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COVID-19 Internet Usage Spike
Due to the quarantine caused by COVID-19, there was a massive global spike in the usage of social media, online education, and online businesses/e-commerce. -
Shift towards Audio-based Content
Audio-based platforms gained traction with the rise of Clubhouse, on Twitter spaces, Instagram Live, and Facebook. -
Tiktok Global Domination
Tiktok takes control of social media spaces, gaining a massive influence to society and culture everywhere- especially in Gen Z. -
5G Networks Expand
The expansion of 5G rolled out on a larger scale, increasing internet speed and better connection between devices. It also sped up the process of upcoming technologies. -
Transition to Digital Business and Marketing
Due to the pandemic, companies adopted cloud services and took a more remote work perspective. Amazon Web Services, Microsfot Azure, and Google Cloud expanded greatly. Many companies, businesses, and even government agencies embraced the idea of remote work, so Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other platforms exploded in usage. -
Short-term Video Domination
Due to the influence of TikTok, other social media platforms began embracing short-term video formats. Ex. Instagram Reels, Youtube Shorts, etc. -
Metaverse, Virtual Reality, NFT's
Facebook transitions into "Meta" and creates the "Metaverse." Prioritizing virtual reality and augmented reality- seeing them as a sort of new frontier. Companies invest in VR tech, for example virtual real estate. NFT's and digital art begin to make traction. -
TikTok Strengthens Global Influence
Tiktok becomes the ultimate starting point for trends. Not only taking inspiration from other platforms, but other platforms take inspiration from TikTok. Viewers begin shopping through TikTok videos. -
AI Domination Begins
OpenAI and Dall-E steer the Ai industry and others take after it. This revolutionizes content creation by generating text, photo, and even video. Ethical questions about authenticity and human-made media take hold. -
Twitter transitions to "X"
Elon Musk purchases Twitter in 2022 but no changes begin until 2023, when he changed the name, rebranded it entirely, initiated layoffs, and introduced the concept of "paid verification." -
Social and Livestream Commerce Take Hold
All three of the most influential Social Media platforms introduce their own in-app shopping features. Ex. Tiktok Shop, Instagram Shopping, Facebook or Meta Shops. People sell products via livestream. -
Quantum Computing Advancements
Concepts like quantum computing being to explode in progress and begin to transform cybersecurity and other spaces like healthcare. With such powerful computing, scientists can expand research with much heavier equations. -
AI-Powered Search Platforms and SEO
The biggest Industries begin adopting AI, integrating it into their comapnies. Google introduces AI into their search engines making information available extremely fast- but at the cost of accuracy. This AI also trasnforms SEO allowing more complex searches even involving photo and video. -
Privacy and AI Regulation
Due to AI's rapid explosion, concerns about privacy, misinformation, and unethical usage become real concerns. Some countries begin to take control by targeting social media companies for not enforcing regulations. Huge conversations about unethical AI begin- a popular and well known example being the deep-faked AI photo depictions of Taylor Swift. -
Social Media as an Amplifier in Politics
Social Media is as powerful as ever. People have access to information and experinces like never before. Social platoform algorithms in combination with unethical AI, misinformation, and the idea of digital echo-chambers, create mass division among people, particularly in the United States, with an upcoming election. Political parties use the discourse to their advantage. Ex: Donald Trump's website depicted a deepfake AI photo of Taylor Swift and fans holding a sign in support of him. -
Potential TikTok Ban
Governments, especially the Unites States, begin enforcing the banning TikTok under the reasoning that it does not respect data privacy, is a threat to national security, and fears regarding its Chinese ownership. However, the ban only lasts about 16 hours before an agreement is made between the United States and the company (TikTok). -
The Future of the Internet and AI
Quantum computing, and Internet of Things will shape the internet as they become more integrated. "Smarter" techonolgies and objects- possibly affecting healthcare, transportation, and energy.