study spanning 30 nations

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India ranks 20th for global music influence, 6th for uniqueness in study spanning 30 nations

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A Global Influential Music Index study (among 30 countries) ranked India 20th for musical influence with a score of ~58.4, while placing it 6th for uniqueness—driven by its distinct folk and traditional music. The study considered multiple factors including how often acts from a country are played outside their borders, number of historically renowned musicians, infrastructure like music schools & major labels, and how unique the local genres are. India is one of only three Asian countries in the influence ranking, ahead of nations like New Zealand, Greece, and Mexico in the overall score.

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India ranks 20th for global music influence, 6th for uniqueness in study spanning 30 nations

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The Global Influential Music Index ranked US, UK, France, Germany & Canada as the top 5 musically influential countries worldwide. India was among the 3 Asian countries to feature in the list.

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As Infrastructure Buckles Under Population Boom, Can India Catch Up?

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As Infrastructure Buckles Under Population Boom, Can India Catch Up?

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India is facing an urgent infrastructure challenge as rapid population growth, especially in cities, outpaces the development and maintenance of essential services—roads, water, sewage, waste management, and public utilities. Many infrastructure projects suffer from delays, cost overruns, weak supervision, and poor planning, which amplifies the strain on existing systems. To keep pace, India will need significantly more investment (public and private), better governance, coordinated planning among multiple levels of government, and accountability in project execution.

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The NARI 2025 report, based on a survey of 12,770 women across 31 Indian cities by the National Commission for Women (NCW), gives India a national safety score of 65%. Cities like Kohima, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl and others rank high due to stronger gender equity, better civic participation, responsive policing, and women-friendly infrastructure. In contrast, cities like Patna, Jaipur, Delhi, Kolkata and Ranchi lag, with weak institutions, patriarchal norms, and poor urban safety infrastructure. Many women feel safe in daylight and in workplaces, but perceptions drop sharply at night or off campus; incidents of harassment are underreported and confidence in redressal mechanisms is low.

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National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI), 2025 | Current Affairs

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National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI), 2025 | Current Affairs

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The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has started designating fixed feeding points for stray dogs, beginning in Ward No. 100 (Fateh Nagar, West Zone), after consultation with local residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) and veterinary officials. The selected spots avoid sensitive areas like schools, parks, or residential gates. Boards in Hindi/English will mark the spots. Feeding point locations will be geo-tagged and expanded across wards as per stray dog population. The move follows the Supreme Court’s directions and rules under Delhi’s ABC (Animal Birth Control) Rules 2023; the aim is to streamline stray feeding, manage the stray population, and ensure public safety.

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MCD begins earmarking feeding points for stray dogs | Delhi News - The Times of India

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New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s veterinary department has begun earmarking fixed feeding points for stray dogs in the city, initiating the.

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According to the Henley Opportunity Index 2025, the top countries to live and work in are ranked based on six criteria: earning potential, career advancement, employment prospects, premium education, economic mobility, and livability. Switzerland leads, followed by Singapore, the United States, Australia, Canada, the UK, UAE, New Zealand, Austria, and Italy. Each excels in different combinations of stability, infrastructure, immigration or investor visa policies, quality of life, and opportunities for professionals and families.

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10 best countries to live and work in 2025 | - Times of India

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The Henley Opportunity Index 2025 identifies top countries for living and working, ranking them on earning potential, career advancement, and livability. Switzerland leads with its stable economy and high quality of life, followed by Singapore’s financial hub and the United States’ diverse job market. Australia, Canada, and the UK also offer unique opportunities for professionals and families.

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India’s life expectancy at birth has seen recent fluctuations: in 2025 it is 70.82 years, a slight increase of about 0.29% over 2024. In 2024 it had dropped to 70.62 years, following a decline from 2023, which had seen a higher figure of 72.00 years. The metric reflects what a newborn’s lifespan would be if current mortality patterns remained constant. Over time, from 1950 to 2025, life expectancy has generally trended upward, with occasional dips.

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Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.

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The 2025 EDGAR report presents a comprehensive and independent estimate of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to 2024, compiled using the latest IPCC guidelines and robust methodology. Despite international climate agreements, global GHG emissions rose by 1.3% in 2024 to 53.2 gigatons CO2 equivalent, primarily driven by fossil CO2 emissions which constitute 74.5% of total emissions. Major contributors include China, the USA, India, the EU27, Russia, and Indonesia, accounting collectively for over 61% of emissions. The report highlights a steady increase in emissions since 2000, with methane and nitrous oxide emissions also rising, albeit at slower rates. The EU27 shows a decline in emissions, down by 1.8% in 2024. This data is vital to track progress towards climate goals, offering transparency and global consistency in emissions accounting.

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EDGAR - The Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research

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Since the beginning of 21st century, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions had followed an increasing trend mainly due to the increase in emissions from China and the other emerging economies. As a result, the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases substantially increased enhancing the natural greenhouse effect, which may negatively affect the life on the Earth.

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The Pew Research Center’s study “Worries about life in 2025” reveals deep concerns about the societal impact of technology and exacerbating inequalities in the near future. Experts and respondents anticipate that by 2025, digital divides will widen, privacy and civil liberties will be increasingly threatened by mass surveillance, and job automation will displace many workers. Misinformation and digital propaganda are expected to severely disrupt social cohesion and political trust. Mental health challenges are likely to intensify due to isolation and heightened digital dependence. Many foresee a fragmented society where advantages continue to accumulate for the already privileged, while the disadvantaged face worsening economic insecurity and social exclusion. Despite the convenience and benefits technology can bring, skeptical views prevail over meaningful reforms or solutions curbing these risks, emphasizing the urgent need for ethical governance and equitable access to digital resources.

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Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech

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Whether they expressed optimistic or pessimistic views about the "new normal" in 2025, these respondents also weighed in with their worries for the near future of humans and digital technologies. Their views embraced several overarching themes that can be summed up in one: The advantaged enjoy more advantages; the disadvantaged fall further behind.

Much of their concern focuses on the growing power held by the technology companies that control information flows into people's lives and their potential to compromise individuals' privacy and autonomy. Most respondents to this canvassing who discussed the problems tied to the business models of Big Tech said it is highly unlikely that there will be a successful movement soon to change market capitalism and the competitive imperative to make profit-making the primary priority. They noted that solutions to this problem have a double-edged quality because opportunity and challenge are equally present. Some argued that the spread of lies via social media and other digital platforms will damage social, political and economic systems. They acknowledged that some of the likely remedies may interfere with civil liberties. They maintain that the seemingly unstoppable flow of lies, disinformation and misinformation online is divisive, dangerous and destructive.

Many warned that health-monitoring, work-surveillance and security solutions that may be applied will expand mass oversight, threaten human rights and lead more regions of the world to become more authoritarian. Some pointed out a variety of downsides to telework, and said they worry over the accelerating automation of more business systems and processes causing the number of available jobs for humans to shrink. Additionally, they worry about people's mental health at a time of so much isolation. Finally, they wonder who will take action to bring about the positive change necessary to tackle all of these obvious issues.

This section opens with a number of broad statements from respondents about these concerns, followed by sets of assertions sorted under themed headings.

Soraya Chemaly, an advocate and activist with The Representation Project working to change attitudes about gender norms, said, "Technology will become even more pervasive in our lives, every aspect of them. This will enable work, alternatives to school and improved health care, but will come at a high cost - increased surveillance, loss of privacy, greater risks - to both individuals and political systems. The confluence of degrading economic conditions, civil unrest, uncertain long-term pandemic outcomes strike me as more likely to lead to technology-related harms and abuses than not, particularly as products rush to market with even less rigor applied to threat modeling, risk assessment, etc. The panopticon worries me. The immense and largely unregulated power of technology companies operating with little or no transparency, accountability or oversight as proto-transnational governments worries me. The alignment of these companies with authoritarian and antidemocratic forces everywhere worries me."

Jay Owens, research director at pulsarplatform.com and author of HautePop, wrote, "Compared to, say, November 2020, the 'new normal' in 2025 is net worse for the average person, based on economic, health and well-being factors:

There is a significant likelihood of facing a long period of unemployment in 2020-21 if they work in a COVID-affected sector, with knock-on effects of increased debt, reduced savings, reduced salary progression.

Women with children have faced significant pressure to exit the workforce or go part-time in order to cover the child care gap caused by a) school closures and b) their male partners not taking 50/50 responsibility for their offspring. This results in lifelong financial impacts plus a sense of frustration.

There is a significant likelihood of ongoing disability following a coronavirus infection, given what's emerging about the medium- and long-term lung damage and chronic post-viral fatigue.

In the UK, Brexit produces a further economic crunch for sectors that might have got through coronavirus reasonably well (e.g., manufacturing, food supply, logistics).

People will have significantly fewer friends, as relationships dwindle given the lack of regular in-person contact. I expect a somewhat neo-traditionalist intense focus on the couple and the nuclear family which will be rather stifling.

"I worry about technology companies' monopolisation - a lot of activity concentrated in four or five megacorporations. See the negative impact of Amazon on the wider retail sector. There is too much reliance focused in these companies' platforms, with screen-centricity for everything: social life, entertainment, work, the arts. There is an overemphasis in society on what tech can do well (convenience) and not what it can't (the level of quality of the interaction or experience)."

A journalist and industry analyst expert in AI ethics observed, "The focus during my long career in Silicon Valley and Sand Hill Road has been the art of the possible (innovation) and fast economic returns. This is not a sustainable model moving forward. Hence, my second full-time job, which is AI ethics (someone has to fight the good fight, even if it is idealistic at this point). We're being forced to conform to the digitization of everything, which is separating people from each other, enslaving them, facilitating mass manipulation and oppression. Technology is becoming far too intrusive, and we are allowing it to happen. We have already become a surveillance state. Going completely digital is exciting and also dangerous, in my opinion, because it makes people and organizations more vulnerable to attacks. While there have always been divisions in society, people are now being manipulated into them artificially, which only adds to what happens organically. I, for one, am deeply active in AI ethics, however, 'we' operate too slowly as groups and there is so much money and power at stake that bad actors will have an advantage for the foreseeable future. Humanity is self-destructing. Only we can save ourselves. The 'new normal' is a society that's more divided than it has ever been in history. Already we're recording every breath, every step, every heartbeat. Every thought is next. Digital tools amplify everything that we do, but we don't stop to think about what we're doing in the bigger picture, and it's going to be harder to do the right things for society at large when the mindset is individualism. There will not be one 'new normal,' but several. Most people on the planet will be disadvantaged, though not to the same degree by automation, economic structures. And downright control mechanisms that favor the few at the expense of the many."

Cliff Lynch, director at the Coalition for Networked Information and adjunct professor at the University of California, Berkeley, took a look at one worst-possible scenario, writing, "Herd immunity (and diagnostics, vaccines and treatments) might fail, or at least fall drastically short. We cannot rule this out. I don't think we will even know if this is a possibility for a couple of years. This is a scenario that is not getting much attention because it's so awful. In this world, we find vaccines don't work well, or not for more than a month or two, and we find individuals can be repeatedly reinfected, perhaps with each bout worse than the last. There really isn't a new normal to reach, only a continually unfolding disaster where I don't understand the exit mechanism to any kind of genuine sustainable new normal other than perhaps through eventual biomedical breakthroughs.

"Life in this continued nightmare is a constant trade-off between near-total social isolation and threat of death or disability. Day-to-day life in the face of this varies greatly, structured around paranoid protective measures for some, driven by duty and courage for others, fatalism and stoicism (and perhaps denial) for still others, and a steady drumbeat of human tragedy in the background for all. Technology is actually really important here. It can help people to function in this kind of environment and stay alive, but it can't fix the mental or social damage.

"One thing I would expect in this scenario is the enthusiastic adoption of invasive tracking and monitoring technologies coupled to totalitarian political measures to try to control infections on a continuing basis, likely with only very limited success. This probably goes hand-in-hand with a lot of other bad political developments. At least for a while, I would expect some parts of society will continue to operate and perhaps prosper (or at least make lots of money) operating from isolation, remotely, defensively and with critical dependence on technology. This is somewhat similar to what is happening today with the relatively well-off and fortunate who can work from home and minimize social interactions, but much more so. I would expect to see an ongoing breakdown of society and the economy over time, and perhaps ultimately violence, revolution, martial law, economic depression, breakdown in food supplies and other supply chains and the like, all adding to the misery. And don't overlook a major war as a possibility in this scenario either, either because a ruler needs to distract the population or because some nation judges an opponent as vulnerable. This future is a very bad place. I hope we don't go there.

An anonymous respondent commented, "We are headed into the perfect storm of diminished democratic processes, increased medical vulnerabilities, increased wealth and power disparity and the confounding effects of climate change. The five-year period will encompass significant changes for the worse for the vast majority of people in the world. Those who currently control wealth will use every means at their disposal to maintain their position, and that will include the use of AI and private security (effectively private armies). It will be difficult to determine the difference between public assets such as police and military and assets of control at the behest of what will effectively become a new 'ruling class.' The vast majority of humanity will exist as wage-slaves and have little resilience in the face of dramatic environmental change. A consequence of climate change and humans' desperate attempts to maintain a semblance of quality of life will be the development of further niche/novel viruses. Not factored into this are the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons by rogue states. I'm hoping that such events will not occur in the next five years because they would usher in a cataclysmic demise of much of humanity. Thanks for asking."

Frank Kaufmann, president of the Twelve Gates Foundation, said, "I have no special worries any more than when they invented an ax to chop wood. Tech allows human badness to gain strength and power, to be more harmful and destructive and to cause more suffering and pain with each new tech development. At the very same time, the very same tech could be used to amplify our ability to do kind acts and to do good. The same tech China uses to record which stuffed animal my two-year-old daughter currently is playing with could as easily be used by compassionate geniuses to save her life in a moment when she otherwise wouldn't have stood a chance. My worries are just the perennial ones. Tech gives bad people power to be worse. It gives good people power to be better. I worry that there exists a world of tech geniuses who don't know right from wrong and good from bad. And there is a world of tech users who'll sell their soul for a giggling emoji."

Wendy M. Grossman, a UK-based science writer, author of "" and founder of the magazine The Skeptic, observed, "The upcoming economic catastrophe as government support runs out and rents come due means damage to millions of households who may recover by 2025 but whose children will be permanently changed. My parents and many of my friends' parents lived through the 1930s Depression. It permanently changed how they thought about work, money and safety nets, often making them more frugal, less interested in consumerism for its own sake and more concerned to ensure that others could survive in difficult times. ... I don't think most people will remain enthusiastic about full-time working from home, and I don't think it will serve most businesses as much as they think right now. We are currently coasting on social relationships that we've built over years of personal interaction. Everyone I know is tired of Zoom meetings. Side channels - an important part of any meeting - are missing in action; random meetings that produce new ideas don't happen; and newcomers find it very hard to establish themselves as part of the group. My prediction is that the people who are now eyeing living in remote locations because they don't have to commute any more will, in a few years, find the constant flying back for meetings annoying and expensive, and will be thinking of moving closer to work again, especially as climate change will force air travel to become more expensive and/or difficult."

A director for a major global project studying emerging social, political and economic systems at a U.S. technological university said, "I worry that too much technology will be developed by computer scientists and engineers who have little understanding of human social behavior and this will cause inadvertent harm. An example of this is the biased machine-learning models that are used for profiling. I worry that large companies will drown out innovation from academia and small businesses and that large companies will begin to control funding and direct policies and thus determine which small businesses and universities survive. I worry that sets of companies will band together against other sets to make their technologies interoperable only within that set whereas common standards and complete interoperability of all technologies is needed to make the Internet of Things achieve its ultimate capability. I am concerned that policymakers who don't understand the strengths and limits of technology will begin making premature policies."

Inequality and injustice are magnified

A notable share of these experts predict that the pandemic and quick pivot to the use of digitally driven systems will widen divides and expand the ranks of the unemployed, uninsured and disenfranchised. The power imbalances between the advantaged and disadvantaged are being magnified by digital systems overseen by behemoth firms as they exploit big data and algorithmic decision-making that themselves are biased. They predict that more people will be pushed into a precarious existence that lacks predictability, economic security and wellness.

danah boyd, founder and president of the Data & Society Research Institute and principal researcher at Microsoft, observed, "The tech sector has built the new Gilded Age. Inequality has been a problem in our society for a long time, but the relationship between the tech sector and late-stage capitalism is insidious and getting worse. It's also affecting other sectors. For example, most of philanthropy is dependent on the logics of the tech sector. Tech sector wealth is creating new philanthropists, and endowments are heavily dependent on growth coming from the tech sector. Unsurprisingly, philanthropy has adopted many of the same logics as tech, from tech solutionism to the fetishization of 'move fast and break things.' This weakens civil society, which is crucial for holding tech, politics and capitalism accountable. This systems-level issue will have all sorts of ramifications for individuals, but I think that the costs will be significant. Our polis will be less informed and less financially stable. Technology will also continue to amplify neoliberal logics that put individuals in a very precarious place. Nowhere will this be clearer than in the realm of health care. We have so much technology in the health space, so much knowledge, and yet our supply chains are broken and inequality in access to health care is at an all-time high."

Henning Schulzrinne, Internet Hall of Fame member and former chief technology officer for the Federal Communications Commission, said, "Countries like the U.S. that utterly failed in their response will find that many young people will have had extended disruptions to their educational progress, from K-12 to higher education. Many entry-level job opportunities will have vanished simply because of retrenchment in service-oriented industries as disposable income decreases. This will strongly depend on the availability of a vaccine, highly effective non-pharmaceutical interventions such as air filtration and UV-C lights, more effective treatment protocols. If neither exists in 2025, many sectors such as restaurants and live entertainment will disappear except in countries that manage to suppress the virus in their population to levels that make indoor gatherings plausible. Many of the new touchless technologies, e.g., in hospitality, will also decrease the need for entry-level, customer-facing jobs and will likely be made permanent."

Susan Crawford, a professor at Harvard Law School and former special assistant in the Obama White House for science, technology and innovation policy, commented, "I am worried that the caste system in America will be increasingly entrenched and amplified by technological asymmetries - as access to health services, jobs and opportunities of all kinds becomes more and more targeted to people who have the money to access the platforms that provide them."

John Harlow, smart cities research specialist at the Engagement Lab @ Emerson College, wrote, "The most vulnerable people (poor, disabled, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+, women, children, religious minorities, geographically vulnerable) will likely suffer between now and 2025."

Micah Altman, a social and information scientist at MIT, observed, "The pandemic holds a mirror to society, revealing the existing faults in our digital infrastructure and the grave inequities in the distribution of resources and opportunities to make use of them. For example, the difficulties encountered by public primary and secondary schools in attempting an abrupt transition to distance learning due to underinvestment in education, not (generally) poor technology choices by school administrators. None of these problems will be fixed by 2025, and few areas will see substantial progress (with the possible exception of partially reversing some of the worst policies of the [Trump] administration)."

Benjamin Kuipers, a professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan known for research in qualitative simulation, warned, "If technology companies focus on maximizing profits - which has been 'religious' economic dogma since the 1960s - rather than on demonstrating their trustworthiness to individuals, they can drive the economy down the path to dystopia and they will not even get the profits they seek. The Prisoner's Dilemma is not just a toy thought experiment. Only trust in each other provides a good overall solution. Trying to maximize individual reward leads to an outcome where everybody's reward is poor."

Simeon Yates, a professor of digital culture at the University of Liverpool and the research lead for the UK government's Digital Culture team, wrote, "Many recent technologies have exacerbated, enhanced or extended the effects of long-standing social, economic, cultural and political issues, but they have not fundamentally changed them. Inequality is still excessive in nearly all nations. The benefits of 'working from home' accrue to a small proportion of the population. Shifts to new forms of remote access to services (e.g., health) end up excluding those most in need. The drive by governments towards greater use of data and algorithms in response to acute planning need will only likely lead to further automation of inequality. In general, the predictions as ever focus on the technology and what it can do, and not on the underlying social forces and structures and general human behaviour. A key point is a lack of accountability of technology companies and their sheer arrogance at not addressing the identifiable harms caused by their products. As operators of limited-choice platform economies they have both a moral and an ethical duty to address these issues, to become more transparent and frankly more open and democratic in how they are run. They need to show citizens and consumers greater respect. Rather than cosying up to these platforms, governments should be protecting their citizens from the worst excesses of these companies."

J. Nathan Matias, an assistant professor at Cornell University expert in digital governance and behavior change in groups and networks, said, "The pandemic will continue to widen economic and social divides around the world. People whose work requires them to be present in physical locations will lose more economically. The pandemic will also normalize levels of surveillance and social control that previously seemed unimaginable, especially for individualistic Western societies that have traditionally valued individual civil liberties. The impacts of that surveillance disproportionately affecting the least powerful in society. Because online education tends to privilege students who have access to technology and private spaces, the pandemic will have a lasting impact on diversity in the technology industry. On one hand, tech firms will continue to have a more remote workforce, which will distribute the industry's wealth more geographically widely. On the other hand, that workforce might become even less diverse than it was before the pandemic due to disparate impacts among the most vulnerable."

David Barnhizer, professor of law emeritus and author of " The Artificial Intelligence Contagion:Can Democracy Withstand the Imminent Transformation of Work, Wealth and the Social Order? " responded, "When the U.S. economy was 'globalized' over the past 30 years and became intensely interconnected and interdependent, anything that significantly affects one or more of the major economic powers (U.S., UK, EU and China) has heavy impacts on all of them. Exactly what they are, how deeply they will penetrate, whether we have the wisdom, tools and strength to respond positively to the pandemic is not obvious. What has occurred in the past five months relative to the virus unfortunately fits in much too closely with predictions of contagion, about a U.S. torn apart by wealth inequality, racial and other critical tensions around competing views of social justice, the difficulty of coping with an incredibly large and rapidly increasing national debt and annual budget that even before the pandemic stimulus was growing more than $1 trillion per year, aging population demographics that Pope Francis has referred to as the 'Age Curse,' along with health care issues and underfunded pension concerns facing the federal, state and local governments (as well as corporate pension and health plans)."

Kevin T. Leicht, professor and head of the department of sociology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, commented, "Rosy predictions of the future don't have a good track record. In the end, every technology has five different features: 1) what the inventor believes the technology will do, 2) what the buyer of the technology thinks the technology will do, 3) what interested observers think the technology will do, 4) what the new, front-line users of the technology think it will do, and then 5) what the technology actually does, which is rarely if ever a neat summary of 1 through 4. ... Technology and technology companies have (inadvertently in most cases) aided in the creation of a rolling cultural and economic disaster. The lethal brew involves the connection of technological innovation with governments that have been asleep at the switch for almost 40 years. We have almost no antitrust enforcement. No IRS auditing. Extensive financial deregulation. Almost unbelievable economic concentration in leading sectors.

"Because of this, almost none of the rosy projections of what technology and technology companies would do, as described in the 1980s and early 1990s, have come to pass. Technology has not rendered the world 'placeless' - it has created unprecedented concentrations of economic power in winner-take-all, global cities. Technology has not reduced educational inequalities because educational inequalities are created by families rather than schools and technology increases those family-based inequalities. Technology and tech companies haven't reduced our dependence on carbon-based fuels (at least not yet). And technologies have to take some of the blame for destroying the labor markets of the middle class. Do most of our students in colleges really want to be 'entrepreneurs' or are we peddling that route because we've destroyed credible career trajectories through work? It is true that technology did not create the cultural and economic disaster we're experiencing. But the ability of technology companies to exploit cultural and economic weakness to benefit themselves has far outpaced any outcome that could be viewed as a public good that has reduced inequalities. In the absence of drastic, non-technological intervention, these problems will only get worse rather than better."

Mirielle Hildebrandt, expert in cultural anthropology and the law and editor of "Law, HumanAgencyandAutonomicComputing," said, "I worry over society's baseless trust in crappy digital decision-systems, with few options to opt out and even fewer options to contest decisions outside of prefab boxes with preformatted complaints. There has been major investment in so-called 'AI' systems without any evidence for the claims their advocates put forward, and they are running amok and causing widespread frustration, fear and cynicism in those who employ them and in those subject to them. I worry over the further increase of inequality and the ridiculous amount of economic power held by Big Tech, Big Pharma, Big Law, Big Finance, all sustained and enabled by a mistaken enchantment with 'digital,' 'AI,' 'algorithms' or 'big data.' I am concerned about the further disruption of the public sphere, resulting in dangerous populism and cynicism."

Richard Lachmann, professor of political sociology at the State University of New York, Albany, predicted, "Most people will be poorer, and they will have more-precarious jobs. The relatively privileged will work at least part time at home, reducing their social interactions, with serious consequences for their mental health. Important institutions will have been bankrupted in the aftermath of the pandemic. America will have fewer theaters, restaurants, coffee houses, concerts and universities. The U.S. will be much more isolated in the aftermath of COVID-19. Even if Trump is not reelected, other countries will have learned that America both is incapable of keeping its population healthy and is vulnerable to electing unreliable and bizarre leaders. We can expect other countries will take steps to reduce their reliance on and interaction with the U.S. Foreign students who sustain American universities' science and engineering programs will go elsewhere. That will lead American high-tech corporations to relocate more and more of their research and development to other countries that will be attracting the best students and that will be able to keep the best graduates. The shift to work-at-home will lead to social isolation and a dispersal of the population into exurbs that use more energy and destroy nature. Tech companies will increase their surveillance abilities. People will spend more time online, reducing their social interactions and making them ever more vulnerable to manipulation by advertisers and extremist politicians and groups. The most ominous development could be a permanent shift to online education. New York Gov. [Andrew] Cuomo's plan to enlist Bill Gates to reimagine schools is a warning signal. Gates' record of 'reforms' that disempower teachers makes it likely he will propose, and Cuomo will try to implement, rote learning rather than the sort of education that happens when students and teachers interact in unscripted ways."

Wendell Wallach, ethicist and scholar at Yale University's Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, observed, "Digital technologies exacerbate inequalities not only in the U.S., but throughout the world. Addressing the downside, the economic impact of the pandemic and of structural inequality will require major reforms in the political economies of larger countries. The COVID-19 crisis is further centralizing power among the digital elite and among those best able to take advantage of high stock valuations for those companies that are thriving during the pandemic. There will definitely be an expansion of applications that improve the quality of life for a large portion of users and even ameliorate the downside of digital application. However, without serious reforms I expect that the overall trade-offs will be a net loss for the average citizen, and particularly for underserved communities. This may, of course, be masked by highly publicized applications that generally improve some aspects of life for specific communities. My worry is too much concentrated power! While a few powerful companies are seriously interested in ethical considerations, most continue to be primarily focused on their image. The deterioration of privacy is likely to continue as it serves the bottom line. More importantly, surveillance technologies in both democratic and more authoritarian countries will place a damper upon, if not actually suppress, free expression."

Rebecca Theobald, assistant research professor at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, wrote, "If income inequality, both at the national and global level, persists, then there will be a dystopian existence, with only a few people benefiting from the technological improvements created by clever minds, locked away in their gated communities and hopping from wormhole to wormhole ignoring the majority of people. If there is to be an 'average person' in 2025, then people will need to figure out how to maintain their connections to families, geographies, cultures and ideologies without squashing others in the process. We need people to speak truth to power, and to have the power to listen. And we need people to cooperate. From the vantage point of 2020, in 2025, people will likely be more entrenched in smaller and smaller tribes, talking only to each other and less inclined to give up what they feel they have earned. People in developed regions will have more flexibility in work and will be continually monitored. Health care will change because people's health and genetic history will become available, and we will grapple with questions about who should or should not receive treatment. We will still not be willing to pay people who do what has been deemed 'essential work' during the pandemic a living wage.

"Without a change in philosophy, particularly in the United States of America, geospatial technology will be used to manage and manipulate people rather than to make their lives better. I hope by 2025 efficient pooling of information about ways to improve people's lives - whether it be about health, economic or social issues - can be readily transferred from community to community. Economic inequality will decrease because everyone will be able to access how much money people make, how much they pay in taxes, and how they contribute to their community through contributions to philanthropic causes or political campaigns. Public transportation will become more efficient with more information about which bus/train/metro/trolley is arriving when and where, with more participants and public funds, fewer individual vehicles and less pollution. People who make public statements or declaim something on social media about scientific or historical issues not based in fact will be immediately quashed with data. If those in power - governments and corporations - contain technology advances and manage them to their advantage, everyone will suffer over time."

Paul Henman, professor of social sciences at the University of Queensland, predicted, "There may be some flow on discussions about taxation and revenue reform, but the essential power imbalances between rich and poor, disadvantaged and advantaged - both within and between countries - will continue to be a strong force that will draw the above changes back to pre-COVID-19 realities and fissures, albeit with a post-COVID-19 hue. In short, COVID-19 has not fundamentally challenged these social structural realities. I worry that the use of tracing and public health surveillance technologies and the associated supporting legislation necessary to respond to the pandemic will continue to be deployed once the pandemic justification has receded. These will be used by actors who will seek to reinforce control and reinforce preexisting social categorisations of dis/advantaged."

Sarita Schoenebeck, an associate professor at the School of Information at the University of Michigan, said, "The pandemic has made visible country-level variances in child care policies, worker rights, health care policies and economic issues. ... I'm hopeful that by 2025 technology activists have been able to impact technology design and law in areas like facial recognition and privacy. I'm hopeful that similar advocacy will encourage technology that meets the needs of people with disabilities, reduces harm towards minoritized groups and prioritizes democratic principles. I'm worried about the unfettered role that technology companies have in people's lives. Some of it produces good, but it also produces so much harm for people and societies, including harassment, disinformation and inequity, and those harms seem to be gaining steam rather than losing it."

Jim Witte, director of the Center for Social Science Research at George Mason University, observed, "There is the possibility that this transformation could lead to greater equality, democratization, and a further 'flattening' of the world, as described by Tom Friedman in his 2005 book ' The World is Flat.' But, as I have argued elsewhere (shameless plug, ' The Internet and Social Inequalities,' 2010) technology embedded in a capitalist economy and society is far more likely to reproduce inequality and stratification than to reduce it. The pain will be felt acutely in the developing world, where progress has been made in meeting basic needs, but the blow to the global economy will make this difficult to sustain."

An expert in in the history of U.S. foreign relations and the international human rights movement wrote, "I worry that without taking steps to shore up our education, health care, the environment and safety net or taking action to prevent mass evictions, the closure of small businesses, hunger, unemployment, poverty, etc., the gaps between the wealthiest and the rest of us will grow to intolerable levels. Furthermore, without action to end systemic racism, state violence and mass incarceration against Black and other marginalized Americans, we will rightly continue to have protests. Without making strides toward providing child care and maternity leave, to creating stronger protections and more security for contingent workers, all of the technology in the world will not solve our problems. Already, we are seeing the negative effects of the existing income gap damaging our society through the rise of violent right-wing nationalism, anti-immigration sentiments and rising isolationism. I fear we will just see increasing unrest. Republicans will likely continue to trot out their tired canards about the threats of socialism, but no party has done more to make socialism appealing to the masses than selfish conservative policies that have redistributed wealth upwards to the wealthiest, while the rest of the country is left with stagnant wages, poor health care, a degraded environment and few protections from rapacious corporate greed."

June Anne English-Lueck, professor of anthropology at San Jose State University and a distinguished fellow at the Institute for the Future, said, "Global economic disruption has exposed and exacerbated economic inequalities. The experience of work differs dramatically for those who can protect themselves and get access to preventative care and treatment and those who do not have access. Mobile devices linked with place-based surveillance are ubiquitous as contact tracking continues. The focus should be on the issues of division based on class, race and the many flavors of gender, the clash with the immediate public health needs, which will be exhaustingly present in 2025, and the ever-more-pressing woes of climate change."

Brian Harvey, emeritus professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, predicted, "The virus will accelerate the growing divide between the rich and the poor - in this case talking not only about the very rich, but about intellectual workers like me, who may discover that they can avoid the traffic jams going to work. Meanwhile the poor have jobs that can't be done from home, those of them who still have jobs at all. A possible benefit would be if the United States developed a social conscience and instituted the kind of safety net that civilized countries have. I am assuming that eventually there will be a vaccine and/or an effective cure to this virus, but the writing is on the wall: There will be more such viruses, and the poor will suffer disproportionately."

Michael Muller, a researcher for a top global technology company whose work is focused on human aspects of data science and ethics and values, wrote, "If we have a non-vaccine new normal, poorer people will continue to do the most COVID-19-hazardous work, while wealthier people continue (as we do now) to work remotely. This situation is unjust. If it became perpetuated, then this aspect of injustice would also be perpetuated. Our lives are already riven and sickened with injustice. I hope we can find ways to reduce injustice. So far, COVID-19 is mostly making it worse."

Michael Marien, director of Global Foresight Books, futurist and compiler of the annual list of the best futures books of the year, said, "Life will be better for some in 2025, but worse for most people within and among nations. COVID-19 is clearly worsening inequality worldwide, and the worst impacts of the pandemic are yet to appear due to underreporting in 'developing' countries, many of which will be 'undeveloping.' COVID-19 is 'the great equalizer' in that anyone can catch it and suffer, but 'the great unequalizer' because it will impact the poor in crowded slums and the informal economy who have little or no access to health care and, for many in the near future, food."

Alice E. Marwick, assistant professor of communication at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and adviser for the Media Manipulation project at the Data & Society Research Institute, predicted, "Five years from now I expect that working from home will be normalized for most white-collar industries. The pandemic has shown us that people can be productive without an office environment, and many people who believed they had to live in very expensive metro areas to work in their desired field will opt to live in lower cost-of-living areas while still being active participants in their workplace. However, I do not envision system-wide reforms for some of the systemic inequities that the pandemic made highly visible. The three-tiered employment system of the unemployed/furloughed, the 'essential workers' who primarily work in low-wage, low-prestige jobs that require in-person engagement, and professional/white collar workers shows no signs of abating. The immense difference in the U.S. between people who have caregiving responsibilities at home and those who do not will not change without systemic investment in child care, elder care and disability benefits. The difference between parents who can afford to hire nannies, teachers or tutors for their children and those who cannot will manifest in greater educational inequality along lines of race, class and income level.

"Even if we assume that COVID-19 is no longer a threat in 2025, those inequities will remain unless there is a nationwide change in funding priorities and an end to partisan gridlock in Congress. Many of the economic effects of COVID will continue to be felt five years from now, from urban centers that never fully regained their economic vibrancy to long-term salary depression on people who were laid off or entering the workforce during the pandemic. In addition, without national-level, comprehensive privacy reform, the use of social technologies by the criminal justice system, the police and the government will continue and will further entrench unevenly distributed levels of privacy. Expansion of surveillant efforts of the state and criminal justice system will further marginalize the poor, people of color and political activists. The use of algorithms to distribute social benefits punishes the poor, especially the elderly or those without access to the internet."

Alice Xiang, a researcher at The Partnership for AI whose work is focused on fairness, transparency and accountability, wrote, "We have already seen that COVID has affected people very differently along existing socioeconomic and demographic lines. I think the 'new normal' will reflect further-entrenched inequalities. The demand for those with technology-related skills will likely increase as more of people's lives are conducted virtually. While in-person service jobs have provided significant employment for lower skilled workers, those industries will likely still suffer in 2025."

Amy Sample Ward, CEO of NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network, said, "Most of the systems that surrounded our lives before the pandemic - for education, health, work and beyond - were overly reliant on offline interaction and not made from values or processes that enabled effective shifts to more virtual environments. As we've seen with the way many of these systems have been forced to find new ways to operate during the pandemic, systemic oppressions, issues of accessibility and competing systems of capitalism have prevented many communities from being able to stay safe, access services or continue working. Building 'back' from here will be a very long road and one that will, unfortunately, continue to burden most those already most impacted by these systems. Until there is real investment in ensuring that everyone has reliable access at home, reliable and appropriate devices (not only a smartphone) and the skills to use the internet for their needs, any tech-related changes that may be developed will continue to serve mostly those with more privilege and access to resources. The very real needs facing our communities during this pandemic present challenges ripe for technical innovation and solutions, however those facing the most needs today are also those most likely without service and devices. We need to have our collective interest in change include bringing everyone online. The role of private equity should worry everyone, as well as the continued monopolization of technology, especially AI tools entering homes."

Jon Stine, executive director of the Open Voice Network, responded, "I worry that, from policy and investment perspectives, the national digital divide will be of little interest to those in power. And that many of our leading technology firms take little or no responsibility in addressing the fact-free narratives that increasingly shape societal attitudes and political decisions."

Craig Spiezle, managing director and trust strategist for Agelight and chair emeritus for the Online Trust Alliance, said, "We are facing a perfect storm: levels of civil unrest, extremes in political discourse and lack of faith in our government. I fear it will be long road to recovery not only from the economic damage but the impact to trust and integrity, not to mention the unknown long-term impact from social isolation. ... The new normal will arise with a transformation of many jobs and of the overall economy. While we have high hopes for technology, COVID has taken the divide between digital inclusiveness and digital inequality to a new level due to the need for home schooling, remote work and telemedicine. While affordable, fast and reliable connectivity is paramount, the issues are not limited to access. Key digital obstacles include but are not limited to basic online literacy, language capabilities, understanding of relevancy and access to technical support. Combined with increasing privacy deficits and risks of fraud, these issues are impacting several segments of society more than others. Pew released research in June 2020 showing 65% of adults [ages 30 to 49] say the internet has been essential to them during COVID, compared with 31% of those 65 and older. This is not surprising as older cohorts in general have not embraced a digital lifestyle and do not understand what they are missing."

Perry Hewitt, an executive with Ithaka, responded, "2025 is too soon for us to expect that the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fissures in inequality and health care disparities it exposed, will have receded. 2020-2023 will feature massive disruption to educational attainment and employment that will affect everyone, with a particular blow dealt to teens and young adults. For white-collar workers, the forced mass adoption of collaboration tools will provide some more efficient and better ways to work. With the outlier remote worker reimagined as the norm, entrenched assumptions about 'facetime' and acceptance of astronomical rents and outlandish commutes will diminish and improve work life through technology. And here's hoping that by then we view video as a tool to use in a particular context, and not a blanket replacement for in-person connection. At the same time, three years of unemployment will redirect power into the hands to the corporations wielding those tools. Productivity and connection tools are uncomfortably close to remote-worker monitoring, which is also on the rise. Technology exists today that could enforce social distancing in meatpacking plants, and yet laws enable these health and safety measures to be circumvented. Tech skepticism will (and should!) exist at all levels of socioeconomic status, but I worry the working poor and the poor will experience technology only as a negative force leveled against them by employers."

Gus Hosein, executive director of Privacy International, based in the UK, observed, "We will still be in recovery in 2025, but will potentially be building a better world - recovering in regard to economic, psychological and physical health. We probably will have another rise of populism and anti-poor and anti-foreigner sentiment unless a National Health Service-like attitude prevails for a new morality around people being humans who are deserving of humane treatment without regard and despite differences in status and origin and ethnicity and identity."

Luis Germán Rodríguez, a professor and expert on the sociotechnical impacts of innovation in education at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, wrote, "The 'new normal' will involve forced behavioral changes that are not internalized for the majority of the population. This pandemic is unprecedented for a humanity that has achieved, thanks to its technological development, degrees of mobility that are a threat to strategies necessary for containing and controlling the virus. The precarious state of information literacy in all the strata of society is a danger. Rather than creating tools in a way that allows users to solve problems as they wish, technology designers force users to think within the logic of the tools. People are becoming more reliant on digital technology, thus they need to understand how it is created, understand the motives of the technological giants that make it. People in organizations, governments, private companies of all sizes and civil society are lagging behind in understanding the role of technology in the 'new normal' and they need help mastering digital literacy. A digital emergency should be declared, similar to that decreed in the face of climate change, in order to take measures that guarantee the individual liberties of each person, including those of information and expression. ... The best thing that technology can bring to the years to come is to add transparency and auditability to its operation. Stop being a 'black box' for citizens. Rescue and preserve the individual freedom of each one and stop encapsulating people as a user-product. Technological resources, mainly those based on artificial intelligence, must guarantee the interpretability of the results they yield. This applies to developments promoted by technology companies as well as to those promoted by governments. The digital environment is consolidating as a bubble that limits the possibilities of individual development and conditions communications between humans."

Valentine Goddard, the founder and executive director of the AI Impact Alliance, which aims to facilitate an ethical and responsible implementation of AI for all humanity, said, "When confinement measures were imposed, most of us were forced to rely on digital tools for communication. Our dependence on digital tools is now higher than ever. Those who are equipped with digital capacity are pulling through, but those who aren't are losing access to basic needs and rights such as access to work, education and health care. Recent research shows that the digital divide is growing, and that will have an impact on our capacity to achieve the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). COVID-19 is highlighting the unequal distribution of resources and power in the digital economy.

"As the digital transformation is accelerated by COVID-19, the preexisting ethical, social, legal, political and economic implications of AI and big data are more critical than ever. Yet, [in] society's haste to prioritize economic recovery, AI's ethical requirements risk being overlooked. Given the current distribution of capacity and resources in AI and AI ethics, given the underrepresentation of women in AI, gender equality will take a huge step backwards. For the average woman, that would mean adapting to digital tools designed and deployed by men in all spheres of their lives (employment, economic security, well-being, civic participation). If we focus on access to work, for example, new research shows that due to COVID-19, the participation of women in the workforce has been set back 30 years already. Previous research has shown that women's jobs were more likely to be automated, and therefore replaced.

"Prospects for 2025 in those circumstances should be of high concern and a top priority for governments around the world. Meanwhile, in Big Tech - a sector that employs roughly under 15% of women in AI - profits are skyrocketing. Technology companies play an increasingly important role in everyone's lives, including our civic capacity to engage with democratic institutions. The digital divide, left unaddressed, will silence the voices of digitally illiterate citizens as well as those of entire communities who don't even have access to internet. As governments are digitizing services to citizens, their reliance on private technology companies is proportionally increasing, giving them more and more power. Not to underplay their expertise and capacity to contribute positively to society, but these are privately owned and managed for-profit organizations that suffer from a critical lack of women and diversity. There is currently no legal obligation to socialize the benefits of the data they collect. Furthermore, from startups to mid-sized businesses in AI, AI expertise is either underfunded or nonexistent. Given the current landscape of uneven access to AI, the lack of large-scale efforts to help citizens understand the implications of AI and data governance, the diversity and gender crisis in AI technology companies, the nonexistence of social impact assessment frameworks, the absence of an obligation to use AI and data to achieve SDGs, I am concerned about the increasing role of technology companies in the lives of citizens in 2025."

Gary A. Bolles, chair for the future of work at Singularity University, responded, "My worry is over the increasing power of the winner-take-all tech companies and the lack of viable competition; a venture-fueled, extractive approach to innovation that guarantees the incumbents will win, as they buy startups designed specifically to be purchased. There is a lack of collective commitment to default processes that work primarily to the benefit of humans, such as a fundamental right to data ownership and privacy. The continued dependence by many governments on legacy processes and old technology that keep them from nimble response to citizen needs is a negative. There is a lack of widespread commitment to ethics and inclusion, leading to the continuing dehumanization of technology."

Ronnie Lowenstein, a pioneer in interactive technologies, commented, "My concerns revolve around: 1) Economic distress worldwide. 2) Continued and escalating social unrest. 3) Political strife threatening democratic institutions. 4) Inadequate models of schooling. While technologies hold promise, as tools of transformation, exponential speed of change minimizes the potential benefits. It takes vision and political will to harness technologies for benefit. The lack of coordinating mechanisms among people within and across nations are negatively impacting response to [the] pandemic. We need global dialogues to create 'regenerative' collaborations institutions harnessing the collective intelligence. Emerging cyber-civilization could improve lives only if leaders apply systems thinking and foresight management in the design of policies that ensure the traditionally marginalized communities are supported with technology access, technology education and training and economic opportunities for wealth creation and sustainable, meaningful career paths. My worries are related to: 1) Ethics and privacy rights. 2) Growing impact of misinformation and inability to actually discern reality in technology doctored videos, or the truth in media. 3) The lack of critical thinking/media literacy skills in populations. Since 2009 the UN, UNESCO and U.S. Department of State recognized that without media literacy skills, our democratic institutions are threatened."

Elwyn Davies, mathematician, internet architect and consultant, observed, "Unless there is a sea change in government attitudes, it is looking increasingly likely that many of the cultural aspects of pre-COVID life will not be supported through the economic turmoil that has ensued. The creative and cultural industries are currently at the back of the queue for support. This will make the world a greyer place, and mental health will suffer. The current focus on getting the old-style, so-called 'productive industries' restarted just means sending the wage slaves back to work to ensure the that the rich keep their fortunes intact and continue to enjoy a nice life. Lower down the scale, life will be more constrained, with many jobs keeping us locked up in our homes and personal contact minimised. On the technical side, the internet will be ever more critical to how life functions. I fear also that governments will not take the opportunity to embrace a greener regeneration. Here in the UK our so-called government urges us to 'build, build, build,' but to build houses to last century's standards rather than with heavy duty insulation, low-carbon heating and with solar generation on every roof. Sorry to be so pessimistic but we seem to have been cursed with a mostly short-sighted and venal collection of leaders at this juncture."

Ryan Sweeney, director of analytics for Ignite Social Media, said, "I'm worried most about the furthering of the class divide in a country which is already sitting on a powder keg of inequality. One of the biggest changes will be in terms of working from home. Looking specifically at companies and people who can afford to work from home, the value of doing so will be redefined. The 'office' has been evolving away from tradition, as working from home becomes more commonplace. ... Pessimistically, in the 'new normal' for people who are unable to afford to work from home and have been financially harmed by the pandemic we will likely see further isolation. If it becomes commonplace for social interaction and financial transactions to happen online, those who are unable to afford high-speed internet (or even the internet in general) will continue to be left behind, furthering the class gap. Generally, I hope this pandemic and the issues it has raised within our society will lead to positive innovation as opposed to further class segregation. Hopefully as we acknowledge where technology leaves people and businesses behind we will leverage technology to solve for those predicted negative outcomes."

Tommy Johnson, a technology developer/administrator, observed, "The internet has been more and more dominated by proprietary systems. Email is probably the last protocol in use which one can use without having to agree to terms of service with some pointless third party. Even the web has been usurped by requiring that one have a signed key from a gatekeeper like Let's Encrypt. Let's Encrypt may give you a key now, but the keys they distribute are intentionally short-lived and can disappear at any time. They are as much a gatekeeper as Verisign. People could have used SIP clients instead of Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts and Microsoft Teams. But they aren't. And the final result is that participating in society while also managing to avoid the pointless rent seekers is impossible. The pandemic has changed the set of winning rent seekers, but not the fact that the public square is now under an end-user licensing agreement. Absent some unimaginable event, I cannot imagine the rent seekers being reined in."

Vince LaPiana, an information security analyst at Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute, wrote, "If we consider only the subset of people in North America, Western Europe and the economically developed countries around the world, working people who use and depend on technology may be better off, as the abrupt change to more remote working will provide this group greater flexibility in where they work, greater mobility and greater freedom of choice. It will also accelerate overseas work in places like India and China, where labor costs are significantly lower even for educated technology workers. I fear we will see a greater economic division and a worsening situation for workers outside of the technology arena, such as people in service industries. People whose service jobs align well with technology workers' needs may do well, but others will not. This economic bifurcation, if it occurs, would be socially unhealthy and disruptive for everyone, including the technology workers who, on the face of it, would be better off - but won't be, if they're living in societies with less economic equality."

Kate Klonick, a law professor at St. John's University whose research is focused on law and technology, said, "The new normal in 2025 might be better in some ways, but will mostly be worse. While working at home can be incredibly beneficial to some people, the loss of 'hallway effects' gained from business travel, daily commutes and work environments will be significant. While I believe most of the risk of COVID spread will be mitigated by 2025 so that people can generally return to 'normal' will be an ever-present fear of reemergence. I am most pessimistic about the pandemic's impact on education, from K-12 to college to professional schools, and on small businesses. I believe the models those systems function under will be the longest for recovery (close contact, indoors) and thus the most economically damaged and least likely to recover. I worry people will become out of practice with in-person interactions. I worry that rushing to certain types of technology to stop the spread of COVID, like contact tracing, will have terrible long-term effects on privacy with little benefit."

Arnaud Gahimbare, network administrator at the East African Court of Justice, commented, "The way technology is bringing services closer to individuals with minimal physical effort will increase the rate of noncommunicable diseases due to lifestyle such as obesity and related diseases. Also, technology will kill some careers, and those who will not be able to adapt to new ways of working will lose their jobs. The average person in my part of the world is mostly uneducated, a farmer, living in a rural area without electricity and water. So, for the average person in my part of the world, the new normal in 2025 will be worse. Not much will have changed in the way s/he lives. The rest of the world will be operating within a digital economy that will negatively affect the average person in my part of the world since trading will be done and decisions made with him/her not being involved and yet the consequences will follow on him/her. I hope technology will make the world smaller and services affordable and much more reachable."

Alan S. Inouye, director of the Office for Information Technology Policy at the American Library Association, responded, "In 2025, the question will be, 'What is the proper proportion of in-office workers vs. remote workers?' For many of these workers, increased flexibility will be obtained, with the possibility of hybrid models. A major revolution in the office/organization paradigm will be taking place. Those whose work is not so place-dependent, based on their human capital and expertise, and can be done via technology may well be winners. Others not. The others include most of the service workers who do the physical work to make the economy go, such as restaurant workers, brick and mortar retailers, agricultural and meatpacking workers, janitorial workers and many others. Their work is primarily tied to a place, and place may well still be compromised in 2025."

Faisal Nasr, an advocate, research scientist, futurist and professor, wrote, "If national policies fail to address the use of digital technology in all walks of life, especially ensuring access to all layers of society, then other responsible organizations - public, private, CSOs, universities and others - have to do their part in ensuring productive and fair digital technology utilization free of abuse in labor markets and mindful of people's work and meaningful contributions. ... As a professional economist since 1975 in academia and international development, I have found that the excessive emphasis on the profit motive is very dangerous, is contaminating the world and is negatively influencing democratic governance and the real role of the public sector as the conscience of society to ensure fair and inclusive economic growth and development. The private sector is very important for economic growth, but private sector institutions have to see themselves in a very different light than the past: one with a social responsibility to share the gains which stem from society, to ensure future balance and stability."

The director of an artificial intelligence research institute said, "Networked technological systems - those that we refer to when we talk about 'tech' - are tools of centralized control. The technical systems that are clustered under the banner of 'AI' require massive infrastructure, huge stores of data and elite training to produce and maintain. In the Western context such resources are only available to a handful of large tech corporations, who effectively form a monopoly. As these technologies are further threaded through sensitive domains, from COVID-19 contact tracing, to determining which students get into which schools, to deciding who goes to jail and who gets bail, to determining who gets a loan and much, much else, we are increasingly ceding control to these sensitive decisions to obscure and unaccountable companies. Because such systems are almost always developed and sold by private companies, they are hidden behind corporate secrecy, and not open to scrutiny by researchers or the public. And, when they are deployed in specific domains, frequently they are procured and implemented in secret, without robust democratic debate, or the people on whom they're used even knowing that their lives and opportunities are being shaped by 'tech.' There is nothing magical, or even necessarily competent, about these technologies. What they are particularly good at is centralizing power and helping obscure regimes of social control that accrue more power to those who already have it, while further disempowering those who don't."

Ben Grosser, associate professor of new media at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, predicted, "Governments and corporate employers will use this moment to dramatically expand computational surveillance, particularly into the home environment. Employee activity will be increasingly tracked, measured and analyzed through quantification, and this encroachment will have a significant negative effect on individual agency, happiness and safety. The divides between those who have adequate technological resources and those who don't will widen. I hope there is a renewed interest in building, deploying and adopting decentralized noncorporate infrastructure for tasks that are now provided by companies like Facebook. However, it's already an inarguable disaster that a single corporation such as Facebook holds so much personal data about nearly 3 billion humans on the planet. Such platform dominance and the perils it presents will only expand."

Brian Harvey, emeritus professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, wrote, "My friends in the computer world tend to believe that the solution to bad technology is good technology. But when it comes to the social implications of technology, I have the old-fashioned view that it's human decisions, not technological imperatives, that usually matter. Shoshana Zuboff gives the example of Google quietly abandoning the 'don't be evil' slogan when they figured out that they could make more money collecting dossiers on everyone than on search itself. It would help, for example, if rising unemployment (already underway before COVID-19 but much worse now) finally led to a worldwide guaranteed basic income - an adequate one, despite the word 'basic' in its name. Everyone is already worried about the fact that four people rule the world, answerable to no one. Well, I guess Apple isn't quite just one person, so three people and one small group. The problem is, as usual, worst in the U.S., where technology bubbles have given rise to a 'post-truth' politics that is truly frightening. But, just as in the case of fast food, the rest of the world has been eager to import the very worst things our society produces (instead of toilet paper, the only thing we do better than the rest of the world). The computerization of elections is another terrifying development."

Michael G. Dyer, a professor emeritus of computer science at UCLA expert in natural language processing, said, "I worry that, as the world becomes more virtual, companies could end up owning and controlling all our virtual 'possessions.' If you buy a physical book you can give it to someone else; not so with a virtual book. You will use someone else's software to create your virtual 'building' in which your employees meet and interact. What happens if you, for any reason, annoy the company that maintains and licenses to you that business environment? We already are seeing the incredible power that Amazon, Facebook and Google have over the businesses and people who use their software. At some point such companies will have to be broken up unless proper laws can be crafted that rein in that power. ...

"The acceleration of the already ongoing trends of robotics and virtual interactions will continue to make life worse for the poorly educated and better for the highly educated. Some form of universal basic income (UBI) will need to be implemented, hopefully coupled with the requirement that those who receive it must at the same time be acquiring educational credits. Over time, more and more people will be educated via online targeted courses with targeted certifications. Only the wealthiest will be able to afford a traditional education in which they physically gather on campuses to learn philosophy, history, science, mathematics, etc."

Annette Markham, a leading expert in digital ethics, identity in sociotechnical contexts and futures of technology, responded, "Predictive analytics and the invasion of digital tech into our personal and work lives will certainly continue. In 2025 we can expect blanket surveillance and deeply personal data collection. But this will not be without strong voices continuing to hold corporate and governmental entities accountable. We can expect that additional tragic events and unjust outcomes of predictive policing and data breaches will have helped create stronger public pushback against invasive technologies."

John Sniadowski, systems architect, predicted, "The gap between people able to work from home and those forced to go to work because their job needs physical input will widen."

As risk grows, security must also; privacy falls and authoritarianism rises

A significant number of these expert respondents argued that the health crisis spawned by the pandemic and the accompanying broader dependence people have on the internet heighten threats of criminal activity, hacks and other attacks. Some noted that optimized security solutions are likely to further reduce individuals' privacy and civil liberties. They said the mass surveillance that seemed necessary to fight the pandemic is likely to expand the opportunity for authoritarian states to silence dissent and abuse citizens' civil rights.

Michael R. Nelson, research associate at CSC Leading Edge Forum, said, "The need for better medical information (to track COVID-19 patients, for instance) may make us figure out how to properly handle digital health information - and lead us to get better, more rational privacy policies for ALL types of data. ... Governments are going to have to decide how to reconcile contradictory policy goals. One possible solution would be end-to-end encryption (and cloud services that let me encrypt my data using keys only I control). Another solution is 'data trust' or 'data unions' that store data about me and let me know who is accessing it and why. There is a lot of innovation yet to come - if governments don't insist that there is one solution for every problem, when allowing different approaches for different communities with different needs makes a lot more sense. I am excited about the 'Cloud of Things' - what happens when each of us have 50-100 networked devices helping us live easier, safer, more organized lives. But that requires networks that are reliable, ubiquitous, flexible and affordable - and interoperable. (That means a lot more than just the 5G solutions that some companies are pushing.)

"I'm also excited about the promise of big data and machine learning - if we can overcome the fear of the future and techlash that are leading to dystopian visions of a future where the Tech Titans control everyone and everything. I worry that governments are writing rules to regulate the Tech Titans and not realizing that those rules will kill the opportunities for new entrants to provide new services and compete with the established players. This is particular true in regard to copyright, privacy, the 'right to be forgotten' and hate speech. I'm also concerned that authoritarian countries will develop and export technologies for tracking their citizens - and lead to a backlash to some of the most exciting potential applications of the Cloud of Things."

Giacomo Mazzone, head of institutional relations for the European Broadcasting Union and Eurovision, commented, "The COVID-19 crisis will accelerate changes that normally would have occurred in two decades; they now very likely will happen within the next five years. If Europe will not be able to counter and resist the pressure of the internet giants and reestablish ethical and human rights-based principles in the digital world, nobody else will do it for us. Especially not China, Russia or other totalitarian states that see in this change an opportunity to replace the old-fashioned Stasi's service with more efficient and less costly apps, like Clearview. It also will be important to understand the 2020 elections in the U.S. Those with wealth will pay to protect (as much as they can) their privacy and their valuable information. The new poor will simply give their identity in exchange to access to basic services that appear to be available for free."

Jonathan Kolber, a member of the TechCast Global panel of forecasters and author of a book about the threats of automation, wrote, "I am concerned that universal surveillance will become the norm due to drastic reductions in the cost, size and mobility of sensors, and antennas, as well as the AIs that will monitor and sift through surveillance data. I expect an Orwellian model, albeit in somewhat softer form, to proliferate in China and nations under its growing influence, as well as in democracies that cannot effectively adjust to the triple pressures from a Depression, accelerating automation and environmental crises. Universal surveillance can actually become a tool for both public safety and protection of individual rights, but it will require a radical rethinking of societal design, including how that surveillance is implemented."

Alf Rehn, professor of innovation, design and management at the University of Southern Denmark, responded, "The new normal is likely to be one of insecurity - social, economic and existential. A sense of unease regarding the next crisis is likely to become a default state for many, with the attendant shortening of planning horizons. There is a risk that people will become less prone to take risks such as getting a new education or starting a new business, as the focus shifts very much to the immediate future. People will still believe in innovation and new technology, yet there is a distinct risk that there will be far less investment and support for the same, as fear drives organizations and societies to take less long-term risk and focus more on a few key areas (such as health care). The new normal might superficially look quite a lot like the old normal, just less forward-looking and risk-taking. ... The short-term benefits may be dwarfed by the long-term risks of focusing too much on things that can go to market in a 12-to-24-month span, and not enough on the research and development that might not create an impact until 10 years down the line. We need to be careful that we're not selling out the future when dealing with today. There are of course many things one could worry about - privacy, data security, the fragility of systems and so on - but the thing that worries me the most is that companies may cut down on the kind of long-term research and development that we will need in not just 2025, but in decades to come. If countries, too, abandon basic research, we may be setting up an innovation time bomb that will be felt beyond 2030 when the needed advances simply haven't emerged."

Susan Etlinger, an industry analyst for Altimeter Group, predicted, "We will never completely return to the period of relative innocence (or willful ignorance) we enjoyed before January 2020. That world is gone, and we'll need to be vigilant both from a personal and public health perspective from now on. Humans being what we are, we should expect lapses, flares and inevitable restrictions as part of our 'new normal.' As we're rapidly learning, there is no 'one and done' when it comes to novel viruses. Since the beginning of 2020, we've seen organizations accelerate their digital transformation efforts and the move to cloud computing. A few years ago this was considered innovation; now it's survival."

Seth Finkelstein, programmer, consultant and Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award winner, observed, "The potential misuse of surveillance and tracking is mind-boggling. We have many communications highly centralized in a few large corporations, location data tracked by a similar handful of large corporations and are moving towards having delivery of the necessities of life increasing under the control of some large corporations. This is all a totalitarian's fantasy toolbox. It's possible that contact-tracing infrastructure implemented to minimize spreading the virus of COVID-19 could be repurposed against spreading the virus of subversion. While this is not a new dilemma - a standing army that can defeat a foreign enemy can also potentially be used against a domestic political rival - I worry there's not comparable effort to effectively deal with the risks."

Morgan G. Ames, associate director of the University of California, Berkeley's Center for Science, Technology & Society, wrote, "Surveillance technologies and the erosion of privacy and civil liberties are already well underway and could be significantly worse all around the world by 2025. There is little incentive for technology companies, especially less high-profile but more specialized ones, to avoid close cooperation with fascist regimes around the world. While there has been a lot of focus on the role of Microsoft, Google, Apple and especially Amazon and Facebook in this already, there are many others who have avoided scrutiny in this area. I fear that there is little to stop this expansion."

William L. Schrader, an internet pioneer, mentor, adviser and consultant best known as founder and CEO of PSINet, predicted, "Privacy will be lost forever. The internet does not sleep and does not forget. People who control these firms have inordinate power now and into the future. They are quite capable of being shallow and selling out to the U.S. government, or any government. So, they will. The poor people and those who are cognitively limited will always be at a disadvantage. However, they won't be the primary targets for the theft and abuse by governments. Technology will be a mixed blessing in the future. Reread 'NineteenEighty - four.'"

Anthony Clayton, an expert in policy analysis, futures studies and scenario and strategic planning based at the University of the West Indies, said, "There will be an increased emphasis on cybersecurity, as an explosion of fraud, misinformation and fake news came with the virus. The FBI, for example, reported that COVID-19-related scams had approximately doubled the total volume of cyberfraud in the U.S. Scammers took advantage of the chaos and offered fake advice on COVID-19 to induce recipients to click on their links, which allowed them to download malware and capture personal and financial information. I worry about the extraordinary concentration of power in the hands of a tiny group of technology firms, one or two of which have shown an insouciant attitude to the various harms they were allowing, such as the use of their platforms by criminal, terrorist and extremist groups."

Jean Seaton, director of the Orwell Foundation and professor of media history at the University of Westminster, responded, "The shape of all the issues has to be struggled for by determinate political actors. Surveying the world, they don't look a promising bunch. However, there may be a new will. Similarly, the shape and use of technology will be changed by collective decisions to use it in ways that are in the collective good. Right now, the model of viral advertising is triumphant (see TikTok). It is a dreadful way to run polities, let alone international collaborations. We haven't even begun really to have the discussions about 'privacy' that we need to have. Plus, on top of another economic shock, many of the jobs that poor people all over the world do may disappear. I wouldn't want to be a dissident in 2025. The big companies cannot and are not fit to make a new political space. Meanwhile new, messy authoritarian states and old hyper-authoritarian states will use the technology without any limitation to produce compliance, satisfaction and order."

Doug Schepers, a longtime expert in web technologies and founder of Fizz Studio, wrote, "My worries are the steady erosion of privacy in the form of surveillance capitalism; the growing concentration of wealth in fewer and fewer hands, especially executives of tech companies; the decrease in empathy for others due to physical distancing and remote working and living; increasing influencing of elections via digital tools like social media deepfakes and sockpuppets."

Barry Chudakov, founder and principal of Sertain Research, commented, " It goes without saying that as we move more of our lives online, and self-presentation becomes more virtual than actual, security of identity and sensitive information will become a paramount concern. We will develop better protocols to handle these issues, but we will give up privacy to do so. Privacy will be like a luxury yacht: available only to the wealthy."

Garth Graham, a longtime leader of Telecommunities Canada, said, "The structure of international institutions that balanced global issues since World War II is disintegrating, in part because trust has largely disappeared within the connective benefits of information and communications technologies that enable globalizing structures. In 2025, what people could trust would be technologies that support self-organizing local response to local problems. In other words, a fractal organization of response to global problems, one that is distributed rather than centralizing. However, there's no sign that awareness of a need for heightened sensitivity to local conditions and ecologies can face the challenge of all the calls for a revitalization of existing sources of power."

Andrea Romaoli Garcia, an international tax lawyer active in multistakeholder activities of the International Telecommunication Union and Internet Society, wrote, "New technologies are being adopted indiscriminately, without any respect for ethics or human rights. ... We should not accept that tracking people and scanning their faces or looking inside their bodies should be the new normal. We should remember that when technology brought socioeconomic acceleration to the 21st century it also introduced new and lethal means and weapons of war. AI is advancing human health; it is also allowing drones to choose young men as military targets. For this reason, the 'new normal' reinforces our need to respect human rights and accept only ethical technology. The violation that was deemed necessary in the COVID-19 crisis should not be accepted as the definitive measure. After the COVID-19 pandemic, health protocols deserve special attention. Experienced professionals must join young professionals to build safe algorithms to assure health protocols.

"After the COVID-19 pandemic, countries with dictatorships or weak democracy have suffered from organized crime and retrocession of human rights. Corruptors plunder the public trust. Freedom of Expression is threatened as new laws are being established in some places to allow censorship. The COVID-19 pandemic has been used as an excuse to withdraw individual rights and guarantees permanently. Individual freedoms and guarantees have been violated. These are fourth-dimensional fundamental rights that, from the Fourth Industrial Revolution onwards, open the need for a sixth dimension of human rights to guarantee human security and to establish equitable justice that is reinforced by access to technologies.

"These are forgotten themes when leaders of technology companies discuss their profit plans. Just as it is illegal to trade parts of the human body, the same rule should be applied to individuals' data and their individual freedoms. If this continues to be overlooked, technology will not be beneficial to the future of humanity because individuals will be unable to experience its awards. ... Personal information is being used and multiplied infinitely. This must be tackled now for a better life in 2025 and to prevent a long economic recession. The roles of technology and technology companies in individuals' lives in 2025 are crucial to preventing the rich turning richest and the poor turning poorest."

A distinguished professor emeritus of engineering observed, "Everything that is networked is insecure. Companies are failing on security and fraud prevention. Enhanced services require access to data, but I want to have control over the ways my data are used. How can I achieve that? Technology tends to constrain my behavior by guiding it toward well-understood channels. Tech companies need to detect this effect and respond in agile ways. How can we scale personalization and flexibility? Rigidity leads to catastrophic failures (not to mention loss of customers)."

Gary A. Bolles, chair for the future of work at Singularity University, responded, "Privacy will be under much deeper strain, as governments and high-tech giants continually iterate their ability to gather data with relative impunity. ... There is a lack of collective commitment to default processes that work primarily to the benefit of humans, such as a fundamental right to data ownership and privacy."

Narelle Clark, a longtime network technology administrator and leader based in Australia, said, "I am concerned that we will see even more unreliable, insecure digital technology emerge and it will increase the risks to an already vulnerable population. People accept what is 'free' but cannot see the trade-offs they are making. The shift to 'apps' on handsets and personal computers has rendered the technology largely opaque, even to experienced and technology literate users. This means an increase in software vulnerabilities. The massive take-up of 'contactless' payment and other interactions due to the pandemic means that even people who were resistant to tracking, identity and technology-enabled theft will become more vulnerable. We will see increases in the unreliability of infrastructure due to cyberwarfare from the unstable geopolitical scene. More online theft will take place due to more desperate people - because of the economic circumstances. We will see increased human rights abuses by increasingly authoritarian and intrusive governments who will abuse the pervasiveness of technology into people's homes and lives. People may be ready to adopt contact-tracing apps during a pandemic, but these will be coupled with data mining by both governments and technology companies to increase their power and economic value. With the increase in telehealth and closed supply chains, medical technology will increasingly harvest data from unknowing populations and use it for private profit, not necessarily public good."

Fernando Barrio, a lecturer in business law at Queen Mary University of London expert in AI and human rights, commented, "In a system that takes as a given that technological development is good and that the main purpose of corporations and individuals is to maximize profits, the future is bound to be one where technology is designed and used to trample individual rights. Already privacy is almost fictional, and the right to express ideas is being manipulated. This is twisting the political processes in democracies. See examples like the last U.S. election, the Brexit referendum and many other elections in supposedly democratic countries. The combination of lack of regulation, oligopolistic IT ownership and populist governments, from the right, center and left, results in technology having an overall negative role in society's development and in individuals' lives. The rise of an Orwellian society is already a fact in certain countries, and others that are allegedly democratic are sleepwalking towards them because naive individuals are happy that they can find a recipe by simply asking a device that hears everything one says inside ones' home. Another issue, with larger impact on societal levels, is the deployment of so-called artificial intelligence to decision-making processes that affect individuals' lives, from social security decisions to criminal system ones, with an expected exponential rise of biased decisions, which would have been naturalized beforehand by the media and academia. We already see and hear the calls to not regulate AI so 'it can be fully developed.'"

The head of research at a major U.S. wireless communications trade association predicted, "Powerful institutions will use technology to control the freedom and ability of people to determine their lives, while allowing for more thorough-going surveillance and 'social ranking' to preserve power, at the cost of social and economic advance, and even long-term stability. Technology companies will be neutral players in this; simply advancing technological capabilities, by perceiving their roles as limited, apolitical entities, simply pursuing a course of technological development. Individual technologists, leaders and employees may have - and express - qualms about the potential misuse of some technological capabilities, but this will not prevent their development and deployment, although it may cause some companies to forgo involvement. Individuals and populations will remain vulnerable to the security applications of technologies for surveillance and control. Both hostile state actors and nonstate organizations (and individuals) may also use improved technological capabilities to perform terroristic attacks and hacks aimed at disrupting society and harming lives (such as the viral attacks on power companies in Eastern Europe)."

Dan McGarry, an independent journalist based in Vanuatu, wrote, "The original dream of a federated and centerless internet has more or less died. It is now well within the grasp of most nation-states to exert sufficient control over the data passing within their borders that they can consider it a sovereign sphere. The arguments in favour of leveraging this capability to fight the pandemic are in equal parts compelling and frightening. We are, alas, at a point where the machine is running at such a rate of speed that our only options are to continue accelerating or risk the whole thing breaking apart. Technology is the prime enabler of this situation. Despite the risks, however, the majority of political power brokers in the world seem content to send a succession of shocks through the system that not only threaten its smooth operation, they threaten its ability to work. We are entering a phase of global society, therefore, in which the new normal requires we deal with higher stakes than at any point since World War II. I fear collapse. It would be exceedingly hard to achieve, but some days it seems we're hell-bent on achieving it nonetheless. Better communication brings more prosperity. This a demonstrable and well-understood fact. If we don't screw the rest of it up, we will become more prosperous globally than we have ever been."

Garth Graham, a longtime leader of Telecommunities Canada, said, "Breaking up the Big Five [Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft] is not just a consumer issue, it's a human rights issue. While there is some growing awareness that the data tracks expressing the extension of the person into the online world are and should be owned by the person they describe, I don't believe that enough public consciousness of the need to express that right in law exists to provoke political action."

Tracey P. Lauriault, a professor expert in critical media studies and big data based at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, commented, "I foresee increased surveillance/dataveillance that will be rationalized under public good, public duty and public health. I foresee greater ICT solutions that will track, sort, leash, fence people more and more. The technologies may start as a public-health tool, but they will leapfrog into other areas such as in workplace, at play, during travel, in the smart home, the smart housing estate, the smart city, the digital twin and other national and international interconnected smart technologies or large social and technological systems. The rationale for the increased levels of 'observation,' 'surveillance,' 'monitoring' via registration; biometrics including facial, fingerprint, DNA and gait, UIDs, etc., will go ungoverned, as there is currently a lack of accountable, informed, technical and legal actors involved in any form of data and technological governance.

"It is for the moment laissez-faire of the companies to 'self-assess' with impact assessments and no inspection, and most decision-making is at the limited level of privacy protection and cybersecurity, which may protect an individual from harm, but the social and group privacy and implications of these technologies to control, be biased, exclude or include into the 'wrong' group are not assessed as the conversation is about innovation and efficiency.

"We have not learned to be technological citizens in our technological societies, we have not considered large social and technological systems, assemblages and ecosystems and infrastructure, and as the platform of politics and deliberation, which limits our ability to do technological citizenship. Even suggesting these ideas in some circles is to be considered as anti-progress, old school, traditionalist, impeding progress and the like. There is also no opt-out, as opting out causes suspicion; 'you must have something to hide' mentalities. There is also very little use of these technologies to liberate, but they are to control, and there is little scrutiny as to who gets control, and what social and technical biases will be encoded into these new technologies. The technologies will, of course, be reflecting the concerns of politicians, economists, existing legal frameworks and of course the companies that will profit from these.

"There will be very little deliberation that will be open and transparent in communication to the public; there will be little oversight, let alone any holding people accountable should things go wrong. Interoperability and standards are our friends, but in this case, when the ecosystem of data, software, apps, code, sensors, readers, devices, platforms, massive data storage, data brokers and geodemographers, chip manufacturers, the states, the private sector and some large alliances, interoperability becomes a foe, as there will be no workaround. Anonymity will be replaced by autonomous systems; agency by automation; heterogeneity by rule sets to sort."

Irina Raicu, a member of the Partnership on AI's working group on Fair, Transparent and Accountable AI, said, "As earlier Pew Internet studies have shown, Americans have been increasingly worried about their privacy and feeling powerless to protect their data - especially online. While most of us have been grateful for the key role that the internet has played during this time of pandemic, we have also felt forced to make some choices purely as an emergency response - choices we might not have made otherwise - about what data to share with which entities. Given the push toward contact-tracing apps, various tech tools that offer to protect people as they return to work and other surveillance technologies being deployed in the name of health or national security, and given the vast numbers of people who are losing their jobs who might therefore feel compelled to accept privacy-invasive conditions on their employment, I believe that, out of fear and a sense of lack of choice, Americans will feel even more powerless to protect their privacy.

"At the same time, state privacy laws that were passed pre-pandemic, such as the CCPA in California, might offer some protection against unfettered data collection and use. There are also efforts to pass some privacy-related federal laws, but the clashing agendas of various stakeholders might prevent their passing. We increasingly rely on technology to keep us safe, keep us connected, keep us employed. The lines between data collected by private companies and data collected or used by governments was already blurry; it is getting even more so now that data-sharing is seen as one way to combat the pandemic and its related challenges. Given ongoing justified concerns about data that is purportedly collected for one purpose but then used for others, it is hard to know what the role of technology and technology companies will ultimately be. 'Tech for good' might be repurposed in ways that no one anticipated."

Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond, entrepreneur and longtime participant in the activities of ICANN and IGF, responded, "This is a significant time for change: Whilst populations are focused on survival (in the economic sense) in light of COVID-19, some significant geopolitical moves are happening: 1) Tightening of the internet's control - touted as needed for cybersecurity. 2) Erosion of privacy - touted as a process needed to track COVID-19 cases. 3) Political advancement on a global context - mainly by China - as a strategic move forward. None of these processes is good for the public nor for democracy as a whole. In 2025, the new normal is a world that has moved from 'relative freedom' to 'managed freedom.'"

Cliff Lynch, director at the Coalition for Networked Information and adjunct professor at the University of California, Berkeley, commented, "What has changed here is that there's a new nexus between tracking and surveilling of people (and self-surveilling) and the perceived public interest in doing this to help enable things like contract tracing (and, perhaps, quarantines). The more panicked the public gets during the pandemic, the more leadership may choose to normalize and enforce the adoption of these tools which will also enable lots of extra data collection by technology companies and government. It feels like the boundaries between corporations and government are getting very porous again, in much the same way as it happened after 9/11. Both collect huge amounts of data on everyone, and it's being passed back and forth freely with little transparency or oversight of the process. It is summer of 2020, and I am watching the not-much-discussed nexus of citizen reporting via cellphone, security video, facial recognition, cellphone tracing and the identification and potential prosecution of protesters and looters in the recent unrest.

"The federal government has come a long way in its ability to track and surveil since the days when it tried to identify and watch protesters against the Vietnam War. During the pandemic an assortment of technologies have gained ground that I can only describe as disgusting. They should probably be banned or intensively regulated; organizations that adopt them need to do some very serious soul-searching about what they're doing. Two poster children: remote-examination proctoring systems in education and systems that allow employers to monitor and track employees working at home. There are doubtless numerous others.

"One other thing I wonder about: I think many people are exhausted and frustrated at the tech vendors' heady pace of planned obsolescence, of gratuitous and unnecessary disruption and change for change's sake. They are inflicting this on their consumers. It's costly, not just in terms of the expense of replacing products that are still working well, but even more so in terms of time and disruption. In today's world, people are depending on products to work reliably, and to continue to work. It's harder to get support and help. There's going to be a lot less money for useless upgrades, and people have much less time to waste on this. Is there going to be a recalibration on this in the vendor community, and are consumers going to vote with their dollars in support of this recalibration?"

Perry Hewitt, an executive with Ithaka, wrote, "As a society, we (including myself!) have made the decision to trade privacy for convenience. As technology becomes more ubiquitous and systems potentially interoperable (what are my Whole Foods app and my Withings scale telling Blue Cross Blue Shield about my health status?), this trade-off is increasingly dangerous. The ability to monitor and surveil as corporations and governments is largely unchecked, in part because of the lack of tech savvy of lawmakers involved in public policy."

Melissa R. Michelson, a professor of political science at Menlo College, observed, "The more of our lives that is online, the more possibilities there are for data-gathering about our private lives, and of course the more vulnerable we are to hacking, to identity theft and to fraud. Large social media companies do not have good track records on these issues; if we are conducting more of our lives online, then there are more possibilities for misuse of our personal data and of negative impacts on individuals."

Charles M. Ess, a professor of media studies at the University of Oslo expert in information and computing ethics, said, "There is an ongoing shift towards what Habermas identified decades ago as 'the colonization of the lifeworld' by the market logic of capitalism, both directly and indirectly (i.e., as more and more people seem incapable of thinking about values and relationships in anything other than market terms of competition and profit). Both governments and the tech giants will continue to push for intruding technologies in the name of greater efficiency, including surveillance tracking of the virus and its inevitable successors, as well as marketing claims of greater fitness, well-being, etc. Profit through data collection is a powerful engine and one difficult to resist much less regulate . ...

"The forces in favor of greed, individual 'success' (whatever the cost to others), and corporate profit/socialism are very strong and now very deeply embedded in the political institutions and mindset of very large numbers of people. So long as the latter prevail, well-being - which I understand in classic virtue ethics terms as the consequence of cultivating a number of capacities and habits ('virtues') that foster communication, deep relationships, long-term commitments to both self and others, and the pursuit of a sense of contentment (eudaimonia) that goes beyond the simple pleasures of conspicuous consumption - will be out of reach for most people. ... Life will be much more about the struggle for economic survival - survival that will be more precarious and hence push more and more people to accept invasion and control. As a few commentators have argued, surveillance capitalism is closely analogous to medieval societies. Worst case: A few will be the very grand and wealthy lords and ladies (e.g., 'the billionaire kings' such as Jeff Bezos, as but one example of tens of thousands) and hundreds of millions will be the equivalent of unwilling serfs and peasants, thoroughly trapped in highly sophisticated technological systems and economic/legal arrangements favoring the well to do - systems of all but unbreakable control and repression."

The director of a business consultancy predicted,"Expect the hacking world to become many times more dangerous, and that may be the biggest worry of all. We won't be able to tell if it is a single hacker who brings down the power grid or launches a rocket or if it was some government actor. The political dialogue around whatever happens is no longer trustworthy. When there is no trust in tech - we will find ways to destroy it. The tech companies will increasingly be blamed for their failings. All are based on manipulation of large-scale exchanges. Some are more open than others to outside abuse. All have a concentration of information that can be leveraged. All either are regulated or have a regulated compact that protects their position. All communications have a 'charge,' whether monetary or included in the information. Government is far, far behind. The systems are all broken or managed by outside contractors and thus, again, set up in the interest of generating profit and power for a few rather than for the betterment of all."

Susan Ariel Aaronson, a research professor of international affairs expert in digital governance and human rights, responded, "People will be more dependent on technology, but trust it less. I hope that someone will develop 'privacy as a service' and 'security as a service.' Moreover, a national data-protection law may be a fantasy. There are other ways to encourage companies to protect privacy, including mandating that they are transparent about how they do it, how much they spend and how they have failed."

John Harlow, smart cities research specialist at the Engagement Lab @ Emerson College, said, "Contact tracing will likely see an explosion of international activity. Some innovations will be useful beyond COVID and may help fight other diseases. Some will be dark and become permanent surveillance architecture. ... I worry about the amount of data generated about an individual and how it can coalesce into a cross-referenced profile across sources, i.e., simplicity of tying government data to mobile phone data to hacked purchase data to society-scale, real-time gait and facial (and other) recognition across widespread public-surveillance video feeds."

Simeon Yates, a professor of digital culture at the University of Liverpool and the research lead for the UK government's Digital Culture team, wrote, "Tech is not something that has singular impacts, good or ill. Where it will help is in managing COVID-19 - though it might come at the cost of privacy (see the failed UK virus app)."

Marcin Cieślak, a futurist based in Europe, said, "My worries are more surveillance technologies. I am afraid we will take the silent acceptance of the surveillance technology to the next level."

Steve Jones, professor of communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago and editor of New Media and Society, commented, "The obvious worries include surveillance, privacy and data rights. Nothing really new here. I suspect we'll have the same worries then as we do now, with the possible addition of concerns regarding skin electronics and vehicle security."

Michael G. Dyer, a professor emeritus of computer science at UCLA expert in natural language processing, responded, "The trend toward loss of privacy will continue because without laws to force that all communication and resulting data be highly encrypted, more and more of everyone's life will become less and less private. This is a 'natural' consequence of virtuality. Without legalized encryption, consider a tiny portion of a virtual day: I attend any type of virtual meeting: Everything I saw and heard at that meeting can be captured and stored digitally, for some authority (or hacker) to later analyze at leisure. If I wore a virtual suit, then authorities would be able to know also everything I have felt during those virtual interactions."

Paul Epping, chairman and co-founder of XponentialEQ and keynote speaker on exponential change, wrote, "Cybercrime will jeopardize vital systems in our societies, including electricity, water and communication. Sensors will flood the world, measuring whatever you can think of, including our bodies. It is not clear who will own the data, nor what the analyses might be and what the results of that will do to us. We will face big control issues that will lead to political instability. The growing dependency on digital technology will create a paradise for hackers, so cybersecurity will be one of the top priorities, costing society trillions. It can eventually evolve into a 'symmetrical escalation war' between AI and ML and less control by humans because we can't oversee the entire spectrum anymore."

Wendy M. Grossman, a UK-based science writer, author of "" and founder of the magazine The Skeptic, said, "I'm hoping less for actual tech changes than for changes in our response to technology changes. I'd like to see us be more thoughtful both as individuals and as a society about the technology we adopt and how we let it permeate our lives. Surveillance capitalism is possible partly because companies take advantage of us, but partly because of weak regulation and a social and educational failure to push back against it. The early promise of the internet was a decentralized system in which millions of small businesses flourished. Increasingly, we have built a highly centralized system that supports mass surveillance. This is the structure we are transferring into the physical world via the Internet of Things, smart cities, connected cars, algorithmic decision-making and robots. Often, adoption of these technologies is proceeding against what most people would want. I'm thinking of real-time, automated facial recognition, for example - airports and police forces don't ask public opinion before running trials or adopting the technology. There is loss of choice and autonomy and the loss of anonymity. Increasingly, every transaction - financial or personal - is being intermediated. People talk to their friends and Facebook takes a slice; they pay for a newspaper article and Apple takes a slice - and in both cases the data gathered is then repackaged, resold and repurposed. There is a lot wrong with Europe's GDPR but it is a valid attempt to restore the balance of power between these large, remote corporations and individuals."

Randall Mayes, an analyst at TechCast Global, observed, "Using an AI/deep learning analogy, the nodes are economic development, international competitiveness and the social impacts. China, Europe and the United States weigh the value of these nodes differently. For similar situations in the future, policymakers and businesses will not have to start from scratch in working with supply chains, medical responses and economic safety nets, rather they will have case studies for what works effectively. Each sector of the economy will experience transformations that enable it to perform more efficiently. Individuals who understand these changes and are prepared for them will become better off. One worry: Individual private data doesn't have economic value, but, collectively, private data does. Without a mechanism for compensation to individuals, technology companies will reap the economic benefits. Once possible solution is blockchain/Etherium which utilizes smart contracts and micropayments to individuals. Several companies are proposing placing electronic health records and our genomes in accounts where we can sell our data directly to pharmaceutical companies and bypass middlemen (tech companies)."

Chris Savage, an expert in legal and regulatory issues based in Washington, D.C., predicted, "Remote work will be part of the new normal. It is much easier to engage in surveillance of what employees are doing when more of what they do is mediated by computers/the internet. Therefore, I suspect that overall privacy will be degraded as a result of these changes."

Leiska Evanson, futurist and consultant, wrote, "People will not change their current online behaviours regarding the ways in which data privacy is balanced against their need to socialise. After a period of protected quarantines, lockdowns and illness, they will lean more on social media to stay connected, with less concern that their data is a commodity. Only if the service requires payment will users care, as this type of contract is well-known to be legally binding vs. free use still requiring due diligence, e.g., a bank or Amazon breach vs. Facebook selling data to third parties."

Maja Vujovic, a consultant for digital and ICT at Compass Communications, commented, "The idea of personal data protection will not only take a hit, it will have to be sacrificed altogether. Identity certification may get relegated to a consortium of big tech companies, based on their existing profiling data ownership, via social media and subscription data, in lieu or in support of state-certified identities."

Threats to work will intensify from automation, artificial intelligence, robotics and globalization

A share of these experts concentrated their concerns on the future of work. They predicted a number of things to happen in the coming years: In order to survive, businesses are reconfiguring systems and processes to automate as many aspects as possible. While artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will enhance some lives, they will damage others as more work is taken over by machines. Employers may outsource labor to the lowest bidder globally. Employees may be asked to work for far less; they may have to shift to be gig and contracting workers, supplying their own equipment, and they may be surveilled at home by employers.

Gary A. Bolles, chair for the future of work at Singularity University, predicted, "A much higher percentage of people will work at least part of the week in non-office environments. Many workers will have 'portfolios of work,' a variety of work activities including a day job, gig work and startup activity. While this will encourage more variety and fluid relationships with hirers, it will also create more economic uncertainty and precarity for many. Many businesses will have accelerated their use of a range of enterprise technologies - from implementing digital nonhuman labor such as software bots to utilizing skills banks - to manage their increasingly fluid organizations. More workers and teams will use AI-fueled tools to help them coordinate and collaborate more effectively. Education will become significantly unbundled, with a range of learning contexts beyond traditional schooling.

"My hope is for a human-centric world that requires new technologies to be designed for the benefit of people, with penalties for what used to be considered negative externalities. Software will help humans to better understand, develop and augment their skills and help them find and create a broader range of work opportunities. Hirers will embrace software-fueled strategies to ensure that workers in nonstandard work roles will have many of the same rights as full-time employees, such as unbundled benefits and reliable shift work. As a result, high-tech and other companies will stop depending on nonstandard workers as a fungible commodity. Organizations will shift to a 'NetWork' model that maximizes the human potential of all their stakeholders, in a range of different work relationships with the organization. Teams will have the tool set that will allow them to dynamically and rapidly bond around problems to solve."

David Cake, an active leader of ICANN's Non-Commercial Users Constituency, said, "One significant worry is that companies may take advantage of an increasingly online workplace to use globalisation and informally set hours to continue to push workers towards increasingly economically uncertain and precarious employment. Some employers may try to shift costs towards workers using private equipment, taking on both expenses and liability and increasing economic divides. Another worry is that as employers unused to remote working in their industry use it more they will begin to make increasing use of surveillance techniques on their workers, and this surveillance and control may become increasingly intrusive into workers' homes."

Barry Chudakov, founder and principal of Sertain Research, responded, " Individuals' personal and professional lives will merge. Work (performed online) and personal presentation (also performed online) will resemble each other, even become interoperable. Employment, having a job, will become increasingly STEM-dependent. For the rest, jobs will become scarce as the COVID pandemic gives employers plausible deniability to downsize. All workers' roles will continue to morph into some manner of tool manipulation and enhancement - creating software and hardware or robotics that support some aspect of the mirror world - while employee loyalty to a company diminishes or vanishes as employees become brands that are bought and sold like toothpaste. In effect, much of the economy becomes a gig economy while self-branding becomes as essential as a seatbelt. Economic security will be available only to those who can repeatedly adapt to multiple simultaneous accelerations and self-brand as they do so. This will affect our individual and collective sense of well-being since many will be unable to successfully adapt and reconfigure their careers and lives."

Seth Finkelstein, programmer, consultant and Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award winner, observed, "The key point is that the pandemic has decreased labor's power with respect to capital. When that's combined with extensive damage to the economy, the average person is going to be worse off. A major factor has been accelerating the winner-take-all trend of monopolistic corporations dominating their markets, thus away from jobs protected by unions. Now, there is a section of the professional class, the 'knowledge worker,' which may benefit somewhat on the whole. There's more online work, and greatly increased demand for more support of technological infrastructure. This group includes pundits, and hence basically everyone responding to this survey. However, it's a relatively small slice of all workers overall. Small businesses which are replaced with low-wage, no-benefits delivery jobs will not be nearly as well represented in media stories about employment changes. The pandemic has accelerated the long-standing trend for professionals to do telecommuting, internet meetings and similar. But it's made life literally much more dangerous for work which is not information-based, i.e., manufacturing where one must be in a factory or services which need to be done in person. This is another factor producing further stratification of society and dangerous levels of inequality."

Michael G. Dyer, a professor emeritus of computer science at UCLA expert in natural language processing, said, "COVID-19 will accelerate the trend toward more robotics (they can't get sick). Is this better or worse? It will obviously be worse for those who lose jobs in meat-processing plants or in warehouses but will be a benefit to shareholders and the public at large."

Benjamin Grosof, chief scientist at Kyndi, a Silicon Valley startup aimed at the reasoning and knowledge representation side of AI, wrote, "There is tremendous opportunity for the increased concentration of military power - including police power and political power - in the hands of a very small number of people due to the potential for effective surveillance and physical control, by using AI (e.g., facial recognition and integrated data analysis) and drones (e.g., to track, drug or kill). This is an unprecedented challenge for the whole world. It will start playing out in some nations over the next five years as well as beyond that for the next several decades. There is an urgent need for governments to make their 'default setting' a policy of strong privacy for individuals - including in shopping and communicating - rather than the current policy which results typically in cognitively burdensome, confusing and overall weak choices and protections about privacy."

Dan S. Wallach, a professor in the systems group at Rice University's Department of Computer Science, observed, "To look for dystopian aspects of technology in 2025, we can look for them today. One example is Amazon's invasive monitoring of its warehouse workers' productivity. It's easy to predict this sort of close monitoring stretching to all sorts of disciplines, ranging from farm labor through any of a variety of office tasks. Inevitably, that will come with pushes to 'optimize' productivity, creating stress and burnout. Relatively few workers will have the luxury of working at their own pace. Needless to say, more-invasive monitoring implies issues with privacy. If every conversation happens through a computer, will there still be a place for 'private' conversations? Will it be possible to separate one's personal life from one's professional life? It's easy to see concerns for people who have reason to hide their whereabouts (e.g., victims of spousal abuse)."

Rosalie Day, a policy leader and consultancy owner specializing in system approaches to data ethics, compliance and trust, commented, "In 2025, the pandemic will have caused the widening wealth gap to be hastened. American society will stratify a little differently with respect to who gains and who loses. Employment will mostly be better for the last half of Millennials through college graduates in 2020. Employers will cite experience with remote access, gamification and general economic malaise as further reason to cut total salaries. Older Millennials and Generation X will be lumped together as being too expensive. This will result in even more ageism and increased AI-driven ageism, and the 'out' generations' fortunes will fall even further. Retired Boomers who have good retirements will continue to have good retirements because the capital markets will still be driven by corporate boards that look like much they do today; and further, the same incentives will apply. The Boomers who have inadequate financial reserves who have stayed at home during the virus due to health risk will not be rehired. Their places will be filled with adults in their 20s who are not college graduates. Who knows the impact of the virus on anyone younger than 22 today? Every month without teachers who inspire will be a net negative. I can imagine productivity leveling off because the gains of machine learning and deep learning will be a wash or swamped by the losses of experienced middle managers and specialists. Since most data scientists surveyed say that decision makers at their companies do not use their evidence to support important decisions, data will continue to be artificially valued. I expect reinvention of the wheel, or the not-well-founded conventional wisdom of consultants who have never worked in large organizations (for example, McKinsey's open-office floor plans to 'increase collaboration') to be prevalent."

Beth Noveck, director, NYU Governance Lab and its MacArthur Research Network on Opening Governance, said, "Especially with the need for social distancing, I am very concerned that more companies will turn to the use of AI-based recruitment, interviewing and selection tools to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of hiring. Many of these tools perpetuate systemic bias by, for example, comparing new applicants to existing employees or creating arbitrary scoring mechanisms that serve to disadvantage diverse candidates, leading to discriminatory practices. In all arenas, I am concerned that the move to more life online as a result of the pandemic could lead to greater surveillance and abuse of personal privacy and private information by the tech companies providing us the platforms we now need to work and learn."

Katie McAuliffe, executive director for Digital Liberty, wrote, "In terms of employment, contract, gig and distance-based positions will become more important, and large employers will need to learn how to manage without micromanaging a dispersed workforce. The industries and individuals who adapt to this environment will be better off. I imagine a new type of economy will emerge - like the app economy after the introduction of the iPhone - but I don't know what that might look like. Automation has likely received a bit of a jolt, but humans will still need to maintain oversight and quality control - this makes us better off preventing injuries and creating distance but does decrease some job availability. Individual tutoring online will likely supplant or augment much of teaching, especially if schools don't start teaching coding. Learning to code early on will make people better off in terms of employment options."

Benjamin Shestakofsky, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, observed, "The most vulnerable workers are most likely to see their privacy, well-being and economic security threatened by digital technologies. I fear that employers will continue to use technology to intensify work and subject workers to new systems of surveillance and control in ways that will jeopardize their well-being and economic security. Barring legislative and regulatory changes, low-wage workers will continue to be most vulnerable to these changes."

Jonathan Kolber, a member of the TechCast Global panel of forecasters and author of a book about the threats of automation, said, "More and more work functions will be automated by robots and AIs, reducing the need for human workers. This, coupled with the economic Depression I expect from COVID-related effects on hospitality, entertainment, transportation, retail, restaurant and other service industries, will create increasing pressure for a viable and sustainable universal basic income (UBI) such as Michael Haines' market-oriented UBI proposal."

Chris Savage, an expert in legal and regulatory issues based in Washington, D.C., wrote, "More remote work will lead to significant contraction in commercial real estate (who needs a full-time office?) and less business travel, even when fear of infection has passed. This in turn will lower employment in those sectors."

Erhardt Graeff, a researcher expert in the design and use of digital technologies for civic and political engagement, commented, "The economic churn emerging from this pandemic is displacing workers across several industries. They will not return to pre-pandemic levels. We will see continued growth in consumers' appetites for online shopping, which will be matched by technological and logistical changes that will erase even more jobs. This workforce revolution will not see sufficient retraining or redistribution of jobs by 2025, meaning long-term unemployment for many and worse outcomes. Even if governments are able to increase their social safety nets to keep folks at a baseline standard of living, mental health problems from the trauma of the pandemic as well as from the loss of meaningful employment and concomitant losses of one's purpose and sense of self will mean post-pandemic life will be worse on average. I worry that governments and society will be on the hunt for silver bullets and put their faith in technology companies to produce 'solutions' for the complex challenges we are facing individually and collectively. Misplaced hope in this approach will delay work on structural changes necessary to actually address the social and economic upheaval wrought by the pandemic."

Richard Salz, senior architect at Akamai Technologies, responded, "My worry is that global society will get more divided into the digital haves, who can and do work from home or otherwise remotely, and the (for lack of a better word) essential workers who are the plebians on the backs of whom society will be built. And further, that the divide will grow. The gap between online and real-world workers will increase, so much so that it is unlikely to be bridgeable."

John Laird, professor of engineering at the University of Michigan, said, "For some workers, the new normal will be more remote work, but for many, remote work will still be impossible. There will be a push for increased automation, so one result will be an acceleration (not sure how much) of replacing many jobs. There will be an addition of new jobs, but they will probably be jobs requiring higher education/skill levels, making upward mobility more difficult."

Kate Carruthers, chief data and insights officer at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, wrote, "Unless we can come up with new solutions like universal basic income, life for many people will be worse. Post-COVID economic recovery will be challenging and many jobs and businesses will disappear. In the U.S. there seems to be a real risk of unemployment, food shortages and civil disturbances into 2025. I expect to see a greater bifurcation of society - with those knowledge workers who remain employed consuming increasing amounts of digital services and online shopping - while those who are not part of the knowledge economy are increasingly gig workers in precarious employment. For knowledge workers, going to the office will become a choice and improvements in virtual meeting technologies will continue and make remote working even more possible. Privacy will increasingly be under threat unless specific jurisdictions regulate it. This includes facial recognition and other biometric data. Increasingly biometrics will become part of the authentication and access regime. Digital government services will continue to expand - except in the U.S., where they seem to lag."

Gus Hosein, executive director of Privacy International, based in the UK, predicted, "Jobs will take a while to recover. Industry will seek to cut costs through automation (not just robotics) and ignoring regulation as it gets rewritten (e.g., travel regulation may remove the hub-and-spoke system). ... The reduction of people's jobs to logistics and distribution without economic and well-being security is an alarming trend that could be further enabled with the direction of innovation."

Michael Froomkin, professor of law at University of Miami Law School expert in legal and policy issues relating to new technologies, commented, "Robots will take over categories of unskilled and semi-skilled jobs. This will reduce the misery of doing those jobs but creates a risk of both short-run (skill mismatch) and long-run unemployment. AI and sensors will be used by governments for all sorts of repressive sorting. Tech companies will happily sell them the tools to do it."

Melissa R. Michelson, a professor of political science at Menlo College, responded, "The new normal will mean more children will be attending school either online or in a hybrid format, which means more parents and other caregivers will have to devote their time to supervising those children. This will impact their ability to do their jobs, and especially will reduce the ability of women - who are most likely to bear the brunt of this effect - to work and succeed in their careers. The new normal will mean individuals who are able to work remotely, which is likely to include people at higher levels of the socioeconomic spectrum, will have more income and job security and less chance of getting infected; those who are 'essential workers,' including delivery people, grocery employees and also staff in health care situations such as dental hygienists and staff and front office workers, in addition to doctors and nurses, will be more likely to have their jobs impacted and to contract the virus. The bottom line is that people who have the ability to use technology to remotely do their jobs will have better outcomes; those who are on the wrong side of the 'digital divide' and have less access to reliable Wi-Fi or have to share devices with household members will be more adversely affected. The gap in technology that separates people but was hidden because the gap is usually in their homes will become starker and more important."

Alexandra Samuel, technology writer, researcher, speaker and regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal and Harvard Business Review, said, "A worst-case scenario is that the shift to remote work turns into an engine of greater digital surveillance. Companies may trust senior managers to work from home, but too many organizations are responding to remote work by implementing various tools and mechanisms for ensuring workers are 'really' working - even if that just means scheduling back-to-back video meetings so that they know employees are occupied from 9 to 5. Such mechanisms are a self-defeating strategy (employees will be much more effective and productive if they're trusted, empowered and encouraged to structure their days in a way that is personally sustainable), but they may nonetheless take hold. If so, this will not only degrade the quality of working life, it will also further inure people to the supposed inevitability of digital surveillance, thereby opening the door to the further invasion of privacy by both businesses and governments."

Perry Hewitt, an executive with Ithaka, commented, "We will need both public policy and industry norms to prevent corporations from creating a virtual panopticon that prizes presence over performance. For blue-collar workers, policy protections are critical."

Jon Stine, executive director of the Open Voice Network, wrote, "As is currently evident in K-12 education, the digitally centric life that has been accelerated by the pandemic (remote working-shopping-entertaining) will further deepen the economic and digital divide. The hourly-wage (often entry-level) jobs lost during the pandemic (retail, hospitality) will come back only partially, and slowly. In retail, the closure of stores and shopping centers will result in significant job loss; in hospitality and entertainment, some 75%-80% of the jobs will ultimately return, but only slowly."

Tammy Katsabian, a labor and technology researcher doing postdoctoral work at Harvard Law School, said, "I'm afraid that technology will be used to increase surveillance both in the private life of a person as well as in her work life. More workers will be working from home (as part-time or full-time teleworkers) and will enjoy greater flexibility. Alongside that, however, they will also suffer from constant supervision by their employers. Employers will use AI to vet whether the worker is working in every concrete minute, the efficiency of the worker, etc. I'm also afraid that due to this international crisis that we are currently facing, the unemployed percentages will increase, mostly for unskilled workers. These workers cannot find any comfort in technology. They might have new positions that include constant work with a robot (such as in warehouses) - but the salary will be poor, they will not have any real connections with the other colleagues and the work will be boring and repetitive. This situation is not deterministic. It can be different, but if we want it to be different - we have to 'reclaim' technology and think about creative ways to use it to increase workers' participation, voices and rights in the workplace context. We can use technology as an instrument to ensure greater participation of workers at the workplace. We can use it to conduct online ballots, for instance, on decisions that are related to the workers' work-life and conditions. The legal system has to be an integral part of this process. Workers' participation should be an essential part of any professional or economic decision that influences the workers (i.e., most of the ongoing decisions) by the law. To make this all processes more accessible and more productive, we need to use technology. I worry over the lack of social responsibility among tech developers. It seems as tech companies do not take into account the influence their product will have on human rights and workers' rights."

Doris Marie Provine, emeritus professor of justice and social inquiry at Arizona State University, responded, "I hate the thought of tech helping promote American workaholism at the top through 24-hour availability requirements and productivity measures, and at the same time leave much of the rest of the workforce without meaningful employment. I'd like to see tech embraced to eliminate truly awful jobs, like picking fruit in hot weather or searching for explosives in war zones. Achieving full employment will be a significant problem. Not everyone's brain is wired for coding, and we have a lot of folks who don't really appreciate education - adjusting realistically to human limitations in finding work, and making non-technological work rewarding and meaningful are challenges that we are not very well-prepared to meet. I worry that the American educational system and Americans are not well prepared for the resilience needed to 'keep up' with technological developments."

Paul Epping, chairman and co-founder of XponentialEQ and keynote speaker on exponential change, predicted, "We will see a 20-hour (or less) workweek, leading to less income and more spare time that has to be organised. This may lead to further global instability and, because the mindset of the human nature is still backwards, this may lead to wars."

The manager of a project focused on enhancing digital life said, "I expect a diversification of employment to remote modalities, as people will want to have a revenue stream that is less contingent on physical presence, which will lead to stratification, since not everyone will have time, education or bandwidth to develop alternate jobs. Being able to 'go digital' will be much more critical, and those whose jobs must be in-person will be far more vulnerable. ... A growing role for bandwidth as a critical resource to participate in the global economy, but it still being unequally distributed, heightening general inequality. There will be an increasing concentration of both monopoly and monopsony power in the hands of only a few companies, combined with further weakening of organized labor, and the effective irrelevance of government and collective action with real-world effect, leaving functional decisions in the hands of a few large companies, which will nevertheless be operating at Dunbar-number human scales with respect to their decision making, meaning that the levers of power will be able to change the world, but in all-too-fallible hands. As E.O. Wilson has said, modern civilization and humanity are characterized by paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, and god-like technology. That anyone whose skills don't transfer to digital/online will be systematically devalued or trapped at the lower end of the economic scale. Massage therapy or in-person athletic coaching or teaching, trash removal, construction, etc., don't scale and can't go online."

Misinformation will be rampant

Many of these experts have worried in recent years about the impact of misinformation on people's trust and their confidence in democratic institutions. In this canvassing, their concerns take a dark turn. The pessimists now argue that digital propaganda is unstoppable. They worry about its ongoing impact as the rapidly expanding weaponization of cloud-based technologies divides the public, deteriorates social cohesion and threatens rational deliberation and evidence-based policymaking.

Bernie Hogan, senior research fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, said, "Digital and computational propaganda is likely to continue to be an issue as long as profit-making enterprises are in charge of mediating our relationships to each other. Using the lowest-cost solution to receiving information is like trying to stay informed using only free newspapers from a city street corner - saturated with ads and cynical and sensationalist. Governments around the world are cracking down on arms-length national broadcasters like BBC and PBS while at the same time enabling corporate media. When people say defeatist statements like 'you just can't tell anymore,' they are really saying they are exhausted by having to cut through the noise. But I only see it getting noisier."

Thus, the new normal will encompass refereeing a facts-scrum: truth, lies, distortions, assertions, contradictory information, datasets, data streams from emerging technologies, analyses - all vying for our embrace and attention. This will foster a new media literacy, including a 'truth valuation' set of protocols, which will serve as a reality foundation and foster resiliency to organized disinformation.
Barry Chudakov, founder and principal of Sertain Research

Barry Chudakov, founder and principal of Sertain Research, commented, "Inflating our identity through the trick mirror of social media will further distort presentation of self in everyday life, as verification of selfhood, information integrity, and fact accuracy become issues of paramount importance. We will find ways to verify our identities and seek to avoid those who are not who they say they are; we will struggle with factfulness, the antidote to global ignorance. With problems waxing even more complex, and invasive technologies such as facial recognition or predictive policing advancing to esoteric levels, we will be forced to address pressing issues using verifiable facts - otherwise democratic institutions will not survive. Thus, the new normal will encompass refereeing a facts-scrum: truth, lies, distortions, assertions, contradictory information, datasets, data streams from emerging technologies, analyses - all vying for our embrace and attention. This will foster a new media literacy, including a 'truth valuation' set of protocols, which will serve as a reality foundation and foster resiliency to organized disinformation. This 'truth valuation' is necessary because we are moving from the real world to the meta summation of the real world - a mirror world - brought to us virtually on screens where distortions and untruths can easily slip past our five senses, which we no longer use solely as world navigation tools."

John Harlow, smart cities research specialist at the Engagement Lab @ Emerson College, wrote, "The role of technology in undermining democracy is my largest worry. As long as we are creating radicalization and conspiracy bubbles at scale, social media companies will remain massive threats to the stability of societies. Who mediates this? Who decides which technologies the public is offered? Who decides what tech companies affect which individuals' lives? Governments make many of these decisions, and from the Chinese Communist Party to ICE under Trump to [Philippine President Rodrigo] Duterte's recent anti-terrorism law, the world seems to be steadily slipping from the remains of Reagan-Thatcherism into a more authoritarian era, empowered by technology-based government tracking of ever more individual activity."

Alex Halavais, associate professor of critical data studies, Arizona State University, commented, "The question of misinformation has been central to the ability to battle the pandemic and it is likely responsible for the deaths of many Americans. I think this is the most concerning technological question of the decade: What are the systems that can help us to better assure that misinformation is abated and credible information is more widely spread? Relatedly, platform owners have entered into a new era in which they are being held accountable for allowing misinformation to propagate on their platforms. This remains an unsettled issue, but between now and 2025 there will be significant regulatory changes that may address these issues - but given the complexities involved, this is likely to be a fraught and contentious set of issues."

Marcel Fafchamps, professor of economics and senior fellow at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford University, wrote, "My main concern is the rise of the bots and their use for social control. When people get segmented into small disparate communities - i.e., virtual villages that, with work-from-home, will turn into actual residential villages - it will be easier to control them, e.g., by pitting communities/identities against each other. And we have seen how easy it is to manipulate opinion and behaviors online. ... News has to be curated, whistleblowing has to be mediated, we need a strong media now more than ever - not a never-ending rumor mill. I am sure cavemen already had rumor mills. We deserve better, especially when rumors can spread across 8 billion people in a few hours."

Peter Levine, professor of citizenship and public affairs at Tufts University, said, "I hope we might see a social media platform grow to global scale with a business model that allows it to avoid the deep flaws of the current platforms. And I worry that deepfakes may make truth almost impossible to ascertain. Democracies have vulnerabilities that may be increasingly attractive to their enemies, both internal and external. Authoritarian states can monitor citizens (and overseas populations) more effectively with tools like facial recognition. We could see the first real cyberwar, with severe physical consequences."

danah boyd, founder and president of Data & Society Research Institute and Microsoft principal researcher, commented, "Because of COVID, people are paying a lot more attention to how data can be twisted for political purposes. I am hopeful that this will result in strengthening of data infrastructure. ... People are getting serious about placing political pressure on tech companies to not amplify hate, racism and harassment. We're not even close to a good solution here, but I'm hopeful that we might see some serious regulatory interventions in the coming years."

Henning Schulzrinne, Internet Hall of Fame member and former chief technology officer for the Federal Communications Commission, said, "I worry that if the U.S. and other countries succumb to right-wing populism and become illiberal democracies they will find social media platforms helpful to stoke resentments and retain power. Perhaps at least some of the technology companies may enter an implicit bargain where they design their platforms to support the government in exchange for avoiding antitrust and other regulations or being exposed to unfavorable tax treatment."

Valerie Bock, lead at VCB Consulting and former lead at Q2 Learning, wrote, "Bad actors seeking to sow division have weaponized the attention economy. Social media platforms have been slow to understand and grapple with their complicity in this process. I find that my attempts to add information to conversations in which underinformed people are sharing confirmation-bias-confirming untrue 'evidence' is exhausting and a strain on my relationships with these folks. I despair that there is not a social consensus around where truth might reliably be found, and that purveyors of palatable untruth appear to be winning over my neighbors to the point where pointers I might make as evidence for my views are dismissed as 'mainstream media' as if that is synonymous with 'elitist publications not in touch with the common man.' It is not helping my cause that reporting in mainstream sources these days frequently features word choices which display a point of view. True objectivism never was possible, but it feels sometimes as if too many have just given up on attempting to present multiple angles on the events of the day."

Aaron Chia Yuan Hung, assistant professor of educational technology at Adelphi University, said, "People are thinking more about the ways that social media are being used as tools for propaganda and misinformation. Some companies have taken steps in mitigating that. This may not be enough, but it's a step in the right direction. Facebook is increasingly the outlier here in what they are doing, and I hope they will make meaningful changes to address concerns about it being used as a platform for misinformation and data mining of user information. Technology can also be leveraged to do better, more unbiased and quicker fact-checking. This can be made more effective if media literacy and media education becomes an integral part of every school. ... Social media can be such a powerful tool for good, but it also tends to create echo chambers that increasingly divide people into more polar extremes. Conversing with people who are in a different part of social media can feel like talking to someone on a different planet. Technology makes it too easy for people to talk over each other, or not talk to each other at all. My general feeling is that, although there are parts of society (of any country) that are deeply polarized and likely never to meet in the middle, there are a lot more people who are in the middle and either are not sure where they stand or have misconceptions that they collected over the years but could be changed if they are able to properly engage with meaningful dialogue. On social media, it's too easy to drown someone out with responses and hashtags that make it hard to follow conversations, let alone engage in them. This is not purely a technology problem - this is an argumentation problem. We need to debate each other better."

Ian Peter, a pioneering internet rights activist, wrote, "I think 2025 is too early for the necessary changes to be put in place by governments to address COVID-19. I suspect first reactions will be attempts to return to 'business as usual' - and these will not work. It is only after these attempted actions fail that better measures will be put in place. I am optimistic for a better world by 2035, but I think 2025 is too early for a recovery given the likely responses of world leaders. I worry, for example, about the difficulties companies have dealing with false information, and that some responses may lead to censorship and tech companies' ungoverned actions to determine which information we see or don't see. The free flow of information has never been more under threat but doing nothing about false information is not an option. This is a difficult problem requiring new levels of cooperation between stakeholders."

A professor of cognitive science and artificial intelligence based in New Zealand said, "My hope is that we make many changes. The main change is greater governmental and societal oversight of the big tech companies. These companies are hugely influential in determining how information flows within society, and I believe many of the trends towards authoritarianism and nationalism that we see in world politics are due to the new dynamics of information in society. These flows need to be better studied and understood, and the big companies are not good at participating in the necessary studies; they have a conflict of interest. When we have understood better how information flows within social networks and other internet networks, the big companies need to devote more resources to regulating these flows. They are already imposing censorship through recommender engines - but the current censorship is guided mainly by profit or public relations motives, rather than the social good. Democratic governments need to guide the way censorship happens, just as they impose broadcasting standards and regulations."

A telecommunications and internet industry economist, architect and consultant with over 25 years of experience now working as a researcher at one of the world's foremost technological universities responded, "We will see a step increase in cybersecurity threats - the expansion in attack surfaces because more folks are online is a sufficient reason for that - and the concurrent increase in risks to personal liberty of a surveillance society. We need to be clear on what we want in our society, but stopping it is unlikely to be feasible in my view. I think more people will have more complicated relationships and understanding of digital technologies.

"Our dependency and social fluency with using it will be greatly advanced (e.g., everyone now knows how to use Facebook and Zoom), but folks will not wholly appreciate the new technologies and will not like the threats to privacy and cybersecurity and the political disruption of phenomena like 'fake news,' which are greatly and inexorably amplified by the dark side of social media. In giving voice to all and in enabling the viral spread of that voice, the internet and digital technologies have overridden more normal social and economic defense mechanisms against the destructive power of fear and hatemongering speech - it is too attractive as a consumption good for people to simply turn away and too powerful as a mode of expression to expect the perpetrators to simply disappear.

"Unfortunately, there are no silver-bullet solutions. Also, as a complementary effect, the boost to digitalization will accelerate other trends (although the adverse macroeconomic effects provide an offsetting dampening effect) such as the trend towards adoption of AI and other automation technologies that will involve a lot of capital substituting for labor, so a lot of disruption in employment markets that will not be limited to low-skilled workers. Lots of other white-collar trades will be ripe for offshoring and automation, like lots of legal work.

"In the short-medium term, I expect this to have significant disruptive effects requiring workers across the economy to retrain and be more flexible and adaptive. The overhang of COVID-19-related debt, grotesquely amplified by bad fiscal policies since 2016, will make it difficult to raise the funds for subsidy programs to aging populations, and the pension-fund risk is significant and could herald a global economic crisis that might make 2008 look like child's play. ... The world is a more complex place and this requires more multidisciplinary, cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural engagement to address challenges; putting those together is hard. Digital technology is essential to support the multistakeholder types of governance solutions we need, but it is also very effective in implementing authoritarian solutions and in mobilizing ignorance and mob rule. It will be a battle to see whether our better halves can succeed."

Leiska Evanson, futurist and consultant, wrote, "Elections will be psychologically rigged with online gerrymandering, as echo chambers continue to evolve, shepherded by biased algorithms and AI. What is commonly referred to as AI is not AI, it is machine learning that eats data and spits out patterns - not all of which are useful. Tech companies will use the noise to sell themselves and bury the signals for profit."

Chris Arkenberg, research manager at Deloitte's Center for Technology, Media and Telecommunications, said, "The linkage between consumer data and online advertising is becoming a pernicious system of programmable influence. Capture human behavior, model populations, personas and individuals, then target them with messages that can tip their behaviors towards a desired outcome: Buy my product, vote for my politician, hate my enemy. Like all technologies, there has been a savvy class of actors that figured this stuff out way before the masses. Hence, 2016, Facebook, YouTube, Russia, etc."

Daniel Pimienta, internet pioneer and founder and president of the Network and Development Foundation (FUNREDES), based in the Dominican Republic, commented, "The COVID-19 pandemic context has shown an aggravation of a worrying phenomenon that has been maturing for several years: the transfer into the non-virtual world of bad behaviors occurring online, especially in social networks (disinformation, hate and racist discourse). With the scientific sphere now impacted, hopefully a threshold has been reached and some positive reactions will emerge, for instance the reinforcing of existing laws towards criminal behaviors online. This will not prevent an extension of an already huge divide in the world between rather educated people with a capacity to evaluate information and not fall victim to fake news and people who have lesser information literacy. In a context in which more political leaders are targeting the second group, information literacy has become a paramount education priority. This has even reached emergency status today - perhaps even nearing the same level as global warming."

Jeanne Dietsch, New Hampshire senator and former CEO of MobileRobots Inc., said, "What concerns me most is technology's ability to enable people to magnify ignorance and misinformation."

Marita Prandoni, writer, editor and research associate with the Shape of History group, observed, "First of all, there was nothing normal about the state of the environmental or societal conditions before the arrival of COVID-19. Humans have altered the climate and since the Industrial Revolution we have been stressing our host Planet Earth through overpopulation, over-extraction of resources, declining levels of education and behaving as though we were above rather than of nature. Digital technologies have been a double-edged sword. ... I hope hate speech is abolished from digital platforms and that there will be overwhelming support for flagging and shaming disinformation. Making people outliers when they try to deceive users or incite hate is the most effective way to dissuade such behavior. I also hope innovators can find more benign ways to build and distribute digital technologies - less harmful to both people and planet."

Ian O'Byrne, assistant professor of education at the College of Charleston, responded, "As COVID-19 forces societies into their homes and social distancing moves most interactions to digital spaces, the 'new normal' will require strong connections to the internet and stronger digital literacies. Sadly, these are two areas that many communities have not strengthened over the last decade or two. Digital literacy practices necessary for the safe use of the internet in individuals' personal and professional lives is severely lacking in most contexts. I hope that education focused on identity, data privacy, security and open source uses of technology will receive more focus in our schools and create a more informed citizenry. Also, the internet is already uninterpretable for most of the populace. Algorithms created by corporations obfuscate the data collection and purpose of these platforms and tools. Internet access globally is also insufficient for most; many rural locations do not have the connectivity necessary to survive, let alone succeed in a global marketplace. This is exacerbated by net neutrality rules that seek to eliminate protections and competition in options. As these two components intersect, the situation will get worse as disaster capitalists are already looking for opportunities to gain a foothold in the post-COVID economy."

Fabrice Popineau, an expert on AI, computer intelligence and knowledge engineering based in France, commented, "Civilization cannot undergo development without some stability, and social networks are shaking stability; without speaking, people are subverting those systems to harm democracies. I am concerned about the role of social networks in political activism. Social justice warriors and ' cancel culture ' are dangerous. Social networks are a new media, in the same way as printed books were a new media at the end of the Middle Ages. Social networks are revolutionizing the way people communicate. It will take time for people to learn to control the kind of monstrosity that these networks can give birth to."

Glynn Rogers, retired, previously senior principal engineer and a founding member at the CSIRO Centre for Complex Systems Science, said global environmental issues overshadow everything, writing, "Over and above the immediate COVID-19 crisis, climate change looms as the major threat to our way of life. There are a number of 'tech-related changes' that can at least ameliorate the impact. 1) Evolution of new forms of online social and professional interaction enabled by a ubiquitous high-speed internet based on software-defined networking technology. 2) The rapid deployment of electric vehicle technology with the required infrastructure of charging stations, etc., as well as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by the transport sector. This would have a major impact on city pollution levels both in terms of gas and particulate emissions, as well as noise. 3) The development and adoption of the hydrogen economy will enable us to maintain a reasonable level of transport of people and goods over large distances, preventing a major disruption of the economy and our way of life."

Art Brodsky, communications consultant and former vice president of communications for Public Knowledge, observed, "Social media companies and accompanying tech are dominating public discourse through their actions and - importantly - their inaction. They cannot be allowed to create an ecosystem and then disavow any knowledge of what they have done."

J. Francisco Álvarez, professor philosophy of science at UNED, the National University of Distance Education in Spain, said, "I hope that the necessary state intervention is aimed, at least in part, at facilitating functional digital literacy that helps all citizens to join in techno-social transformation. It is essential that the public administration be concerned with generalizing digital training for full access to digital services. Governments have not been concerned enough with quality digital education, public library services and open access to knowledge. The focus should not be merely upon regulation of companies, but on offering public services and taking advantage of the possibilities of technology to improve the lives of citizens."

Barbara Simons, board chair at Verified Voting and former technology leader at IBM Research, responded, "So much damage is being done by the pandemic, both health-wise and economic, that it will take a long time to recover. Our elections are incredibly vulnerable to attack, especially by enemy nation-states. Even so, there are people who foolishly believe that internet voting is a good thing. Of course, it is actually the most vulnerable kind of voting available for government elections."

A researcher and professor of cybersecurity engineering observed, "Today's technology companies do not have to prove their products meet any level of success. Automobiles have to pass crash tests, and results are compared across various models; safety features are mandated. Software vendors require agreements that remove any level of confirmation and redress for the user. They should have to meet minimum acceptable standards for data handling, privacy and safety which can be compared across all vendors with similar products."

People's mental health will be challenged

A number of the respondents to this canvassing focused on the mental and emotional challenges that large numbers of people will face in the coming years. They argued that digital life was already high-stress for many prior to the required social isolation brought on by the pandemic. They believe the ever-deepening shift to tele-everything will diminish in-person contact and further constrict tech users' real-world support systems and their social connections.

Jonathan Grudin, principal researcher with the Natural Interaction Group at Microsoft Research, observed, "Human beings for millions of years lived in groups, interacting in person with people they knew well. Our need for that is most evident in children, reflected in the huge pressure to get kids back in school part or all of the time. Adults may adapt to living in a room from which they work and order food and other goods to be left outside, but there could be delayed costs in anxiety, depression and reduced empathy for other people."

Chris Savage, an expert in legal and regulatory issues based in Washington, D.C., wrote, "With less 'organic,' work-based, person-to-person interaction, people will become more isolated, with negative mental and emotional health effects. Interacting with others is a benefit of working in an office or other group-working environment that people will lose with an increase in remote work."

Ian Higgs, a technologist based in Europe, noted, "The pandemic has forced many people to isolate themselves from others. This has reduced social interactions and increased stress for many. It has also been a source of social division as those who do not accept that there is a real risk brand those who are isolating as 'scared' and even 'cowardly.' Many, of course, do not have the resources or space to isolate themselves, and this has added another layer of division. The pandemic may ease, but the virus will be with us for many years yet. I fear that the above issues will remain and perhaps become entrenched in an increasingly divided society. These are not issues that can really be addressed by technology, indeed, a lack of access to technology is one of the issues that currently divide us and will continue to."

Mark Deuze, professor of media studies at the University of Amsterdam, observed, "What life under pandemic conditions has forcefully shown us is how much media are part and parcel of our everyday lives. It has been a crash course in digital literacy and accelerating trends well underway before the virus hit. On the one hand, it integrated the use of video calling, social gaming and online watch parties faster into our daily lives than we could have predicted. On the other hand, it has come with lessons learned about what losing oneself in media can produce (amplifying feelings associated with anxiety, loneliness and fear as much as experiences related to joy, a new sense of community and social support). As technology and life fuse beyond meaningful separation (or contradiction), we may be increasingly less likely and capable of effectively critiquing the role media and information technologies play in society."

The head of research at a major U.S. wireless communications trade association predicted, "Greater economic and social anxiety will drive down birthrates and promote more instability and lower household and family foundations, while increasing tribalism and its political exploitation create a vicious cycle of ultra-nationalism and hopeless rebellion. Individuals will manifest higher rates of anxiety, depression and despair. Increasingly, economic and social elites will be entirely out of touch with the growing numbers of economically distressed people, who will form a growing share of the total population."

Michael Muller, a researcher for a top global technology company focused on human aspects of data science and ethics and values in applications of artificial intelligence, wrote, "Unless there is an effective vaccine, I anticipate a permanent reduction in face-to-face social contact. This is likely to result in more 'social bubbles' that are analogous to 'new bubbles' that we have discussed in prior years - that is, people may be more likely to associate homophilously, with reduced ability for social interactions with people unlike ourselves. I hope I'm wrong, because we would experience reduced sense of community and we would stop learning from each other and from each other's experiences. We might also form even more extreme political differences, polarized along contrasts of identity such as race and class. None of this would be good for democracy, or for sociality or for individual and/or collective human growth."

Holmes Wilson, co-director of Fight for the Future, said, "I worry that smartphones give kids just too much of the wrong kind of digital experiences and that this will get worse. I worry that the unsympathetic, always-handy punching bag that Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook presents will lead to a dramatic reduction of freedom of expression by well-meaning activists to new lows that America has never seen, and that this will reduce the power of internet-driven social movements like #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter and #DefundThePolice. I worry that more people are becoming addicted to modern, always-available, always-amazing television and that David Foster Wallace's vision of the teleputer and life-destroying entertainment will keep becoming more true. I believe that Netflix is the most harmful technology company by far right now, in terms of depression fed and life hours destroyed in passive thoughtlessness. COVID-19 will make this a lot worse. It's going to be a rough winter for binge watchers (and I can't believe we think it's okay to use a word from alcoholism to positively describe television!)."

A professor of economics who is expert in employment, productivity and economic security observed, "Most importantly, the tech that creates physical, political and emotional distance between people is really worrying."

An anonymous respondent commented, "People will not know how to function in large groups face to face anymore. Emotional intelligence will spike downwards as people can't connect or read each other through online meetings. People will learn to hide their true emotions and needs from their friends, family and co-workers on the other side of the camera."

Christine Ogan, emeritus professor of journalism, informatics and computing at Indiana University, responded, "As people do more online work and have fewer interactions face to face, it will create and exacerbate the social divisions in our society. And the conspiracy theories we already see will be more of a factor in that division. If we don't interact as much socially, we will not be able to work through our problems as a country."

Eric Knorr, pioneering technology journalist and editor in chief of IDG, wrote, "Reducing face-to-face contact has a distinct psychological downside - isolation breeds depression and can reinforce belief systems that can flourish only if left unchallenged."

Stephan Adelson of Adelson Consulting predicted, "The virus will be part of our lives (to various degrees) for quite a while to come (at least another six months, potentially longer based on postrenal for a vaccine). Habits are formed relatively quickly. Masks, hand sanitizer and constant concern for cleanliness are becoming habitual. These habits to protect our health have and will have an increasing impact on our emotional health. The constant effort for 'self-protection' creates underlying feelings of vulnerability that have no resolution, as our vulnerability is a fact that until now has not been so apparent. Living in a world of increased fear (even if it is slight) will impact society in negative ways. Additionally, with everyone wearing masks, social interactions and emotional discernment that depend on visual clues (such as a smile) are limited. This lack of 'smiles' reduces the happier emotions when coming into contact with strangers in public places.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has also been an increase in obviously judgmental attitudes, as some who wear masks confront those who don't and vice versa. Assumptions regarding someone's political stance also seem to play a role in social interactions. The financial impact of the pandemic will continue to separate those who have from those who have not, increasing a growing emotional class war. These factors, along with others, are contributing to a reduction in positive social interactions and adding additional gaps between strangers while increasing 'fears' related to strangers and creating a new normal that is less friendly and more alienating. I believe that this trend of separation will continue and grow over time, increasing mental health illness across all sectors, increasing the burden of social programs. I worry that technology will increase separation and unhealthy behaviors."

A telecommunications law professional wrote, "I don't have a crystal ball, but I think that this pandemic will have both medium- and long-term disruptive effects on society. On the downside, the pandemic is both highlighting and exacerbating the difference between those who live on the edge of poverty and those who do not. It is also ripping a huge hole through the budgets of state and local governments which will harm public education, public arts projects and public infrastructure projects for a long time. Lots of companies will go out of business, and it is impossible to know what our retail landscape will look like in 2025, which has an impact for our community planning and for employment. It is also upending education in ways that I cannot even imagine - and causing huge emotional stress for parents of young children, particularly moms, that we are not handling as a society. The stress it is causing to our health care systems and health care providers is also so substantial and widespread that we will live with its aftershocks for a long time. More hospitals will close in rural and even less rural America.

Susan Price, user experience pioneer and strategist and founder of Firecat Studio, worriedly said, "Lots of people are hurting. Increased domestic violence, increased use of opioids and other drugs, increased mental illness related to the stresses of uncertainty and reduced mobility, options. Rapid change brings stress, which disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable."

Ravi Parikh, a senior technical staff member at a global software company, predicted, "Employees will fear layoffs and try to enhance their value by performing more and staying active on company networks more. Personal lives could suffer, and depression cases may rise."

An anonymous respondent observed, "Increased reliance on the internet for basic services (groceries, medicine, retail) and work will increase social isolation. In turn, this will decrease emotional well-being and pro-social behavior. I think that the way employers view employment options will change the most, and there will also be a decrease in privacy due to employers forcing themselves into employees' private homes."

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Whether they expressed optimistic or pessimistic views about the "new normal" in 2025, these respondents also weighed in with their worries for the near future of humans and digital technologies. Their views embraced several overarching themes that can be summed up in one: The advantaged enjoy more advantages; the disadvantaged fall further behind.

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Rahul Gandhi reiterates claims about 'vote chori' in Karnataka, says 'will soon reveal hydrogen bomb'

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Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has reiterated his allegations of 'vote chori' (vote theft) in the 2023 Karnataka elections, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of withholding information from the Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He claimed that the CID had sent multiple letters seeking details about voter deletions but received no response. Gandhi promised to reveal substantial evidence, referring to it as a 'hydrogen bomb', to substantiate his claims and implicate Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Rahul Gandhi reiterates claims about ‘vote chori’ in Karnataka, says ‘will soon reveal hydrogen bomb’

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Rahul Gandhi said Congress will soon ‘reveal a hydrogen bomb’ and show evidence regarding ‘vote chori’ in such a way that ‘no one will have any doubt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did it and won the election’.

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Bizarre video of a man snatching YouTuber's mic at Mahakumbh 2025 goes viral | Watch

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Bizarre video of a man snatching YouTuber's mic at Mahakumbh 2025 goes viral | Watch

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A video from the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj went viral, showing a man suddenly snatching a YouTuber's microphone during an interview. The YouTuber, Shiva Pushkar, later shared the clip online, explaining it was a prank to lighten the mood. The incident sparked mixed reactions online, with some finding it humorous and others criticizing the disruption.

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Bizarre video of a man snatching YouTuber’s mic at Mahakumbh 2025 goes viral | Watch | Trending News – India TV

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A weirdly funny video of a man suddenly snatching a YouTuber’s microphone at Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj has gone viral in no time. However, let’s know the truth behind the viral video.

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Men Grew Taller, Heavier Than Women Over The Past Century: Study

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Men Grew Taller, Heavier Than Women Over The Past Century: Study

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A study published in Biology Letters reveals that over the past century, men have grown taller and heavier than women at more than twice the rate. Analyzing global data, researchers found that for every 0.2-point increase in the Human Development Index (HDI), men grew 4 cm taller and 6.5 kg heavier, while women grew 1.7 cm taller and 2.7 kg heavier. This disparity is attributed to evolutionary and ecological factors, with males benefiting more from improved nutrition and living conditions.

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Sleepless nights may raise dementia risk by 40%, Mayo Clinic reveals

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Sleepless nights may raise dementia risk by 40%, Mayo Clinic reveals

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Chronic insomnia may do more than leave you groggy, it could speed up brain aging. A large Mayo Clinic study found that people with long-term sleep troubles were 40% more likely to develop dementia or cognitive impairment, with brain scans showing changes linked to Alzheimer’s. Those reporting reduced sleep showed declines comparable to being four years older, while certain genetic risk carriers saw even steeper drops.

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Struggling with insomnia might put the brain on a faster track to aging, dementia, and memory decline. Researchers found that poor sleep was tied to brain changes and test scores equivalent to years of extra aging. Credit: Shutterstock

Highlights:

Chronic insomnia -- trouble sleeping at least three days a week for three months or more -- could speed up brain aging.

People with chronic insomnia were 40% more likely to develop dementia or mild cognitive issues than people without insomnia.

Insomnia with perceived reduced sleep was associated with lower cognition comparable to being four years older.

Better sleep isn't just beauty rest -- it might protect your brain health.

People with chronic insomnia may experience faster declines in memory and thinking skills as they age -- along with brain changes that can be seen on imaging scans -- than people who do not have chronic insomnia, according to a study published in the September 10, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study found that people with chronic insomnia -- trouble sleeping at least three days a week for three months or more -- had a 40% higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia than those without insomnia, which is the equivalent of 3.5 additional years of aging. The study does not prove that insomnia causes brain aging, it only shows an association.

"Insomnia doesn't just affect how you feel the next day -- it may also impact your brain health over time," said study author Diego Z. Carvalho, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. "We saw faster decline in thinking skills and changes in the brain that suggest chronic insomnia could be an early warning sign or even a contributor to future cognitive problems."

The study tracked a group of cognitively healthy older adults -- 2,750 people with an average age of 70 -- for an average of 5.6 years. Of participants, 16% had chronic insomnia.

At the start of the study, participants were asked whether they had been sleeping more or less than usual during the past two weeks. They also took yearly thinking and memory tests, and some had brain scans to look for white matter hyperintensities -- areas where small vessel disease may have damaged brain tissue -- and for amyloid plaques, a protein that can build up and is linked to Alzheimer's disease.

During the study, 14% of the people with chronic insomnia developed mild cognitive impairment or dementia, compared to 10% of those who did not have insomnia.

After accounting for factors like age, high blood pressure, use of sleep medications and a diagnosis of sleep apnea, they found that people with insomnia were 40% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia than those without insomnia. They also had faster declines on tests measuring different thinking skills.

Among those with insomnia, researchers determined the type: those getting less sleep than usual in the past two weeks; or those getting more sleep than usual in the past two weeks.

People who reported getting less sleep than usual were more likely to have lower cognitive test scores at the beginning of the study, comparable to being four years older. They also had more white matter hyperintensities and amyloid plaques. For amyloid, the effect was similar to what is seen in people with the APOE ε4 gene, a known genetic risk factor.

People who reported getting more sleep than usual, on the other hand, were more likely to have fewer white matter hyperintensities at the start of the study.

Some groups were especially vulnerable. Participants who carry the APOE ε4 gene -- linked to higher Alzheimer's risk -- showed steeper declines in memory and thinking skills.

"Our results suggest that insomnia may affect the brain in different ways, involving not only amyloid plaques, but also small vessels supplying blood to the brain," Carvalho said. "This reinforces the importance of treating chronic insomnia -- not just to improve sleep quality but potentially to protect brain health as we age. Our results also add to a growing body of evidence that sleep isn't just about rest -- it's also about brain resilience."

A limitation of the study was that insomnia diagnoses came from medical records, which do not capture undiagnosed cases or reflect how severe symptoms are.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, GHR Foundation, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, and a grant from Sleep Number Corporation to the Mayo Clinic.

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Sleepless nights may raise dementia risk by 40%, Mayo Clinic reveals

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Chronic insomnia may do more than leave you groggy, it could speed up brain aging. A large Mayo Clinic study found that people with long-term sleep troubles were 40% more likely to develop dementia or cognitive impairment, with brain scans showing changes linked to Alzheimer's.

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ACE Fitness identifies key fitness trends for 2025, emphasizing the integration of AI in personalized training, the widespread use of wearable technology for real-time data, and the continuation of virtual and hybrid training models. Other notable trends include the rise of power training for older adults, increased focus on recovery tools, and a shift towards inclusive and weight-inclusive fitness approaches.

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10 Fitness Trends to Look Forward to in 2025

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Read ACE expert articles for professional insights and advice. Stay informed with the latest trends and science in fitness and learn about fitness trends to look forward to in 2025 here.

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 IIM Bangalore study highlights plus-size models foster consumer empowerment, brand loyalty com

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 IIM Bangalore study highlights plus-size models foster consumer empowerment, brand loyalty com

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An IIM Bangalore study finds that using plus-size models in advertising empowers consumers who feel excluded by traditional beauty standards. Inclusive representation strengthens emotional connections, increases brand loyalty, and encourages advocacy among consumers.

Human Behaviour: Consumers gravitating towards brands that embrace body diversity in their advertising.

Human Intent / Need: Desire to feel represented and valued by brands, leading to stronger emotional connections.

Demographic: Individuals who feel marginalized by mainstream beauty standards.

Phenomenon: The rise of inclusive advertising featuring plus-size models and its impact on consumer behavior.

Interesting Elements: The study highlights the role of empathy in amplifying the positive effects of inclusive advertising.

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26 engagement nails to try with celebrity inspiration

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26 engagement nails to try with celebrity inspiration

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Vogue India showcases 26 engagement nail ideas inspired by celebrities, ranging from classic French tips to bold jewel tones. Celebrity manicurists emphasize personalization, encouraging individuals to choose styles that reflect their taste and complement their engagement rings, highlighting how nail art has become a fashionable way to celebrate life events.

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Engagement nails are often minimalist-think French manicures or neutral shades-which makes sense in the era of Instagram announcement posts, with your ring finger hand on full display, says celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik, whose clientele includes Jennifer Lopez and Selena Gomez. But it's your special day (or, the run-up to your special day), so we say the rules are yours to make.

Nail artist Brittney Boyce counts Olivia Rodrigo, Megan Fox and Kim Kardashian as regular clients, and she reports seeing more experimentation with colour and design. The best engagement nail, she says, is the one you love. "This all just comes down to personal style," she says. For some, that's a short natural nail. For others, it's the Swarovski-encrusted nails JLo recently wore (scroll on for the inspiration, of course).

So whether you've already found your forever person or are still using those crystals to attract him, her, or them into your life, it's never too early to start brainstorming. Below are 27 engagement nail ideas to get those glam creative juices flowing. You'll need this for when you book that nail salon appointment.

Nice and nude

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26 engagement nails to try with celebrity inspiration

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From timeless neutrals to bold designs, these engagement nail ideas will have your ring finger ready for its close-up

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7 dress trends to look out for in 2025—from sportscore to tulle layers

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7 dress trends to look out for in 2025—from sportscore to tulle layers

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Vogue India highlights seven key dress trends for 2025, including Sportscore, Renaissance Draping, Dark Bohemia, GI Jane Utility, Fantasy Tulle Layers, Punkish Plaid, and Regency Puffballs. These trends blend nostalgia with innovation, encouraging individuals to express personal style by mixing comfort, historical influences, and contrasting elements for unique, fashion-forward looks.

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In a recent Guardian article, journalist Jess Cartner-Morley details the societal and cultural shift we've experienced over the last 12 months in moving away from cold hard facts and embracing more of a "vibes-based" approach. It's a transition that can also be traced across the fashion sphere, seen in the many "cores" that have emerged on social media - from mob wife and quiet luxury to gorpcore - which some see as a supercharging of the trend cycle, while others regard as an opportunity to be less prescriptive, and more interpretive, in our approach to fashion. "A vibe has a mystique that a trend does not, because it is more than just visual," Cartner-Morley explains.

I would say that my attitude to TikTok's many viral aesthetics aligns more with the latter approach - after all, you could argue that these new-gen "vibe" videos are merely a digitised version of old-school scrapbooks and mood boards. So it's with this mindset that I've approached 2025's dress trends, or, should I say, vibes.

Indeed, there was no shortage of dress inspiration on the new-season runways, which saw an eclectic mix of moods emerge, all of which can be iterated on and adapted to suit your personal style (and the pieces already sitting in your wardrobe). For 2025, we traversed timelines: from the sculptural dresses at Tod's and Ottolinger, which recalled the draping on Renaissance sculptures, to the Noughties Bend It Like Beckham styles that hit the runways at GCDS and Sia Arnika (top tip: if you don't want to invest in a new piece, you could hunt down an oversized vintage track jacket to recreate this look).

Then there were the polarised style personalities that emerged on the spring/summer 2025 runways. On the one hand you had the billowing skirts and It-girl blowouts of 2024's boho revival that have been adapted for a new year via moodier floral prints and gothic undertones - make Valentino and Saint Laurent your runway reference points and Florence Welch your muse. Then along came the GI Janes, whose utilitarian spirit manifested in big-pocketed minis at Christian Wijnants and sand-toned, unadorned midis at Lauren Manoogian. And that's not to mention the face-off between the Westwood-inspired punk plaid prints of The Row (RIP quiet luxury) and the regal, Regency-era puffballs as seen at Erdem. But then again, maybe therein lies the beauty of the "vibe": it doesn't have to be either/or, rather we can embrace the joy of mixing-and-matching and create stylistic hybrids from the most unlikely of pairings. Remember: your vibe is the right vibe.

So whatever mood you're feeling for the season ahead, see our round-up of the dress trends to look out for in 2025.

The Bend It Like Beckham sporty styles

Renaissance draping

Dark bohemia

GI Jane utility

Fantasy tulle layers

Punkish plaid prints

Regency flair
This story first appeared on vogue.co.uk
Also read:
How to style an oversized shirt the right way 6 sneaker trends to look out for in 2025 2024 was the year of bags-either too big or too small

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7 dress trends to look out for in 2025-from sportscore to tulle layers

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From dark bohemia to utility styles, these are the dress trends to look out for in 2025. Shop Vogue's edit of the top 2025 dress trends here.

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Kerala has reported 19 deaths from primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) this year, a disease so rare the world has seen just 488 cases in 39 countries in six decades. On September 1, two patients—a three-month-old baby and a 52-year-old woman—died within hours at Kozhikode Government Medical College. Doctors confirmed that both were being treated for PAM, an infection caused by the free-living parasite Naegleria fowleri.

Human Behaviour: Individuals engaging in activities like swimming or bathing in warm freshwater bodies, which may be contaminated with Naegleria fowleri.

Human Intent / Need: Seeking recreational activities in natural water bodies without awareness of potential health risks.

Demographic: Residents and visitors in Kerala, particularly those engaging in water-related activities.

Phenomenon: Occurrence of PAM cases due to exposure to Naegleria fowleri in contaminated freshwater environments.

Interesting Elements: The rarity of PAM cases globally and the rapid progression of the disease, leading to high fatality rates.

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How a rare brain-eating amoeba is killing people in Kerala - The Times of India

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Health News: Kerala has reported 19 deaths from primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) this year, a disease so rare the world has seen just 488 cases in 39 coun

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The World Environment Day 2025: Beat Plastic Pollution

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The World Environment Day 2025: Beat Plastic Pollution

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The podcast discusses India's escalating plastic pollution crisis, highlighting that the country generates approximately 9 million tons of plastic waste annually, accounting for nearly 20% of the global total. It emphasizes the urgent need for innovative solutions, including the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in waste management, to address this environmental challenge.

Human Behaviour: The podcast examines current practices in plastic production, consumption, and disposal, identifying inefficiencies and the lack of effective recycling systems.

Human Intent / Need: There is a collective desire to mitigate environmental damage, reduce plastic waste, and transition towards sustainable practices through technological innovation and policy reforms.

Demographic: The discussion targets policymakers, business leaders, environmental advocates, and the general public concerned with sustainability and environmental health.

Phenomenon: The podcast highlights the global plastic pollution crisis, focusing on India's significant contribution and the urgent need for systemic change.

Interesting Elements: The integration of AI technologies, such as hyperspectral imaging, to enhance plastic waste sorting and recycling processes is a notable innovation discussed in the podcast.

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The World Environment Day 2025 : Beat Plastic Pollution

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The World Environment Day 2025 theme of “Beat Plastic Pollution” highlights an escalating environmental crisis. India is now among the top producers of plastic waste globally, generates approximately 9 million tons annually—accounting for nearly one-fifth of the global total. Plastic waste reduction and waste management are a high priority for EY, which is a trusted advisor in sustainability transformation.

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State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025 warns of worsening climate, health and development indicators

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State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025 warns of worsening climate, health and development indicators

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Human Behaviour: States show inadequate management of environmental and health challenges.

Human Intent / Need: Urgent need for integrated policy, better infrastructure, and sustainable development.

Demographic: Citizens across all states affected by climate, health, and development gaps.

Phenomenon: Rising climate extremes, pollution, and displacement.

Interesting Elements: Even top-ranked states face serious environmental and health issues; SDG targets are largely unmet.

The Down To Earth and CSE report evaluates India’s environment, health, and development using 48 indicators. No state scored above 70/100 environmentally, with sewage and river pollution as major issues. Extreme 2024 weather caused 5.4 million displacements. Goa led in health but faces hospital shortages and low female labor participation. India lags in nine of 16 SDGs.

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State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025 warns of worsening climate, health and development indicators

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The State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025 report, released by the Centre for Science and Environment, highlights the country’s escalating environmental and development challenges. Ranking all 36 states and Union Territories on 48 indicators, the report reveals a concerning picture of extreme weather, public health decline, and economic strain. Despite some states excelling in specific areas, no state consistently performs well across all domains, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive reforms.

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The Vogue article highlights how celebrities like Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, and Sophie Turner openly share their struggles with depression, anxiety, and fame-related pressures. Key points include:

Human Behaviour: Celebrities speak publicly about their mental health, prompting fans to engage and relate.

Human Intent / Need: The goal is to reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking, and create understanding.

Demographic: Appeals to a general audience, especially pop culture fans, Gen Z, and Millennials.

Phenomenon: Growing visibility of mental health issues inmainstream media.

Interesting Elements: Shows how fame and social media pressures affect mental health, and how public vulnerability can raise awareness.

Summary: Overall, the article emphasizes normalization of mental health conversations in pop culture.

Link: Vogue article

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It's no secret that the younger generation is more forthcoming about mental health. A 2015 study conducted by American University found that millennials are more likely to talk about mental health, as well as be accepting of others who struggle with it, compared to their parents or grandparents. Accordingly, some of the leading talents in pop culture are exemplifying this in the spotlight.

From musician Billie Eilish issuing a powerful call to action in light of her own battles, to Game of Thrones stars Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams opening up about the emotional strife they encountered spending their formative years in the public eye, here are some of the stars raising awareness and lessening stigma around mental health.
Billie Ellish
Since bursting onto the scene two years ago, Billie Eilish has emerged as a fierce mental health advocate. Exploring the intricacies of her depression through her music, most distinctly on her latest album When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, the experimental pop singer has also been candid in interviews. "Depression has controlled sort of like everything in my life," she told Apple Music Beats 1's Zane Lowe during an interview. "For my whole life, I've kind of always been a melancholy person." She also revealed that she hopes to provide solace to her fans who might be fighting similar battles. "Kids use my songs as a hug," she said. "Songs about being depressed or suicidal or completely just against-yourself-some adults think that's bad, but I feel that seeing that someone else feels just as horrible as you do is a comfort. It's a good feeling." And in a recent PSA video for the Ad council's Seize the Awkward, Ellish underlined the importance of checking in on the mental health of friends, too.
Maisie Williams

During an interview on the Happy Place podcast, Maisie Williams revealed that being in the spotlight from a young age has taken a serious toll on her self-esteem and mental health. Cast as Game of Throne's Arya Stark at 13, the constant social media criticism she experienced through the show's run was overwhelming. "It gets to a point where you're almost craving something negative, so you can just sit in a hole of sadness," Williams explained. "I still lie in bed at, like, 11 o'clock at night telling myself all the things I hate about myself. It's just really terrifying that you're ever going to slip back into it. That's still something that I'm really working on, because I think that's really hard. It's really hard to feel sad and not feel completely defeated by it." Having built up her inner confidence over the years, Williams has been able to shift her perspective. "It sounds really hippy-dippy and like look within you to find peace, but it is true," she said. "At the end of your day, you're making yourself feel this way for a reason."

Sophie Turner
Also affected by the Game of Thrones mania was Williams's co-star Sophie Turner. On Dr. Phil's podcast series, the 22-year-old actress discussed living with depression, as well as how deeply affected she's been by negative social media commentary in the past. It was when Turner hit puberty that she started to take negative feedback on social media to heart. "It was just a lot of weight comments," she said, "Or I would have spotty skin, because I was a teenager, and that's normal, and I used to get a lot of comments about my skin and my weight and how I wasn't a good actress." Self-conscious and feeling a lack of motivation, Turner said there was a point she had a hard time getting out of bed, and once contemplated suicide. "I don't think I viewed myself as worthy of anything that I was doing," she admitted. In addition to therapy and medication, her relationship with husband Joe Jonas has been healing. "When someone tells you they love you every day," she said, "it makes you really think about why that is and I think that makes you love yourself a bit more. So yeah, I love myself."

Justin Bieber
Giving his first interview in two years for Vogue's March cover story, Justin Bieber spoke about why he had to cancel 14 dates of his Purpose tour back in 2017. "I got really depressed on tour," he explained. "I haven't talked about this, and I'm still processing so much stuff that I haven't talked about. I was lonely. I needed some time." He also got real about how he's misused prescription drugs in the past. "I found myself doing things that I was so ashamed of, being super-promiscuous and stuff, and I think I used Xanax because I was so ashamed," he said. "Drugs put a screen between me and what I was doing. It got pretty dark." Having overcome drug abuse and reached a more stable place mentally, due in no small part to the work he's put into his marriage to Hailey Baldwin, Bieber has been dedicated to working on himself mentally.
Lili Reinhart
Earlier this year, Lili Reinhart not only shed light on her struggle with anxiety and depression, but emphasized that therapy is an invaluable tool. "Friendly reminder for anyone who needs to hear it: Therapy is never something to feel ashamed of," Reinhart wrote in a series on Instagram Stories. "Everyone can benefit from seeing a therapist. Doesn't matter how old or 'proud' you're trying to be." Honing in on the stigma of therapy, the Riverdale star is using her platform to change the narrative. "We are all human and we all struggle," she continued. "Don't suffer in silence. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help."

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5 Young Celebrities Who Have Opened Up About Their Mental Health in 2019

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It's no secret that the younger generation is more forthcoming about mental health. A 2015 study conducted by American University found that millennials are more likely to talk about mental health, as well as be accepting of others who struggle with it, compared to their parents or grandparents.

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What would it take to actually spark a baby boom? Way more than a $5,000 baby bonus

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What would it take to actually spark a baby boom? Way more than a $5,000 baby bonus

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Title: Trump’s baby bonus plan to boost US birthrate

Summary: US birthrate at 1.6; proposal for $5,000 baby bonus + pronatalist measures, but experts doubt impact vs childcare, housing, healthcare costs.

Human Behaviour: Delaying childbirth due to high expenses, lack of support; rising discourse on family values.

Human Intent / Need: Reduce financial strain; need better childcare, healthcare, housing.

Demographic: New mothers, working families, politically engaged citizens.

Phenomenon: Pronatalism push; symbolic incentives vs structural needs.

Interesting Elements: $5,000 seen as insufficient; ideas like motherhood medals; contradictions with other welfare cuts.

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What would it take to actually spark a baby boom? Way more than a $5,000 baby bonus | CNN Politics

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President Donald Trump has expressed some interest in the idea of giving new parents a $5,000 “baby bonus,” and a new CDC report shows the US fertility rate is hovering near a record low as younger people rethink parenthood.

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White lotus effect: wellness retreats as girl gang getaways

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White lotus effect: wellness retreats as girl gang getaways

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Indian women are increasingly embracing for emotional healing. Its is blend of ancient practices and modern therapies.

people (especially women) want to pause, reflect, heal, reconnect with themselves.marking events (breakups, bridal, birthdays) with retreat experiences.Need for mental & emotional wellbeing, space away from routine/societal expectations, meaningful bonding and sisterhood, experiential escapes rather than passive holidaysUrban Indian women, typically middle/upper-middle class.,25-45 age group: careerist women, women juggling multiple roles (professional / familyRetreat centres offering curated programmes with therapies + nature + mindfulness sessions, Digital-detox & phone-free zones incorporated into retreat structures.“Girl gang getaway” framing: rewrites travel/travel wellness to be communal, emotional, celebratory instead of solitary or purely fitness-oriented.

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The white lotus effect: Wellness retreats as girl-gang getaways | Events Movie News - Times of India

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Indian women are increasingly embracing wellness retreats for emotional healing, personal growth, and sisterhood. Inspired by the ‘White Lotus’ effect

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The beauty industry is characterized by the constant evolution of trends, from niche ideas to mainstream phenomena, driven by a blend of consumer desires, social media, and brand innovation.

Human behavior: Consumers actively seek newness and are influenced by social media to discover and adopt trends.

Human intent/need: The intent is to feel confident and express individuality, with a need for products that offer both quality and value.

Demographic: The trend cycle is primarily driven by younger generations, such as Gen Z, but it influences a wider consumer base.

Phenomenon: The beauty industry experiences constant change, with newness manifesting as pure innovation, product renovation, or a revival of past trends.

Interesting elements: The article notes that lip liner sales have been growing significantly, driven by a '90s-inspired "lip contouring" trend, and that hybrid products that blur the line between makeup and skincare are a popular innovation.

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In a recent comprehensive analysis conducted by Spate, a profound revelation about the interconnectedness of Google Search and TikTok trends in the beauty industry has emerged. Over a three-year timespan, Spate discovered that 75% of TikTok trends and Google Search keywords exhibit remarkable similarity, showcasing the symbiotic nature of these two platforms.

Contrary to popular belief, TikTok trends are not as volatile as they may seem. Spate's research demonstrates a reciprocal relationship between TikTok and Google Search, indicating that trends on one platform can significantly influence the other. This revelation unveils hidden stability within the dynamic world of beauty trends.

Among the insights uncovered, it was found that seasonal trends, like Halloween nails, exhibit the highest degree of similarity when comparing Google Search and TikTok. This highlights how consumers engage with these platforms during specific events or seasons.

Sustained rising and declining trends also showcase converging behaviors on both TikTok and Google Search. Notably, trends with over 50 posts on TikTok are more likely to gain traction on Google Search, indicating consumers' intent to purchase.

The type of trend also matters in this context. Entertainment-focused trends like tattoo services and hair transitions excel on TikTok but often fail to translate into Google Searches, indicating a lack of purchase intent. This differentiation underscores the need for brands to discern between awareness and purchase-driving trends.

Among the synchronized trends identified, Seasonal Riser trends like sunscreen sticks, under-eye correctors, and triple barrel wavers exhibit a strong resemblance across both platforms. Similarly, Sustained Riser trends, such as chrome nails, hair wax sticks, and cat eyelashes, and Sustained Decliner trends, like maskne, headband wigs, and body paint, highlight the coalescence of interests and preferences.

Brands looking to capitalize on these insights should monitor significant long-term declines in trends to understand macro shifts and pivot strategies, demonstrating responsiveness to evolving consumer needs. Additionally, monitoring and innovatively repositioning sustained trends can keep them relevant and impactful.

The critical takeaway from Spate's analysis is the need for brands to break free from shortsighted strategies driven solely by TikTok's volatility. Instead, they should seek a holistic trend perspective that preempts sales - from awareness to purchase intent - for better planning. By validating trend predictions with data, brands can secure a competitive advantage in the ever-evolving beauty industry.

In conclusion, Spate's research underscores the importance of understanding trends and recognizing the interplay between TikTok and Google Search in shaping consumer behavior in the beauty industry. This knowledge can empower brands to make informed decisions and stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape.

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In a recent comprehensive analysis conducted by Spate, a profound revelation about the interconnectedness of Google Search and TikTok trends in the beauty industry

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Why Trousers Are the New Denim: A Shift in Workwear Trends

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Why Trousers Are the New Denim: A Shift in Workwear Trends

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Gen Z and millennials are shifting towards trousers over denim in workwear, reflecting changing fashion preferences.
Human Behaviour:
Preference for comfort and versatility in professional attire.
Need:
Workwear that balances professionalism with personal style.
Demographic:
Gen Z and millennial professionals.
Phenomenon:
Evolution of workwear trends towards more comfortable and stylish options.
Interesting Elements:
Rise of trousers as a preferred workwear choice; departure from traditional denim.

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Why Trousers Are the New Denim: A Shift in Workwear TrendsAmong Gen Z & Millennials - The Times of India

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Trousers are emerging as a favored workwear choice for millennials and Gen Z, reflecting evolving priorities in comfort and style. This trend isn’t ab

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AI-Driven ‘Hanuman’ Film in Works at India’s Abundantia Entertainment, Collective Media Network 

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AI-Driven ‘Hanuman’ Film in Works at India’s Abundantia Entertainment, Collective Media Network 

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India's Abundantia Entertainment is developing an AI-driven film adaptation of the mythological epic Hanuman, with an AI-powered band, Trilok, creating the soundtrack.

Human Behaviour: Growing interest in integrating AI into creative processes, especially in film and music.

Need: Innovative storytelling and music production methods in the entertainment industry.

Demographic: Film enthusiasts, tech-savvy audiences, and fans of mythological narratives.

Phenomenon: Blending traditional storytelling with cutting-edge AI technology in film production.

Interesting Elements: Use of AI for soundtrack creation; fusion of Indian spiritual themes with modern music; potential for redefining film production processes.

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AI-Driven ‘Hanuman’ Film in Works at India’s Abundantia Entertainment, Collective Media Network (Exclusive) - IMDb

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IMDb, the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content.

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‘More egalitarian’: How Nepal’s Gen Z used gaming app Discord to pick PM

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‘More egalitarian’: How Nepal’s Gen Z used gaming app Discord to pick PM

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Nepal's Gen Z utilized the gaming app Discord to collaboratively select the Prime Minister, showcasing digital democracy in action.
Human Behaviour:
Active engagement in political processes through digital platforms.
Need:
Platforms that facilitate informed and collaborative political participation.
Demographic:
Nepalese Gen Z users and digital activists.
Phenomenon:
Use of gaming platforms for political organization and decision-making.
Interesting Elements:
Innovative use of Discord for political engagement; youth-driven political movements.

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A government building set on fire by protesters in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, on September 9, 2025 [Samik Kharel/Al Jazeera]

Kathmandu, Nepal - As Nepal burned on Thursday after two days of deadly unrest that ousted a government accused of corruption, thousands of young people gathered in a heated debate to decide their nation's next leader.

To them, the country's mainstream politicians across the major parties were discredited: 14 governments representing three parties have taken turns at governing since 2008, when Nepal adopted a new constitution after abolishing its monarchy.

But in the wake of a brutal crackdown on protesters by security forces that killed at least 72 people, their trust in the country's political system itself had been shattered. They wanted to select a consensus leader who would steer the country of 30 million people out of chaos and take steps towards stamping out corruption and nepotism. Just not in the way countries usually pick their heads.

So, they chose Nepal's next leader in a manner unprecedented for any electoral democracy - through a virtual poll on Discord, a United States-based free messaging platform mainly used by online gamers.

The online huddle was organised by Hami Nepal, a Gen Z group behind the protest with more than 160,000 members.

Hami Nepal ran a channel on the platform called Youth Against Corruption, where a fiery debate on the country's future brought together more than 10,000 people, including many from the Nepali diaspora. As more people tried to log in and failed, a mirrored livestream was held on YouTube to allow about 6,000 more people to see the debate.

After hours of debate that included difficult questions for protest leaders and attempts at reaching out to potential prime minister candidates in real time, the participants chose former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki to lead Nepal. The 73-year-old took the oath of office as the country's interim prime minister on Friday.

But Nepal's transition is only beginning, say analysts, and the approach protesters took to choose the country's leader only underscores how a chaotic new experiment in democracy appears to be under way, with rewards as well as risks.

'Trying to figure it out together'

The Discord debate was a revolutionary counter to the traditional practice of politicians choosing leaders behind closed doors, which had displayed little transparency, say supporters of the Discord approach.

Discord enables users to connect through texts, voice calls, video calls and media sharing. It also allows communication through direct messages or within community spaces known as servers. It was one of the platforms banned by the government earlier this month alongside two dozen other popular applications, including Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

The ban, protesters said, was the last straw that spiralled into a nationwide movement against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's government. The demonstrators accused it of being unrepresentative of young people, as well as of widespread corruption and nepotism.

Tens of thousands of young protesters hit the streets on Tuesday, torching government buildings, including the parliament and residences of top politicians, and forcing Oli to resign. On Friday, President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved parliament and called for a general election in March.

By then, Nepal's Gen Z protesters had turned to Discord to decide who should lead their nation until March. The social media ban was lifted after the killings earlier in the week.

Virtual polls on mobile screens allowed participants to nominate their interim leader in real time, marking a radical experiment in digital democracy.

"People were learning as they went," said 25-year-old law graduate Regina Basnet, a protester who had then joined the Discord debate. "Many of us didn't know what it meant to dissolve parliament or form an interim government. But we were asking questions, getting answers from experts, and trying to figure it out together."

The discussion revolved around a wide range of issues Nepal must battle now, including jobs, police and university reforms, as well as the state of government healthcare, as the moderators urged the participants to focus on the main question before them: the next leader.

Five names were shortlisted for the final voting: Harka Sampang, a social activist and mayor of the eastern city of Dharan; Mahabir Pun, a popular social activist running the National Innovation Centre; Sagar Dhakal, an independent politician who ran against the powerful Nepali Congress leader, Sher Bahadur Deuba, in 2022; advocate Rastra Bimochan Timalsina, also known as Random Nepali on his YouTube channel, who has been advising the Gen Z protesters; and Karki.

Karki, who emerged as the winner of the poll, had campaigned for an independent judiciary during her brief tenure as chief justice from 2016 to 2017. In 2012, she and another Supreme Court judge jailed a serving minister for corruption. In 2017, the government unsuccessfully tried to impeach her as chief justice after she rejected its choice for police chief.

That history added to her credentials in the eyes of the Discord voters.

"The situation that I have come in, I have not wished to come here. My name was brought from the streets," she said in an address to the nation after assuming office. "We will not stay here more than six months in any situation. We will complete our responsibilities and pledge to hand over to the next parliament and ministers."

Many people who took part in the Discord debate also suggested Balen Shah, the popular rapper-turned-mayor of Kathmandu, as their choice for interim prime minister. The Hami Nepal moderators informed the participants they could not reach Shah, who later posted his endorsement of Karki on social media.

Many in Nepal believe Shah could be a frontrunner for the prime minister's post in the March 5 elections.

'Much more egalitarian'

Aayush Bashyal, who was part of the Discord discussions, told Al Jazeera he witnessed a "spectrum of understanding, and it was all 'trial and error'".

"Some people would come and belittle the ideas, which would paralyse the conversation. However, it was absolutely the need of the moment, and was an impromptu common ground to bring as many voices as possible," he said.

Bashyal said some in the Discord forum also called for a restoration of Nepal's monarchy, which was abolished in 2006 after a decade-long rebellion by left-wing forces in the country.

"There was also a pro-monarchy Discord group going on side by side. Sometimes, people would share the screenshots from their chats," the 27-year-old student of public administration at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan University told Al Jazeera. He branded the pro-monarchy group as "infiltrators".

In the same forum, some Gen Z participants even questioned the legitimacy of the protest leaders. "You made the agenda, but we don't know you. How we can trust you is also another issue," one participant said.

Other issues that came up during the deliberations included investigating the killings of protesters and cracking down on corruption.

'This is the future'

Pranaya Rana, a journalist who sends out the popular Kalam Weekly newsletter to more than 4,300 subscribers, said that using Discord made sense for a Gen Z-led movement, but that it also came with challenges.

"It is much more egalitarian than a physical forum that many might not have access to. Since it is virtual and anonymous, people can also say what they want to without fear of retaliation," he told Al Jazeera. "But there are also challenges, in that anyone could easily manipulate users by infiltration, and using multiple accounts to sway opinions and votes."

Aware of how misinformation, fake news and rumours could derail such movements, the Gen Z leaders also launched a sub-room called "fact checks" on their Discord discussion page.

Among the things they debunked was a photo showing protest leader Sudan Gurung, the chief negotiator for the formation of the interim government, with Arzu Rana Deuba, the ousted foreign minister. The picture was falsely claimed to have been taken a week before, when it was actually from an event that had happened six months earlier. Gurung had met the minister to demand justice for a Nepali student who had died by suicide after he was allegedly harassed at an engineering college in neighbouring India's Odisha state.

There were also rumours that Gurung was not a Nepali citizen, but from Darjeeling, a hill town in eastern India. A copy of his Nepali citizenship card was released in the Discord discussion room and on social media.

The Gen Z organisers also debunked claims that former King Gyanendra had met the protesters. It was found that an old video of Nepal's last monarch interacting with youngsters was being shared on social media.

It was also discovered that multiple social media handles and profiles claiming to be the "official" youth movement had contributed to some confusion on the ground. On Thursday night, a Gen Z leader was even seen calling a Nepal military officer on the phone, warning him against potential royal interference in the formation of the next government.

Rana, the journalist, said the protest leaders made good use of technology, "something that Gen Z is best at".

"This is the future. We can either remain in the days of giving speeches on stages with mics or get used to talking freely on online platforms," he told Al Jazeera.

"Gen Z is naive, but that's to be expected. They are young, but they have shown a willingness to learn, and that's the important part."

Anticorruption activist and the former president of Transparency International Nepal, Padmini Pradhanang, urged Gen Z protest leaders to work on what the previous governments "miserably failed at - integrity, accountability, transparency and good governance".

"These young people have only experienced kleptocracy. They have never seen true democracy or good governance," she said.

But law graduate Basnet is not sure.

"At first, it was a peaceful protest. The mood was celebratory. But the state-ordered carnage later was traumatising... The uprising and burning of private and public properties was scary, and then, with people participating in a discussion on social media to form the government has only added to the confusion," she told Al Jazeera.

"All these events that unfolded worry me."

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'More egalitarian': How Nepal's Gen Z used gaming app Discord to pick PM

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It was a first for an electoral democracy. Backers say it's more transparent than what politicians do. But it has risks.

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Virtuous beauty, a complete beauty experience?

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Virtuous beauty, a complete beauty experience?

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"Virtuous beauty" is a holistic trend where consumers seek a complete experience that extends beyond products to include well-being, sustainability, and community.

Human behavior: Consumers are becoming more proactive and emotionally involved, seeking brands that align with their values and provide a sense of trust and recognition.

Human intent/need: The intent is to find a beauty experience that is not only effective but also emotionally rewarding, with a deep need for authenticity and a sense of active involvement.

Demographic: The trend is driven by a wide range of consumers who are concerned about stress and are looking for a more caring and conscious approach to beauty.

Phenomenon: "Virtuous beauty" represents an evolution of "clean" and "green" beauty, focusing on a brand's entire ecosystem, from ethical sourcing to community engagement.

Interesting elements: Social media listening shows that conversations around "virtuous beauty" are more positive than those for "normal beauty," and consumers are interested in DIY products and recyclable packaging.

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Consumers have elevated virtuous beauty - encompassing the notions of "clean beauty" or "green beauty" - to a new standard. But for them, virtuous beauty goes beyond formulation, product naturalness and respect for the environment. They see it as an experience in its own right.

NellyRodi's Virtuous Beauty study - based on a social media listening analysis of nearly 2.5 million online conversations - reveals that virtuous beauty is a more emotional topic than so-called "normal" beauty. The analysis shows that 55% of conversations have a positive tone, up +4 points on 2020. And when consumers talk about virtuous beauty, they do so in a spirit of benevolence.

The study also reveals that online communities associate virtuous beauty with notions of well-being: analysis of their conversations shows that stress is the emotion most present when it comes to virtuous beauty, 1.3 points more than conversations around "normal" beauty. Behind the notion of "stress", the notions of "recognition" and "trust" emerge from the conversations. Indeed, consumers welcome the initiatives proposed by virtuous beauty because they respond to emotionally-charged skin issues.

Beyond this emotional involvement, analysis of online conversations reveals that consumers want to be more active in their virtuous beauty experience. Among the notions that stimulate their attachment to brands, 11% of conversations evoke the use of recyclable packaging and 9% the idea of DIY, do-it-yourself products. Consumers want to adopt a proactive approach to beauty, and their conversations express the desire for brands to give them the keys to take action, to act concretely on their own scale.

This analysis of consumer expectations can inspire a strengthening of the range of experiences offered by brands. In this way, they can evolve from a product-centric brand to a service brand, responding to consumers' demand for active, emotional experiences. For example, the Lush brand is actively engaged in supporting its customers towards greater well-being and benevolence, through various actions. In 2021, it left Instagram and Facebook, considering these platforms harmful to its customers. Since then, she has developed other channels for connecting with her community, through podcasts, playlists or wellness programs. More recently, she has created a digital bath ball called Bath Bot that offers an immersive experience, adaptable to her moods (light and sound ambience), putting the emphasis on experience.

Consumers are turning virtuous beauty into a global experience, combining community, well-being and active involvement. Above all, they are looking for emotional involvement, eager to live a caring beauty experience.

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Virtuous beauty, a complete beauty experience?

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Consumers have elevated virtuous beauty - encompassing the notions of

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GenZ, millennials shift towards co-living spaces; players plan expansions

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GenZ, millennials shift towards co-living spaces; players plan expansions

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Co-living spaces are on the rise among young professionals, with companies planning expansions to meet demand.
Human Behaviour:
Preference for community living and shared amenities.
Need:
Affordable and flexible housing solutions for young professionals.
Demographic:
Young professionals, particularly in urban areas.
Phenomenon:
Growth of co-living as a housing trend among millennials and Gen Z.
Interesting Elements:
Integration of amenities like coworking spaces and community events.

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GenZ, millennials shift towards co-living spaces; players plan expansions

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Co-living accommodations offer WiFi, housekeeping, dedicated coworking spaces, kitchen areas, laundry rooms, recreational areas, gaming zones, fitness areas, 24/7 security, & curated community events

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Gen Z leading profound generational shift in workplace: Report

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Gen Z leading profound generational shift in workplace: Report

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Gen Z is leading a profound generational shift in the workplace, influencing work culture and expectations.
Human Behaviour:
Desire for meaningful work, flexibility, and work-life balance.
Need:
Organizations to adapt to new workplace dynamics and expectations.
Demographic:
Gen Z professionals entering the workforce.
Phenomenon:
Transformation of traditional workplace structures and cultures.
Interesting Elements:
Emphasis on purpose-driven work; demand for flexible work arrangements.

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Gen Z leading profound generational shift in workplace: Report

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Gen Z leading profound generational shift in workplace: Report

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Thumbs-Up Emoji Is Now Seen As Rude: Gen Z's Shift In Digital Communication

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Thumbs-Up Emoji Is Now Seen As Rude: Gen Z's Shift In Digital Communication

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Gen Z views the thumbs-up emoji as rude, signaling a shift in digital communication preferences.
Human Behaviour:
Preference for nuanced and expressive digital communication.
Need:
Emphasis on context and tone in digital interactions.
Demographic:
Gen Z users across various digital platforms.
Phenomenon:
Evolving digital communication norms among younger generations.
Interesting Elements:
Reinterpretation of commonly used emojis; impact on digital etiquette.

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Retro / nostalgic filters & AI edits in fashion / aesthetics

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Retro / nostalgic filters & AI edits in fashion / aesthetics

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AI tools (Gemini etc.) used to apply retro looks (90s Bollywood, vintage saree-poster styles) to people’s photos; heavy nostalgia + shareability.

Behaviour: people want to reinvent their image, relive vintage aesthetics; viral content.

Need/Intent: fun, identity, expression, social engagement.

Demographic: social media users, creators, younger age.

Phenomenon: “Gemini AI retro saree edits” trend in Indian media

Interesting: content → fashion crossovers (people want similar clothes); AI tools as aesthetic enablers; quick cycles of trend.

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Gemini AI retro saree edits become new viral trend: Here’s a simple guide to create yours

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Instagram is buzzing with a new viral trend — retro saree AI edits. Using Googles Gemini Nano Banana tool and ChatGPT prompts, users can transform ordinary selfies into 90s Bollywood-style portraits. The edits feature chiffon, black, red, or polka-dotted sarees, moody lighting, and grainy film textures, evoking nostalgia and cinematic drama. Simple to create, the trend lets users experiment with colors, backgrounds, and moods, blending fashion, culture, and AI creativity in a playful, shareable way.

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Increased demand for traditional jewellery specific to regions (e.g. Assamese, tribal etc.), both for daily wear and gifting. Local crafts revisited.

Behaviour: consumers seeking cultural identity, heritage, uniqueness in jewellery.

Need/Intent: connect with roots, identity expression, artisanal/handmade appeal.

Demographic: urban middle-upper; gifting market; diaspora.

Phenomenon: Amazon India reporting higher demand for Assamese jewellery

Interesting: craft clusters benefit; fusion opportunity with contemporary design; supply chain & authenticity.

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Demand for traditional Assamese jewellery on the rise: Amazon India

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Amazon India reports a surge in Assam’s jewellery market, with traditional designs growing 20% YoY. Guwahati customers favor premium fashion and beauty, driving 30% YoY growth in watches and luxury beauty. Amazon enhances shopping with features like virtual try-ons and personalized recommendations, empowering over 10,000 local sellers and expanding its operations network in the state.

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Fermented beauty is a skincare trend that uses fermented ingredients to create potent, easily-absorbed products that support the skin's health.

Human behavior: Consumers are actively seeking products with natural ingredients and are influenced by the popularity of fermented foods for gut health.

Human intent/need: The intent is to achieve a healthier complexion by using products that are more effective, gentle, and easily absorbed.

Demographic: The trend is popular among consumers who are interested in natural and organic ingredients, as well as those with sensitive skin.

Phenomenon: The fermentation process breaks down ingredients into smaller molecules, making them more bioavailable and increasing their effectiveness.

Interesting elements: The trend has a historical basis in traditional Asian beauty rituals, like Japanese geishas using fermented rice water.

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Interview with Nathalie Dessirier, Marketing Director at MS BEAUTILAB Why did you decide to focus on “fermented beauty”, new trend which, according to the marke…

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Functional wellness drinks as social alternatives to alcohol

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Functional wellness drinks as social alternatives to alcohol

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Drinks designed to promote wellbeing (herb/ adaptogen / no- or low-alcohol) are replacing or supplementing social drinking.

Behaviour: younger demographic wanting social options that don't compromise health.

Need/Intent: socialising + mood/effect without alcohol’s negatives.

Demographic: GenZ / millennials, urban social groups.

Phenomenon: Hospitality/wellness sectors introducing functional beverages; writing about wellness drinks in Indian context. Accor wellness trends article mentions functional wellness drinks. Safari India

Interesting: bar menus; new product development; taste/innovation; regulatory labeling; positioning.

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The Rise Of Functional Beverages Among Millennials And Gen Z

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As alcohol consumption in the US has declined, functional beverages have become increasingly popular, especially among younger consumers. Here’s what they’re looking for.

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The Rise of Pro-Aging Transforming The Narratives Around Age

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The Rise of Pro-Aging Transforming The Narratives Around Age

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The beauty industry is moving from an "anti-aging" to a "pro-aging" narrative that focuses on celebrating healthy skin and well-being at every stage of life.

Human behavior: Consumers are rejecting unrealistic beauty standards and are adopting a more positive, holistic approach to aging.

Human intent/need: The intent is to age gracefully and with confidence, with a deep need for authenticity and products that support long-term skin health.

Demographic: The trend is being influenced by multiple generations, including Gen X, Boomers, and Gen Z, all of whom are seeking age-inclusive messaging.

Phenomenon: The "pro-aging" movement is a cultural shift that normalizes the natural process of aging and is amplified by social media and age-positive campaigns.

Interesting elements: The article notes the success of age-positive media and the rise of "maturetokkers" on TikTok, as well as the development of "skinified" makeup formulas for mature skin.

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The Rise of Pro-Aging Transforming The Narratives Around Age

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The relation to aging is in deep metamorphosis, and the Beauty industry needs to adapt to this evolution. With Gen X and Boomers living longer, and looking to age gracefully, and the Gen Z undertaking preventive measures…

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"The Revolution of Lip Love" is a trend that elevates lip care to a luxurious, high-performance ritual, blending skincare benefits with cosmetic appeal.

Human behavior: Consumers are moving away from invasive procedures and are treating their lips with the same care and attention they give to the rest of their face.

Human intent/need: The intent is to achieve a fuller, smoother, and healthier-looking pout without needles.

Demographic: The trend appeals to a wide consumer base seeking affordable indulgences and a more holistic approach to beauty.

Phenomenon: The "Lipstick Effect" is evolving, with peptide-infused lip treatments and other hybrid products becoming the new affordable luxury during economic downturns.

Interesting elements: New products combine powerful skincare ingredients like peptides and hyaluronic acid with a cosmetic finish. Brands are also creating innovative applicators that provide a more spa-like experience.

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Picture the scene, you are stood Infront of the mirror, admiring the slight pout of your lips, and while they're very nice, you can't help but wonder what they'd look like with a bit more volume, a bit more presence!

You've seen those lush, full lips on others, and there's a whisper of desire to have that for yourself. You imagine the stunning smile, joy, and confidence that it will bring. You've considered lip injections, but the thought of needles makes you hesitate.

Without the need for injections is certainly an enticing idea; perhaps a touch of lip gloss or a swipe of cream could accentuate what you have now, making them fuller whilst enhancing the natural lip colour. The ultimate fusion of skincare and lip care is here. And they are delivering results that exceeds expectations.

These new lip care treatments are the trailblazers, setting a new standard and redefining what it means to care for and adorn one's lips. A new era of sophistication and efficacy promising natural, yet noticeable enhancement that will give you a new level of confidence with every application.

Monika Heiligmann Lip Care Atelier is not just about functionality; it's about indulgence. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and guided by the latest advancements in scientific research, each product has been carefully developed in collaboration with aesthetic doctors and cosmetologists. Powered by potent actives and the finest natural ingredients to deliver visible and lasting results.

From sumptuous lip balms to decadent treatments, every formulation is curated to, nurture lips to their fullest potential. Inspired by the world of couture, the brand infuses every aspect of its offerings with an air of opulence and refinement. From the sleek, minimalist packaging to the rich, sensorial textures, every element is designed to evoke a sense of luxury that transcends the ordinary.

All the products in our opinion are swoon worthy. The Lip Perfecting Overnight Mask is a hyaluronic filler alternative that boosts regeneration, revitalizes and tones, improves texture, gives lips a firmer and fuller look, visibly reduces wrinkles and fine lines. The reduces cracks and discomfort, regenerates and reconstructs, restores elasticity and reduces wrinkles, enhances lipid barrier, accelerates cell regeneration process, nourishes lips Deep Regenerating Lip Balm plumps, hydrates, adds definition, enhances lip shape, gives lips a naturally firmer and fuller look. Elixir De Volume Lipgloss

Dr. Dennis Gross Derminfusions Plump + Repair Lip Treatment will give you instant gratification without compromising on the well-being of your lips. It's the perfect blend of efficacy, convenience, and natural beauty enhancement and is a true game-changer. This multi-dimensional treatment accentuates the beauty of your lips; plumping, defining, and enhancing the natural lip color.

With an infusion of a consciously curated ingredients, it uses four weights of hyaluronic acid, TriPeptide Complex: Bisabolol, Ectoin and Centella Asiatica and Trehalose vibrant.

To take lips to new heights why not take a synergistic and holistic approach to lip care. By pairing the lip treatment with the DrX Spectralite Lipware Pro device to work in tandem with the light therapy. This easy-to-use three-minute treatment promotes visibly fuller lips and stimulates collagen production for long-term plumped-up density, helps to smooth fines lines, reduce the depth of lip creases and immediately volumise your lips. Combining advanced technology with high-quality skincare formulations represents the future of enhancing, altering and defining the lips.

Whether you're seeking a subtle enhancement or a more dramatic plumping effect, lips deserve a luxurious spa-like experience of care and affection. Experiment Beauty's Softwear is a 3 in 1 smoothing lip treatment to exfoliate, hydrate, and occlude. A love letter to your lips hydration needs, focused specifically on enhancing the health, appearance, and texture of the lips.

The dual-phase formula delivers instant hydration + gentle chemical exfoliation in a cocooning barrier of squalane, pomegranate sterols, and petrolatum for soft n' smooth lips that last all day.

No needles needed; we are in a new era of lip care. It extends far beyond the products we apply; it's a holistic regimen that pivots towards lip care that is as health-focused as it is beautifying.

There's more here than a mere collection of new products. It's products to transform each instant of your daily lip ritual into a moment of refinement. These quick and painless products are inviting you to experience lip care like never before.

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Picture the scene, you are stood Infront of the mirror, admiring the slight pout of your lips, and while they're very nice, you can't help but wonder what they'd look like with a bit more volume, a bit more presence!

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Black Beauty Consumer Trends through TikTok

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Black Beauty Consumer Trends through TikTok

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TikTok has become a key platform for showcasing Black beauty trends, focusing on diverse hairstyles, skincare, and makeup that celebrate individuality and authenticity.

Human behavior: Black consumers and content creators are using social media to share and find diverse beauty content, including tutorials and reviews for their specific hair and skin types.

Human intent/need: The intent is to find products and techniques that work for a wide range of hair textures and skin tones, as well as to celebrate and share their unique cultural identity.

Demographic: The trends are driven by Black consumers and creators, who are using TikTok to build community and share information about beauty products.

Phenomenon: Social media is helping to break down traditional beauty standards by providing a platform for Black consumers to define their own beauty ideals.

Interesting elements: The article notes that trends like "heatless curls" and specific hair products for different curl types are gaining popularity, while some makeup trends are seen as a form of rebellion against "clean girl" aesthetics.

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Black Beauty Consumer Trends through TikTok

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Spate’s report, Black Beauty Consumer Trends on TikTok, created in collaboration with SULA LABS, is a groundbreaking resource for brands aiming to connect with Black consumers in the beauty space.

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Adaptive Future - The Visionary Alignment of Technology and Beauty

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Adaptive Future - The Visionary Alignment of Technology and Beauty

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The "adaptive future" of beauty is a trend where technology and science are used to create personalized, sustainable, and inclusive products.

Human behavior: Consumers are actively using technologies like AI and smart devices to analyze their skin and make informed purchasing decisions.

Human intent/need: The intent is to achieve personalized, effective results while also aligning with values like sustainability and inclusivity.

Demographic: This trend appeals to a wide consumer base, particularly Generation Z and Generation Alpha, who are tech-savvy and demand authenticity.

Phenomenon: The industry is shifting from generic products to hyper-personalized solutions, with innovations such as AI-powered diagnostics and lab-grown ingredients becoming the norm.

Interesting elements: The article highlights the creation of assistive beauty systems, such as L'Oréal's HAPTA applicator, designed for individuals with limited dexterity, and the use of AI to create hyper-personalized marketing messages.

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Adaptive Future - The Visionary Alignment of Technology and Beauty

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In Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation’s 2025 Key Predictions white book, The Age of Resonance, the Paris-based agency decodes the shift toward Adaptive Futures, examining how the confluence of technology, science and beauty is reshaping the industry - from sourcing to selling.

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Pillow Beauty: How Beauty Brands Can Win in Asia’s Booming Sleep Economy?

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Pillow Beauty: How Beauty Brands Can Win in Asia’s Booming Sleep Economy?

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In Asia's booming "sleep economy," beauty brands are creating products and rituals that address sleep deprivation and stress.

Human behavior: Consumers are actively seeking solutions for better rest and turning to beauty and wellness products as part of their nightly routines.

Human intent/need: The intent is to achieve better sleep and overall wellness in the face of fast-paced lifestyles.

Demographic: Consumers are across Asia, particularly in China, South Korea, and Japan.

Phenomenon: "Pillow Beauty" is an emerging trend where beauty brands are using products to help people sleep better and feel more refreshed.

Interesting elements: The trend blends traditional remedies and ingredients with modern technology, like neuroscience-backed fragrances.

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Pillow Beauty: How Beauty Brands Can Win in Asia’s Booming Sleep Economy?

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As fast-paced lifestyles, digital overload, and cultural pressures converge, consumers across Asia are losing precious hours of rest. In response, the wellness and sleep economy are surging, and beauty brands are perfectly positioned to lead the charge.

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Ocean Beauty: The Oceans, a New Frontier for Cosmetic Innovation

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Ocean Beauty: The Oceans, a New Frontier for Cosmetic Innovation

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"Ocean beauty" is a new trend focused on protecting marine ecosystems by using sustainable, marine-derived ingredients and eco-friendly packaging.

Human behavior: Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, moving from a "green beauty" mindset to a more specific "blue beauty" approach.

Human intent/need: The intent is to use high-performing beauty products that are also safe for the oceans.

Demographic: The trend is driven by a growing number of eco-conscious consumers who are concerned about the impact of their products on the planet.

Phenomenon: The beauty industry is embracing a "regenerative" approach, with brands actively giving back to marine ecosystems rather than just reducing harm.

Interesting elements: The article notes that new innovations include algae-based biodegradable packaging and ingredients that are cultivated in a closed system to protect the ocean.

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To mark the 15th anniversary of the MakeUp in Paris trade show, the organization is launching a brand-new award dedicated to ocean-inspired beauty. First introduced at MakeUp in Los Angeles, this initiative aims to spotlight innovations that both harness and protect marine resources.

The ocean as a source of inspiration for cosmetic innovation

In his latest documentary , following and Planet Earth I , David Attenborough takes viewers deep into the vastness of the marine world, highlighting its vulnerability to human impact. The film is a poignant reminder that protecting 80% of the Earth's surface-our oceans-is critical to life on our planet.

Through breathtaking footage of coral reefs, kelp forests, and open ocean expanses, Attenborough reveals the power and richness of the sea, urging us to preserve its delicate balance as a cornerstone of planetary stability.

Cosmetic players are aligning with this vision, multiplying their efforts to create more sustainable, sea-inspired products that respect marine ecosystems.

Brands actively protecting marine life

With the shared goals of ocean preservation and clean, natural formulations, French brands-benefiting from over 5,500 km of coastline-are innovating through research and marine biotechnology.

Other French brands like Oskol (near Biarritz) and are also emerging as key players in seaweed and ocean-inspired beauty. Algologie

Across the Atlantic, clean biotech beauty pioneer Biossance has partnered with , an international marine conservation NGO. With its limited-edition #SeaTheDifference campaign, the brand donates part of its proceeds to concrete actions restoring marine ecosystems while raising awareness among its customers. Oceana

Ingredient innovation for greater efficacy, naturality, and regeneration

Innovation also lies in raw materials. At in-cosmetics Global, Brittany-based supplier Codif introduced , a certified organic marine ingredient derived from fermented seaweed. Once applied to the skin, it naturally activates the production of vitamin B5 through the skin's microbiota. The result: enhanced regeneration, improved hydration, and visibly reduced redness. It offers a high-performing, biotech-based alternative to D-Panthenol-both natural and powerful. Pantodium Cica

, another innovator in ingredients, are reimagining the chemical industry by transforming harmful algae into high-value, sustainable 100% bio-based & biodegradable ingredients for consumer goods. They extract multiple valuable compounds from Algae with two recently launched functional ingredients - OceanThix™ alginate and OceanBoost™ fucoidan.

Ocean-inspired packaging solutions

As our oceans face mounting threats-and hold immense potential-the beauty industry is embracing a regenerative, ocean-respecting approach. From marine-derived formulas to plastic-free packaging, a new wave of blue innovation is rising, led by committed brands, pioneering suppliers, and a growing demand for sustainability. Far from a passing trend, this shift is an essential response to today's ecological challenges.

Meet us at MakeUp in NewYork, on the conference dedicated to this topic.

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Ocean Beauty: The Oceans, a New Frontier for Cosmetic Innovation

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To mark the 15th anniversary of the MakeUp in Paris trade show, the organization is launching a brand-new award dedicated to ocean-inspired beauty. First introduced at MakeUp in Los Angeles, this initiative aims to spotlight innovations that both harness and protect marine resources.

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JCB stirring dal in viral video leaves internet worried about food hygiene

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JCB stirring dal in viral video leaves internet worried about food hygiene

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A viral video showed a JCB construction machine being used to stir a massive vessel of dal in what appeared to be a kitchen setup. The unusual sight sparked widespread amusement but also raised serious hygiene and safety concerns on social media, with viewers questioning the cleanliness and potential health risks of using a machine meant for digging soil in food preparation.

Human Behaviour
People respond to absurd and shocking food preparation methods with humor, concern, and calls for accountability.

Human Intent / Need
The need for safe, hygienic food handling practices and awareness to protect public health.

Demographic
Social media users across India, food safety advocates, and regulatory bodies.

Phenomenon
Unconventional, low-cost improvisations (‘jugaad’) in mass food preparation go viral, triggering debates on standards.

Interesting Elements
Memes comparing the JCB to a ‘master chef’; viral follow-up videos showing large-scale food transport; public outcry for regulatory scrutiny.

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JCB stirring dal in viral video leaves internet worried about food hygiene

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A video showing a JCB machine being used to stir dal has gone viral on social media.

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Deepfaked: ‘They put my face on a porn video’

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Deepfaked: ‘They put my face on a porn video’

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Kate Isaacs, a campaigner against non-consensual pornography, shares the trauma of having her face digitally placed on a pornographic video without consent—a technique known as a deepfake.

Human Behaviour
Perpetrators exploit AI to create explicit fake content for exploitation, while victims experience severe psychological harm.

Human Intent / Need
Offenders seek to intimidate or humiliate; victims need protection, justice, and awareness of the abuse.

Demographic
Victims of non-consensual deepfake porn (often women), advocacy groups, legal authorities, and the public.

Phenomenon
The rise of AI-driven sexual abuse via deepfake technology escalating rapidly and outpacing regulation.

Interesting Elements
Deepfake porn is mainly non-consensual; perpetrators often evade accountability due to legal gaps; some deepfake platforms justify hosting explicit content of public figures while condemning “ordinary” victims.

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Deepfaked: ‘They put my face on a porn video’

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Campaigner Kate Isaacs describes the horror of seeing her face digitally edited into an adult film.

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"Sensorial intelligence" is a beauty trend where products are designed to engage multiple senses—touch, scent, sight, and sound—to create an emotional connection and enhance well-being.

Human behavior: Consumers are actively seeking products that provide rich, tactile experiences and are moving away from purely visual-focused beauty.

Human intent/need: The intent is to reconnect with one's body and emotions through self-care rituals that are both pleasurable and effective.

Demographic: The trend appeals to consumers who are interested in the intersection of beauty and wellness.

Phenomenon: The rise of "sensorial intelligence" reflects a broader cultural shift towards valuing embodied, authentic experiences over digital, hyper-connected ones.

Interesting elements: The article notes that the next sensory frontier in beauty may be taste and that multi-sensory packaging, such as wood or velvet-like materials, can create emotional micro-moments.

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As wellness and beauty become increasingly intertwined, it’s clear that the focus is shifting beyond just what we can see. It’s evolving into something deeper, a way for consumers to reconnect with their bodies, their emotions, and their senses. They now want beauty products that make them look good, but most importantly feel good.

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Google Gemini Photo Editing Prompts To Create Stunning Dandiya Night Looks This Navratri

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Google Gemini Photo Editing Prompts To Create Stunning Dandiya Night Looks This Navratri

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Google’s Gemini AI is helping users create vibrant, high-quality edited photos showcasing festive Dandiya night looks for Navratri 2025.

Human Behaviour
People embrace technology to enhance cultural expression and share festive moments creatively on social media.

Human Intent / Need
The desire for visually stunning, shareable festival content that celebrates tradition and modern style.

Demographic
Social media users, festival participants, content creators, and digital art enthusiasts across India.

Phenomenon
AI-powered photo editing democratizes access to professional-quality imagery tailored to cultural festivals.

Interesting Elements
Prompts include cinematic dance shots, regal portraits, fusion fashion edits, and joyful group photos with detailed festive elements and lighting effects

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Chinese teen gains height after ‘body lengthening’ therapy, shrinks back in two weeks

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Chinese teen gains height after ‘body lengthening’ therapy, shrinks back in two weeks

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A 16-year-old boy in China underwent a six-month body lengthening therapy that temporarily increased his height by 1.4 cm but shrank back to his original height within two weeks of stopping the treatment. The therapy involved leg stretching and medical equipment to “activate” the knees.

Human Behaviour
Parents often seek quick solutions to height concerns, sometimes falling prey to dubious medical interventions.

Human Intent / Need
Desire to enhance physical appearance or growth, fueled by anxiety about height and social pressures.

Demographic
Parents and teenagers in regions promoting unconventional or experimental growth treatments.

Phenomenon
Rise of unproven, commercially driven body modification therapies raising ethical and scientific questions.

Interesting Elements
Height gain was transient; the therapy caused shrinkage after interruption; scientific consensus dismisses such treatments as ineffective.

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New powerful alloy Ni4W could revolutionize electronics

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New powerful alloy Ni4W could revolutionize electronics

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A team at the University of Minnesota developed Ni4W, a new magnetic alloy that can switch magnetic states without external magnets, potentially reducing energy consumption in electronic devices like phones, data centers, and laptops.

Human Behaviour
Researchers innovate to create energy-efficient, sustainable technology that supports everyday life and industry growth.

Human Intent / Need
The need for lower energy consumption, higher device efficiency, and environmentally friendly electronics production.

Demographic
Tech developers, electronics manufacturers, environmental advocates, and consumers demanding sustainable tech.

Phenomenon
Breakthrough in magnetics for computing and data storage with potential industry-wide impact.

Interesting Elements
Ni4W alloy operates without external magnets and uses common materials, making it scalable and cost-effective.

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Phones, Data Centers, Laptops – One New Alloy Could Supercharge Them All

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A common metal just unlocked a powerful, low-energy shortcut to faster electronics.

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Gorillas seek out old female friends when they move

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Gorillas seek out old female friends when they move

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A long-term study of female mountain gorillas in Rwanda reveals that when females disperse and join new groups, they actively seek out familiar females they have known before, even after years apart. This behavior offers social support and helps them navigate the challenges of entering new groups where they initially rank low.

Human Behaviour
Female gorillas form lasting social bonds and rely on familiar companions to ease transitions into new social groups.

Human Intent / Need
The need for social support, safety, and continuity in changing social environments.

Demographic
Mountain gorillas, wildlife researchers, evolutionary anthropologists, and nature enthusiasts.

Phenomenon
Social dispersal behavior guided by previous social relationships and avoidance of related males to promote genetic diversity.

Interesting Elements
Females avoid groups with males they grew up with, seek out old female friends, showing remarkable memory and social recognition over long periods.

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Gorillas seek out old female friends when they move

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A study in Rwanda reveals the significance of a social connection between female mountain gorillas.

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Kantar at MakeUp in LA 2025: Understanding Generation Z – A Generation That Both Surprises and Inspires

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Kantar at MakeUp in LA 2025: Understanding Generation Z – A Generation That Both Surprises and Inspires

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Gen Z's pursuit of authenticity, individuality, and self-improvement is driving a new era of beauty, emphasizing personalization, sustainability, and emotional connection.

Human behavior: Gen Z is a highly informed consumer base that researches products extensively, embraces a "less is more" mindset, and values brands that align with their social values.

Human intent/need: They are seeking products that offer both tangible results and emotional benefits, with a deep need for authenticity and a sense of personal control.

Demographic: The trend is centered on Generation Z, a diverse group of individuals aged 12 to 27, with significant consumer power in markets like India.

Phenomenon: The rise of "Skinimalism" and "Slow Beauty," where consumers prioritize a minimalist yet effective routine and a holistic approach to wellness.

Interesting elements: The influence of social media has made Gen Z the most skincare-savvy generation, and they are willing to pay more for products from brands that are transparent and sustainable.

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Kantar at MakeUp in LA 2025: Understanding Generation Z – A Generation That Both Surprises and Inspires

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Kantar took the stage at MakeUp in LA 2025, leading an inspiring workshop focused on a generation that fascinates as much as it challenges – Generation Z. Engagement, creativity, conviction, and high expectations: how the values and aspirations of today’s 12–27-year-olds are reshaping the beauty market and driving its future.

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An Unprecedented View of Merging Black Holes

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An Unprecedented View of Merging Black Holes

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Researchers have captured the most detailed observation yet of two black holes merging, nearly 1.3 billion light-years from Earth. The study validates key predictions by Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, confirming that the surface area of the merged black hole is larger than the sum of the original two, consistent with Hawking’s theorem.

Human Behaviour
Scientists employ increasingly sophisticated technology to deepen understanding of cosmic phenomena and test fundamental physics theories.

Human Intent / Need
To uncover the nature of black holes, validate theoretical physics, and explore the dynamics of space and time near extreme objects.

Demographic
Astrophysicists, physicists, researchers, science enthusiasts, and academic communities.

Phenomenon
Precision gravitational wave detection revealing the detailed physics of black hole mergers and confirming decades-old scientific predictions.

Interesting Elements
Observations include the black holes orbiting in near-perfect circles before merging, post-merger black hole spinning at about 100 revolutions per second, and a “ringing” similar to a bell that helps determine black hole characteristics.

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An Unprecedented View of Merging Black Holes

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New views of two colliding black holes confirm predictions made by Stephen Hawking using Albert Einstein’s theory.

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Octopuses prefer to use different arms for different tasks, scientists find

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Octopuses prefer to use different arms for different tasks, scientists find

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A STUDY of wild octopuses reveals that although all eight arms can perform all types of movements, octopuses preferentially use different arms for specific tasks. The front arms are mainly used for exploration and manipulating objects, while the rear arms primarily aid locomotion and support.

Human Behaviour
Octopuses demonstrate sophisticated multitasking and task-specific use of limbs in complex natural environments.

Human Intent / Need
The need to efficiently explore, forage, defend, and move in challenging underwater habitats using specialized body parts.

Demographic
Researchers, marine biologists, robotics engineers, and nature enthusiasts interested in animal behavior and bio-inspired technology.

Phenomenon
Functional specialization and multitasking in octopus arms, combining flexibility with precise motor control and local neural processing.

Interesting Elements
Each arm can bend, elongate, shorten, and twist, with different sections specialized for various movements; findings inspire advances in soft robotics mimicking octopus flexibility.

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Octopuses prefer to use different arms for different tasks, scientists find

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Creatures favour front arms for most tasks, study suggests, despite fact all eight arms are capable of all actions

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Chicago River Swim approved by city for fall 2025

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Chicago River Swim approved by city for fall 2025

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The Chicago River Swim, set for September 21, 2025, marks the first organized swim in the Chicago River in nearly 100 years. The event offers one- and two-mile races, drawing about 500 participants, including Olympians. It celebrates the river’s environmental revival and aims to raise funds for ALS research and youth swimming lessons.

Human Behaviour
Participants seek unique athletic challenges celebrating community progress and environmental restoration.

Human Intent / Need
The desire to connect with nature in urban spaces, promote health causes, and engage in historic cultural events.

Demographic
Athletes, aquatic sports enthusiasts, local residents, and charitable supporters in Chicago.

Phenomenon
Revival of urban waterways as safe venues for recreational and competitive events, symbolizing ecological improvements.

Interesting Elements
The swim route passes iconic Chicago architecture; event proceeds support ALS research; the swim symbolizes decades of successful river cleanup efforts.

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Hundreds of swimmers will dive into the first open water swim in the Chicago River in almost a century this fall.

The landmark event, set for Sept. 21, will celebrate the city's environmental progress and generate funds for ALS research and youth swim education programs, event organizers said in an announcement Wednesday.

Participating swimmers will navigate a one- or two-mile swim along the main portion of the Chicago River. The route passes "beneath the city's iconic bridges, beginning at the Dearborn Street Bridge, heading east to State Street, then west to Lake Street and concluding near the Clark Street Bridge," organizers said.

Applications for the event are open to the public through 10 p.m. Aug. 11, event organizers said. There is no fee to apply, but prior swim experience is required.

Similar to the Chicago marathon, those selected to participate will be notified of their acceptance and must agree to meet fundraising requirements prior to the event.

The portion of the river used by the swim course will be closed to all vessels during the event and riverwalk access will be limited to specific areas, event organizers said.

Spectators can catch a glimpse of the history-making event along the Riverwalk between Lake and Clark Streets.

Vendors will serve refreshments along the course, and tickets for an official VIP viewing party will be available soon, organizers said.

Plans for an open water swim in the Chicago River hit snags in the past. In 2019, event organizers postponed their plans after trouble convincing city departments to permit the swim. In 2024, the city denied a permit request for the event, saying the proposed route raises safety concerns for participants and the general public. The event then moved to Lake Michigan.

The 2025 swim has the city's official seal of approval, event organizers said in a statement.

"The return of the Chicago River Swim marks a major victory for our city-a testament to decades of hard work revitalizing our river," Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said. "I commend the organizers for their commitment to safety and dedication to empowering Black and Brown youth through swim education. This event is a celebration of Chicago's progress and a brighter, more inclusive future."

Water quality data will be collected leading up to the event, and organizers said they are prepared to cancel or postpone the swim if necessary to ensure safety standards are met.

A "robust water quality and safety program will be in place" during the event, organizers said, including real-time water quality monitoring and more than 100 safety personnel on kayaks, paddle boards and boats. Autonomous buoys, GPS surveillance and in-water timing systems will provide additional support.

The event raises money for ALS research at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and for swim safety education for at-risk children in Chicago.

Despite the venue change, the 2024 open water swim raised $200,000.

The Chicago River Swim is put together by A Long Swim, a non-profit organization founded by world-class open water swimmer Doug McConnell. Plus, thanks to a partnership with USA Swimming Foundation, 2020 Olympian Natalie Hinds will participate in the swim.

"After 13 years of dedicated collaboration, we are deeply grateful to the City of Chicago for its support and commitment to restoring the river's beauty and vitality. This event is proof of what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared vision," McConnell said.

More information is available here.

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First open water swim in Chicago River in nearly a century set for fall 2025

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Hundreds of swimmers will dive into the first open water swim in the Chicago River in almost a century this fall.

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How art is emerging as a form of protest at historic Ganeshkhind Garden

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How art is emerging as a form of protest at historic Ganeshkhind Garden

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At Pune’s historic Ganeshkhind Garden, artists and activists are using street art and murals as powerful tools of protest to address social, environmental, and political issues. This creative expression serves to engage the public, raise awareness, and challenge authority while connecting cultural heritage with contemporary activism.

Human Behaviour
Communities channel frustrations and demands through visual art, making protest accessible and visible.

Human Intent / Need
The need to communicate dissent creatively, foster dialogue, and inspire social change in public spaces.

Demographic
Local artists, activists, youth, and residents interested in heritage and social justice.

Phenomenon
Art transforming heritage spaces into platforms for political protest and community engagement.

Interesting Elements
The blend of historic cultural settings with contemporary protest art creates dynamic public narratives.

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For the last month or so, a group of artists has been regularly going to Ganeshkhind Garden, located at the Ganeshkhind Research Center, and sitting among the trees several for hours to make art. Groups of children and several adults, who are interested in art accompany them, recreating plays of light and shadow, and the shades of green and brown of nature on canvases and sketchbooks.

This is no ordinary art event - the meet is intended to attract people to the Ganeshkhind Garden, a Biodiversity Heritage Site, and pressure the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to rethink its plan to construct a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) on the premises. The Ganeshkhind Garden, built in 1872, is home to more than more than 4500 trees, and several have been marked for felling to enable the new construction.

"PMC's plan is deeply problematic because many of the trees are over a 100 years old. The entire construction process will impact biodiversity greatly. There is no one disagreeing with the fact that there is a requirement for an STP. All we are saying is 'don't cut trees for it. There are empty plots upstream'. They can build the same STP at another site because this is not a residential area and there are no effluents being added to the river here," says Anub George, a filmmaker and one of the artists spearheading the "Occupy Your Green Spaces" project.
A problem of visibility
The PMC project is being challenged in the National Green Tribunal by citizens Meghna Bhandari, Ameet Singh, Rekha Joshi and Gangotri Chanda. A signature campaign has been organised. But, citizens say that one of the problems is that Ganeshkhind Garden is not visited by the public, unlike its neighbouring Pune University. Awareness, engagement and interest in the park is low. "The closed gate of the Garden makes us feel that we should not cross it. People feel discouraged to occupy the space, which is publicly owned," says George. As a result, while "everybody cares when roadside trees are felled", a similar exercise in the garden goes unopposed.

He cites the instance of a road that has been built by cutting down centuries-old trees of the Garden. "Though I live in the vicinity, I couldn't see the signboards that PMC had to put up because the Biodiversity Heritage Park is not open to the public the way it used to be earlier. No one saw the trees being cut and no one protested. At least 80 huge trees - I am not counting the smaller ones - were felled to build a road," he says. This time around, the artists decided to bring the public into the park and awaken their curiosity.

Creativity in protest
"Today, we see that, when it comes to the word 'protest', people become very hesitant. The immediate reaction is 'I don't want to get political'. Since when did having a voice and discerning right from wrong for society become based on which party one was supporting?" he says.

"Get over that and let art bring everyone together in this undeniably beautiful space", he added.
Eco-clubs of schools got interested. Students, preparing for Board exams, looked forward to relaxing with art amid greenery. Families wanted their children to participate. The last meet had 12 children, with another meet on September 13, 8 am -1 pm.

Besides art, there are other activities. Last Saturday, it was tree counting where the group walked among the trees and tried to understand them. The pride of the Garden is the Peshwa-kaleen mango, a tree that was planted by the Peshwas in 1799, but there are a number of other attractions. "The idea is to keep engaging with different communities," says George. For seasoned artists, such as him, the Garden offers a rare light study within the city. "To find this level of green cover, one has to travel 20-30 km to the outskirts. Yet, here we have it within the city," says George.

Arpit Vyas, a mechanical engineer-turned professional artist, says that he has always sought inspiration from nature. "Through our art, we can inform authorities as well about the value of the Garden. We are trying to send out a message that people should join us in large numbers. The art is basic, one is free to express one's creativity while learning about the trees and medicinal plants from experts," he says.

to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

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protests against stp in ganeshkhind garden

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importance of urban green spaces in india

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How art is emerging as a form of protest at historic Ganeshkhind Garden

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For the last month or so, a group of artists has been regularly going to Ganeshkhind Garden, located at the Ganeshkhind Research Center, and sitting among the trees several for hours to make art. Groups of children and several adults, who are interested in art accompany them, recreating plays of light and shadow, and the [...]

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Garba and dandiya transition ideas and 10+ prompts to make your Instagram reel go viral in Navratri 2025

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Garba and dandiya transition ideas and 10+ prompts to make your Instagram reel go viral in Navratri 2025

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Navratri 2025 celebrations are shining on Instagram reels, with creators using AI-inspired transition ideas from popular trendsetter Nano Banana and Google Gemini to make Garba and dandiya dance videos go viral.

Human Behaviour
Young social media users seek creative, visually appealing ways to celebrate and share festival moments online.

Human Intent / Need
A desire for social validation, creative expression, and participation in culturally relevant digital trends.

Demographic
Instagram users, festive content creators, young adults, and Navratri participants nationwide.

Phenomenon
The rise of AI-inspired video editing prompts fueling viral festival content and cultural celebration online.

Interesting Elements
Transition ideas like the dupatta flip, dandiya stick swipe, and slow-motion ghaghra twirl offer fresh, cinematic flair without professional editing tools.

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Why garba reels are the new viral currency: Every Navratri, Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad light up with Garba beats, but in 2025, the real stage is Instagram. Forget grainy phone clips, the trend this year is all about AI-polished Garba reels. With Nano Banana spilling transition prompts, you can turn a basic spin into a reel-worthy blockbuster.

Top Nano Banana prompts for garba reels

Here's the spicy list of transition ideas suggested by Google Gemini that are already flooding Instagram feeds:

Dupatta flip transition - Start with your dupatta covering your face, then flip it dramatically to reveal your full Garba look. Perfect with mirror-work chaniya choli and heavy oxidised jewellery.

Dandiya stick swipe - Hold the dandiya sticks close to the camera, swipe, and boom, the scene changes from casual outfit to full Navratri glam.

360 spin magic - Record a slow spin in your casual look, cut it with a mid-spin in your Garba lehenga. Add fairy lights in the background for extra drama.

Mirror transition - Shoot a reflection of yourself fixing bangles or earrings. Tap the mirror, and the next clip reveals your full festive look inside the pandal.

Bangle drop effect - Hold bangles in your hand, drop them in front of the camera, and when the view clears-you are already twirling in your Garba outfit.

Night glow transformation - Start under daylight in a plain kurti, then snap into a night scene with twinkling fairy lights and a sparkling lehenga.

Group energy transition - Begin alone, clap with dandiya sticks, and as the beat drops, cut to a circle of friends around you dancing together.

Slow-mo ghaghra twirl - Use slo-mo while lifting your lehenga slightly and spinning. Perfect for that dramatic, cinematic vibe.

Double frame trick - First clip with you in traditional jewellery and no makeup, second clip jumps into full glam mode with bold lipstick and glowing eyes.

Ghaghra transition - Start by kicking your ghaghra lightly towards the camera in casual attire, and as the fabric covers the frame, cut to the next shot of you in full festive Garba outfit, smiling and mid-twirl. Perfect for a bold, playful vibe.

Behind-the-scene to stage - Start while tying ghungroo or fixing makeup, then cut directly to you dancing on stage under festival lights.

How to make your reel actually go viral on Instagram using Google Gemini

According to creators experimenting with Nano Banana prompts, it is not just about shooting. Adding trending Garba audio, syncing with beats, and using Instagram's retro filters can push your reel onto Explore pages. The trick is to keep it short, snappy, and scroll-stopping.

Why this trend matters

Garba reels are no longer just for fun, they are about digital identity. People are saying that when you drop a killer transition reel, it is like winning Navratri twice: once on the dance floor and once on Instagram.

Navratri 2025 is all about going Instagram viral with your reels

If you thought Navratri was only about dandiya rounds and bhog plates, think again. In 2025, the celebrations are as much about Instagram content as about devotion. Thanks to Nano Banana, you have prompts, ideas, and the roadmap to turn your Garba nights into viral reel moments.

FAQs
1. What are Garba reel prompts?
Garba reel prompts are creative transition ideas that help you make your dance videos look cinematic and trendy for Instagram.
2. Who suggested these Navratri reel prompts?
Most of these prompts are trending thanks to Nano Banana, a popular Instagram creator and AI prompt trendsetter.
3. Can I use these prompts without professional editing?
Yes, these transitions are easy and can be shot on your phone using Instagram's editing tools or free apps like CapCut.
4. Which audio works best for Garba reels?
Traditional Garba beats, Bollywood fusion tracks, and viral Navratri remixes are the top choices for maximum reach.
5. Do these prompts work for solo reels only?
Not at all! You can use them for solo, couple, or group reels, just tweak the transition style according to your choice.

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Garba and dandiya transition ideas and 10+ prompts to make your Instagram reel go viral in Navratri 2025

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Navratri 2025 is not just about dancing in chaniya-cholis, it is about making your Garba reels viral. Thanks to Nano Banana, creators now have transition prompts that can turn your festive moves into cinematic Instagram edits. Here is a full guide to prompts that will set your reels on fire.

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Where is the MLA?’: Bengaluru residents mark potholes in protest; MLA’s model road promise unmet

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Where is the MLA?’: Bengaluru residents mark potholes in protest; MLA’s model road promise unmet

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Residents of Jayanagar in Bengaluru protested by marking potholes with white powder and holding placards, expressing frustration over the unfulfilled promise of “model roads” made by their MLA CK Ramamurthy nearly two years ago.

Human Behaviour

Citizens resort to visible protests and symbolic acts to demand government accountability for basic infrastructure.

Human Intent / Need

The need for safe, well-maintained roads and fulfillment of political promises to improve living conditions.

Demographic

Urban residents of Jayanagar and similar Bengaluru localities affected by poor infrastructure.

Phenomenon

Public dissatisfaction over delayed civic projects leading to grassroots activism and protests.

Interesting Elements

Protests included powder-marked potholes and direct questions to the MLA; officials note coordination challenges between water and civic authorities delaying repairs.

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‘Where is the MLA?’: Bengaluru residents mark potholes in protest; MLA’s model road promise unmet | Bengaluru News - The Times of India

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Jayanagar residents are protesting unfinished \“model road\” projects promised two years ago by MLA CK Ramamurthy. Dug-up streets and broken footpaths h

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Assam: Artists in Dhubri protest Pahalgam killings through powerful street art

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Assam: Artists in Dhubri protest Pahalgam killings through powerful street art

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Following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, artists in Dhubri, Assam, expressed their condemnation through impactful street murals. The public artworks conveyed sorrow, outrage, and calls for justice, with messages highlighting the senseless cruelty of the violence. The protest united generations, including 90-year-old artist Arjun Sharma, and aimed to raise awareness and solidarity using creative expression.

Human Behaviour
Artists use public spaces for impactful, peaceful protest and communal healing following tragic violence.

Human Intent / Need
The need to raise awareness, express grief, and demand justice through culturally resonant and visible forms of activism.

Demographic
Artists, local communities in Assam, and the broader Indian public reacting to national tragedy.

Phenomenon
Street art as a medium of social and political protest, memorializing victims and fostering collective action.

Interesting Elements
Participation of elderly artists symbolizes intergenerational solidarity; murals serve as lasting public markers calling for peace and justice.

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Assam: Artists in Dhubri protest Pahalgam killings through powerful street art

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Following the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed the lives of numerous tourists, the artistic community in Dhubri has responded with a poignant form of protest.

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India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025: #BoycottINDvPAK and #BoycottAsiaCup trend on X ahead of IND vs PAK match

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India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025: #BoycottINDvPAK and #BoycottAsiaCup trend on X ahead of IND vs PAK match

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Ahead of the high-profile India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025 held in Dubai, social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), saw trending boycotts with hashtags like #BoycottINDvPAK and #BoycottAsiaCup. These calls stem from political tensions and strong public backlash following the April Pahalgam terror attack, with some groups and politicians urging a boycott to protest playing against Pakistan. Despite debates and protests, the match went ahead amid heightened emotions and security, drawing extensive attention online and off.

Human Behaviour
Social media users engage in politically motivated calls for boycott using hashtags to voice nationalist sentiments and grievances.

Human Intent / Need
To express political anger, solidarity with terror victims, and influence national sporting decisions as a form of protest.

Demographic
Indian social media users, political groups, sports fans, and affected communities.

Phenomenon
Sports events becoming arenas for political expression and activism amid national tensions.

Interesting Elements
Political parties and activists burnt Pakistan effigies and urged boycotts of clubs and restaurants airing the match; Supreme Court dismissed pleas to cancel the game but controversy dominated discourse.

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India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025: #BoycottINDvPAK and #BoycottAsiaCup trend on X ahead of IND vs PAK match

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Boycott India vs Pakistan: The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match on 14 September in Dubai faces growing backlash as hashtags like #BoycottINDvPAK and #BoycottAsiaCup trend online. Fans and political leaders are demanding a boycott after the Pahalgam attack, while officials defend India’s participation due to tournament rules.

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NASA Perseverance rover discovers turtle-shaped rock on Mars highlighting strange Martian landscapes

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NASA Perseverance rover discovers turtle-shaped rock on Mars highlighting strange Martian landscapes

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NASA’s Perseverance rover captured an intriguing image of a rock formation in Jezero Crater on Mars that strikingly resembles a turtle peeking out of its shell. The unique shape likely resulted from natural geological processes like erosion and mineral deposits over billions of years. This discovery adds to the growing collection of oddly shaped Martian rocks that spark imagination and scientific curiosity about the planet's geological history.

Human Behaviour
People find familiar animal shapes in alien landscapes, connecting Earth experiences with Martian geology through pareidolia.

Human Intent / Need
Curiosity about Mars’ history and fascination with unusual natural formations fuel science communication and public engagement.

Demographic
Space enthusiasts, scientists, educators, general public interested in Mars exploration.

Phenomenon
Natural erosion processes create rock formations that resemble recognizable shapes, stimulating interest in planetary sciences.

Interesting Elements
Jezero Crater is believed to have once held a lake, making it a key site for studying Mars’ ancient water history; the turtle rock's detailed features were captured with advanced rover cameras and instruments.

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NASA Perseverance rover discovers turtle-shaped rock on Mars highlighting strange Martian landscapes | - The Times of India

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Science News: Perseverance rover has captured an image of a turtle-shaped rock formation in Jezero Crater, sparking fascination and scientific inquiry. This discove

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One Piece flag: Indonesia and Nepal’s Gen Z protesters unite behind a manga pirate symbol

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One Piece flag: Indonesia and Nepal’s Gen Z protesters unite behind a manga pirate symbol

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GenZ protesters in Nepal and Indonesia have been using the iconic One Piece manga flag—the Jolly Roger with a skull wearing a straw hat—as a symbol of resistance against corruption, censorship, and elite power. The flag, associated with the anime’s protagonist Monkey D. Luffy, represents bravery, defiance, and fighting oppression.

Human Behaviour
Youth leverage popular culture symbols like anime flags to voice dissent and unite movements beyond language barriers.

Human Intent / Need
Express resilience, opposition to corrupt leadership, and solidarity in a relatable, non-traditional protest symbolism.

Demographic
Gen Z protesters across Nepal, Indonesia, and other countries facing political crises and government mistrust.

Phenomenon
The cultural appropriation of manga and anime symbols as powerful tools in political protest and youth activism.

Interesting Elements
The One Piece flag’s presence in protests led to government crackdowns, accusations of treason in Indonesia, and global attention to the use of fictional symbols as real-world political statements.

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This Japanese manga flag has become a global protest symbol for Gen Z | CNN

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As Nepal's famed palace complex Singha Durbar went up in flames last week, protesters determined to rattle the government hung a manga flag showing a skull wearing a straw hat against the building's ornate golden gates.

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How to maintain the physical and mental well-being of pets

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How to maintain the physical and mental well-being of pets

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With pet ownership rising in the US, especially among millennials, caring for pets' physical and mental health has become a priority. The increasing cost of pet care drives more people to invest in pet insurance, even as the country faces veterinary shortages. Experts discuss the importance of holistic pet well-being, insurance benefits, and how pets contribute positively to human health.

Human Behaviour

Pet owners increasingly treat pets as family members and seek comprehensive care for their health and happiness.

Human Intent / Need

Need for accessible veterinary services, insurance, and awareness of mental health needs of pets.

Demographic

US pet owners, predominantly millennials, and prospective pet adopters.

Phenomenon

Growth in pet ownership, escalating pet care spending, and veterinary workforce challenges.

Interesting Elements

Pet insurance enrollment has doubled since 2020; Americans spend over $140 billion annually on pets; veterinary shortages put students in high demand.

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Two thirds of American households now have at least one pet, according to a survey by the American Pet Products Association.

Pet ownership has risen by about 10 percent over the last three decades, with three-fourths of those surveyed saying they acquired a pet during the pandemic.

Dogs are the most popular, in 65 million households. Cats and fresh water fish rank second and third, in 46 million and 11 million households, respectively.

Read more: Forbes pet-owner statistics 20225

Half the survey respondents said they consider their pets to be as much a part of the family as the humans in the family.

Millennials make up the highest percentage of pet owners at 33 percent, followed by Gen X (25 percent) and baby boomers (24 percent). Gen Z makes up 16 percent of pet owners.

Mirroring the rise in pet ownership has been a large increase in pet insurance.

According to North American Pet Health Insurance Association, almost 6.5 million people have pet insurance, a nearly 13 percent increase over 2023 and more than double the number of people who had pet insurance in 2020.

People are turning to insurance to help offset the rising costs of having pets. Americans are spending upwards of $140 billion annually on pet care, including more than $35 billion on veterinary services.

Read more: America has a shortage of veterinarians, putting students in high demand

However, with the rising number of pets and the need for care, the U.S. is facing shortages in the veterinary and emergency health industries.

On this week's Noon Edition, we'll discuss your pets, their physical and mental well-being, pet insurance, the availability - and lack thereof - of veterinarians and how having a pet can benefit your well-being.

Join us on the air by calling  812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions  for the show to  news@indianapublicmedia.org.

You can also record your questions and send them in through email.

Guests
David Dunn, executive director, PetsAlive
Andrew Krebbs, executive director, Monroe County Humane Association
Dr. Ricky Walther, Chief Medical Officer and Director of Operations, Pawlicy Advisor

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How to maintain the physical and mental well-being of pets

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Pet ownership has risen by about 10 percent over the last three decades, with three-fourths of those surveyed saying they acquired a pet during the pandemic.

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E-commerce, Tier-2 demands push India’s Korean beauty wave

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E-commerce, Tier-2 demands push India’s Korean beauty wave

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India’s evolving e-commerce and retail landscape is driving strong growth for Korean beauty (K-beauty) products, expanding well beyond metropolitan centers into tier-2 and tier-3 towns. Quick commerce and digital discovery via social media and YouTube have accelerated adoption, with the K-beauty market projected to nearly quadruple by 2030, fueled by Korea’s cultural influence in music, TV, and lifestyle trends.

Human Behaviour

Consumers increasingly seek trendy, reliable beauty products with rapid delivery and social proof influencing purchases.

Human Intent / Need

Desire for innovative, effective skincare aligned with global trends and accessible through fast, convenient digital channels.

Demographic

Urban and semi-urban Indian consumers, especially from tier-2 and tier-3 towns, and younger digital natives.

Phenomenon

Korean beauty’s growth propelled by digital culture, fast commerce, and rising influence of K-pop and Korean dramas.

Interesting Elements

Netflix reported a 370% spike in Korean drama viewership in India since 2020; K-pop streams have soared, creating a strong cultural backdrop for K-beauty’s success.

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E-commerce, Tier-2 demands push India's Korean beauty wave

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India's e-commerce boom and quick commerce are driving Korean beauty's rise beyond metros, with Tier-2 and Tier-3 demand surging. Social media, K-pop, and K-dramas fuel interest as the $400M market eyes $1.5B by 2030, reshaping the country's beauty retail landscape.

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Emerging K-beauty giant APR eyes biotech sector with anti-aging therapies

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Emerging K-beauty giant APR eyes biotech sector with anti-aging therapies

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South Korean beauty startup APR is expanding into the biotech sector, focusing on anti-aging therapies. Leveraging advancements in biotechnology, APR aims to develop innovative skincare products emphasizing longevity and cellular health. The move reflects growing investor interest and the evolving landscape of K-beauty integrating science and technology.

Human Behaviour

Consumers increasingly seek scientifically advanced, effective anti-aging skincare aligned with long-term health.

Human Intent / Need

Desire for beauty products that combine biotechnology with traditional skincare for visible, lasting results.

Demographic

Beauty consumers, especially health-conscious and tech-savvy individuals globally, plus investors eyeing K-beauty innovations.

Phenomenon

Convergence of biotechnology and beauty industries leading to new anti-aging therapeutic approaches.

Interesting Elements

APR’s biotech focus represents a strategic shift toward innovation-driven skincare, supported by strong overseas venture capital interest in South Korean brands.

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Emerging K-beauty giant APR eyes biotech sector with anti-aging therapies - KED Global

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APR Co., one of South Korea’s fastest-growing beauty companies, has unveiled plans to expand into the biotechnology sector as it seeks to position itself as a

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Joy Crookes on her new album Juniper and 'letting go' of perfectionism

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Joy Crookes on her new album Juniper and 'letting go' of perfectionism

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Joy Crookes discusses her sophomore album "Juniper," highlighting her journey of embracing imperfection both musically and personally. After battling anxiety and mental health struggles, she allowed herself to let go of perfectionism, resulting in raw, authentic tracks that reflect her experiences, including themes of healing, love, and resilience.

Human Behaviour

Listeners resonate with vulnerable, authentic expression and relate deeply to themes of mental health and personal growth.

Human Intent / Need

The need for honest artistic expression and emotional connection in music, alongside personal healing and creative freedom.

Demographic

Music fans, especially of soul and R&B, mental health advocates, and younger audiences looking for relatable narratives.

Phenomenon

Increasing trend of artists openly discussing mental health and embracing imperfection to enhance creativity and connection.

Interesting Elements

Crookes recorded some emotionally raw songs in single takes, embraces “jankiness” in production, and names the album after the resilient juniper plant symbolizing growth and endurance.

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Joy Crookes on her new album Juniper and ‘letting go’ of perfectionism

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The singer says she avoided the second-album slump as she “has always got something to say”.

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle

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"Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" is a visually breathtaking and emotionally intense anime film that delivers nonstop action, compelling character arcs, and rich storytelling. It continues the epic saga with stunning animation and music, blending thrilling battles with moments of deep emotion and humor. The movie satisfies longtime fans while remaining accessible to newcomers, setting up a dramatic conclusion for the franchise.

Human Behaviour

Fans engage deeply with emotionally driven narratives and visually spectacular animation, seeking immersive storytelling.

Human Intent / Need

The need for high-quality entertainment that balances action, emotion, and artistic

excellence.

Demographic

Anime enthusiasts, fans of the Demon Slayer series, and wider audiences attracted to animated action dramas.

Phenomenon

Continued mainstream growth and cultural impact of anime films blending traditional storytelling with cutting-edge visuals.

Interesting Elements

The film balances intense combat scenes with poignant emotional moments and humor, maintaining tension while deepening character development.

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Anime movies spun out of long-running shounen series tend to trip over their own scale, with too much plot, too many characters, and far too little time. But the spectacular trappings of Demon Slayer's much-awaited adaptation of its Infinity Castle Arc takes the opposite gamble, for time is what it has in abundance. At a whopping 155 minutes, the modern shounen phenom's splashy new installment is the first slab in a trilogy meant to close the juggernaut franchise, and it feels designed to overwhelm. Demon Slayer has effectively announced that playtime is over.

Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable, the film plunges us straight into the final arc of Koyoharu Gotouge's manga. The Demon Slayer Corps, fresh from a string of exhausting campaigns in the Hashira Training Arc, find themselves swallowed whole by franchise antagonist, Kibutsuji Muzan's shifting fortress - the titular Infinity Castle that folds and unravels like origami under stress.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle (Japanese)

Walls tilt, floors collapse, and doors lead sideways into voids. There's no preamble to ease us in, not even a chance to breathe. The movie begins by abolishing all geography, casting our heroes headlong into an Escher-esque fever dream of suspended gravity. Muzan's taunting lair, rendered in vertiginous sweeps of 2D and 3D, quickly asserts itself as an adversary in itself that's almost impossible to map.

And then the fighting begins, which is, as ever, the franchise's great seduction. Having always been more athletic than contemplative, the powerhouse of Ufotable takes the mandate very seriously. The duels unspool with the fluidity of ballet, but the velocity of a ballistic missile. Limbs shear away in clean strokes; sparks, flames and torrents of water collide in painterly bursts; and glowing nichirin blades trace calligraphic arcs across the frame with a flow that feels almost synesthetic.

There is a Zenitsu sequence so exquisitely timed in which our erstwhile coward unveils a surprise seventh form of Thunder Breathing, that would justify the IMAX surcharge alone. Each crack of thunder lands half a beat after the strike, with the sound design dead set in rattling your teeth.

But the spectacle would be inert without the pathos. Gotouge's enduring trick has been to lace every demon battle with memory and regret, and Infinity Castle leans into the tried-and-tested formula once more. Akaza, the tattooed brute who murdered fan-favorite Rengoku in Mugen Train, returns as Tanjiro's adversary, and what could have been a rote rematch becomes the film's tragic centrepiece.

Mid-battle, his memories begin to peel back and his final act of a self-inflicted death, has ironically been the most affecting beat of the franchise since Rengoku's own martyrdom. In true Demon Slayer fashion, the decapitation feels like liberation once more.Of course, to pause a fight for a requiem may be the most shounen impulse imaginable, but the series has refined that melodramatic detour into its signature gesture - an indulgence its peers, from My Hero Academia downward, have rarely managed with such conviction.

Not every subplot soars. Shinobu's duel with Doma begins with promise but sputters into disappointment, robbing her of the decisive victory fans had been primed to expect (though manga readers would know that the Insect Hashira might just have one final trick up her sleeve). However, the imbalance does reflect the larger issue of the film juggling so many characters, that some inevitably fall by the wayside. Ensemble finales are prone to this triage.

When the movie yields to flashback, or indulges Muzan's oily proclamations, its pacing wobbles without quite collapsing. The backstories themselves are hardly novel but they function like pressure valves, like moments of sanctioned release to unclench before the blades resume their dance. The cycle is familiar by now: encounter, memory, catharsis, renewed violence. But the filmmakers know precisely when to kick the pulse back up.

What distinguishes Infinity Castle is its poise. Where Mugen Train offered a self-contained loop, this film sprawls outward, unabashedly unfinished yet cloaked in the flourishes of conclusion. Each confrontation carries the unmistakable premonition that not everyone will emerge intact. The series' usual streak of comic relief is pared to the bone and replaced with an air of attrition. Even the music conspires in the effect, with Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina's swelling motifs heavy with portent and panic.

The movie is already rewriting records in Japan. Here in India, subtitled screenings at five in the morning are selling out, which is a small miracle for a country where anime movies were lucky to get special cult showings, five years ago.

By design, this is only "Part One," and it's obvious that this is but a taste of the real fireworks that are being saved for later. That leaves the current film in a tricky position of simultaneously too much and not enough. Yet within those contradictions, Sotozaki and his team have crafted a magnificent blockbuster for the ages.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle hits theatres on September 12

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demon slayer: kimetsu no yaiba – the movie: infinity castle

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demon slayer infinity castle movie review

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demon slayer infinity castle release date

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'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle' review: A stunning, sensorial fever dream in free fall

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle movie review: The kinetic, Escher-sketch spectacle of 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' enlists your body for an enthralling franchise experience of fan-pleasing abundances

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Alice Cicolini meets Zoya to create enamelled meenakari jewellery

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Alice Cicolini meets Zoya to create enamelled meenakari jewellery

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International jewellery designer Alice Cicolini collaborates with luxury Indian brand Zoya to create a limited-edition collection featuring 19 enamelled meenakari pieces. This intricate craft involves decorating metal with glass-based enamel, paired beautifully with uncut diamonds, showcasing generations-old artistry combined with contemporary design.

Human Behaviour

Collectors and enthusiasts appreciate jewellery that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.

Human Intent / Need

A desire for unique, culturally rich, and visually striking luxury pieces expressing heritage and artistry.

Demographic

Affluent jewellery buyers, art lovers, and those drawn to heritage crafts and contemporary design fusion.

Phenomenon

Revival and reinterpretation of traditional Indian meenakari enamel art through high-end collaborations.

Interesting Elements

The collection highlights the precision and skill of meenakars, maintaining century-old techniques in a modern luxury context.

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Alice Cicolini meets Zoya to create enamelled meenakari jewellery

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A limited-edition of meenakari jewellery: Zoya by the Tata Group meets UK-based designer Alice Cicolini, where enamel and uncut diamonds…

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Experience the beauty of M9 Design Studio’s Sunrise Garden

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Experience the beauty of M9 Design Studio’s Sunrise Garden

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Sunrise Garden in Bengaluru transforms urban chaos into a lush oasis where nature and architecture seamlessly blend. Every detail, from koi-filled ponds under staircases to plant-adorned double-height bars, creates a space where greenery defines both indoor and outdoor experiences, making paradise accessible in the heart of the city.

Human Behaviour

City dwellers seek reconnection with nature, craving tranquil escapes within urban environments.

Human Intent / Need

A need for restorative, integrated spaces that offer beauty, relaxation, and sensory engagement amid city bustle.

Demographic

Bengaluru residents, design lovers, and those looking for nature-inspired public spaces.

Phenomenon

The blending of landscape and architecture to create immersive, biophilic environments in densely populated cities.

Interesting Elements

Features include koi ponds under staircases, birds nesting indoors, and versatile courtyards, all artfully combined to dissolve boundaries between inside and out.

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Experience the beauty of M9 Design Studio’s Sunrise Garden

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Explore M9 Design Studio’s Sunrise Garden, a unique fusion of space and nature that will elevate your dining experience to new heights.

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Mumbai’s Milagro is a curious hideout for the fine-diners

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Mumbai’s Milagro is a curious hideout for the fine-diners

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Milagro, a new restaurant in Mumbai, transports guests with a European-inspired menu and glowing interiors that blend Spanish flavors and New York’s jazz-age aesthetics. The ambiance features crystal chandeliers, historic Spanish art, and city skyline views, while the menu spans oysters, black ink paella, Catalonian cured ham, confit duck, and pumpkin risotto, creating a multisensory dining experience.

Human Behaviour
Diners seek immersive and memorable experiences, combining international cuisine with artistic, evocative decor.

Human Intent / Need
A desire for culinary adventure and elegant atmospheres that offer an escape from the everyday.

Demographic
Mumbai’s fine-dining enthusiasts, cosmopolitan food lovers, and fans of artistic, well-designed spaces.

Phenomenon
Restaurants as cultural hideaways, merging global tastes with visually rich, story-driven interiors.

nteresting Elements
Menu highlights include black ink paella, and decor features Spanish impressionist art and panoramic city views, making Milagro a unique spot for urban gourmets.

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Mumbai’s Milagro is a curious hideout for the fine-diners

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A restaurant in Mumbai that takes you across continents just by the virtue of its evidently European menu and auroral interiors

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The EDIDA winner Nipa Doshi examines the anatomy of design

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The EDIDA winner Nipa Doshi examines the anatomy of design

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Nipa Doshi explores how decoration, femininity, and feminism converge in design, challenging stereotypes and celebrating ornamentation’s value in everyday life. Walking through Mumbai, Doshi reveals how beauty, context, and urban history are deeply intertwined, advocating that decoration reflects human connection and identity rather than gendered notions.

Human Behaviour

People express identity and belonging through ornamentation, finding meaning in urban and cultural context.

Human Intent / Need

A desire to reframe decoration and beauty as central, meaningful aspects of design and shared life experience.

Demographic

Designers, artists, urban dwellers, and anyone curious about feminism’s role in creative practice.

Phenomenon

Re-evaluating the intersection of gender, history, and aesthetic in design — revealing decoration as a manifestation of collective values.

Interesting Elements

Mumbai’s cityscape offers inspiration: arches, keystones, red bricks, and typography are celebrated as examples of everyday ornamentation and artistry.

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The EDIDA winner Nipa Doshi examines the anatomy of design

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The Indian-born international EDIDA winner Nipa Doshi examines the anatomy of design and its intersections with culture.

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Design Paradigm and Indoors Design, redefines architecture by excavating and shaping the earth’s landscape instead of imposing on it. The home’s spatial form arises from manipulated topography, blurring the lines between built and natural, and creating dynamic, multi-layered spaces that provoke movement and introspection.

Human Behaviour

Residents and visitors are encouraged to engage physically and mentally with the unconventional, layered spatial design, prompting exploration and reflection.

Human Intent / Need

Desire for innovative living spaces that harmonize with and emerge from the natural landscape.

Demographic

Design-forward homeowners, architects, and individuals drawn to avant-garde residential concepts outside urban norms.

Phenomenon

Architecture as an ontological exploration: building by subtraction, using the land’s own logic and layers to guide form and experience.

Interesting Elements

The house’s layout leverages shadows, gradients, voids, and hidden logic, resulting in constantly shifting perceptions and a seamless blend of earth and architecture.

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A manipulation of topography reveals the hidden logic of this home in countryside Jamnagar

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Vaishali Kamdar redesigns FCML’s store in Mumbai

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Vaishali Kamdar redesigns FCML’s store in Mumbai

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designer Vaishali Kamdar revitalizes FCML’s Mumbai store, transforming the bathroom showroom into a striking, design-forward destination. The redesign challenges the traditional neglect of bathroom spaces, emphasizing thoughtful layouts and contemporary style that invite buyers to rethink their approach to home design.

Human Behaviour
Shoppers are encouraged to see bathrooms as experience-driven, integral parts of the home, not mere afterthoughts.

Human Intent / Need
Desire to elevate functional spaces with innovative, immersive, and aesthetically pleasing design.

Demographic
Design enthusiasts, architects, urban homeowners, and luxury buyers in Mumbai.

Phenomenon
The shift from utilitarian bathroom design to aspirational, high-impact interior spaces guided by creative collaboration.

Interesting Elements
Kamdar used the industrial shell and natural light of the building, making the showroom a trendsetting, inviting environment that redefines bathroom design.

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Vaishali Kamdar redesigns FCML’s store in Mumbai

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Vaishali Kamdar explores possibilities of turning the tide on bathrooms, an oft-forgotten space in the home, in FCML’s Mumbai store

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Retail & lifestyle spaces planning for “athleisure + lifestyle + fitness” experiential hubs

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Retail & lifestyle spaces planning for “athleisure + lifestyle + fitness” experiential hubs

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New malls / retail expansions are giving space to fitness / sports / lifestyle brands, making ‘destination’ malls for fitness & wellness.

Human behaviour: people want one-stop places combining shopping with fitness / health service.

Need/intent: convenience plus lifestyle status + experience when consuming brands.

Demographic: urban shoppers, aspirational middle class, fitness & lifestyle brand followers.

Phenomenon: Forum Malls planning an “athleisure-focused mall” near Bengaluru’s airport as part of expansion. Reuters

Interesting elements: co-location of wellness + retail, brand mix (spa + gym + boutique + sportswear stores), timing around festivals for launches.