Seeking trends in the new normal

What are the current trends in 2020? This question might be a bit tricky to answer during the year where our behaviour completely changed. Are we merely adapting to the pandemic lifestyle or were some trends inevitable? And which new habits might be here to stay?

If you take a look at Pinterests recent search data it becomes clear that we are looking for positivity and stability, both within ourselves and our surroundings. Spending more time at home has made us more concerned with having clear spaces for work and for our interests, and people are searching for inspiration on interior design and hobbies.

We are consuming more news than ever, and there’s especially been a dramatic increase among millennials and gen Z. This could be linked to our concern of being exposed to fake news and deepfakes. It is clear that people search for stability and comfort during a crisis, and even if traditional medias has been distrusted for quite some time they are also the ones we count on in uncertain times.

Online shopping has had a dramatic increase by 30% this year. This demand combined with people staying at home and new tech innovations has allowed a new phenomenon to emerge – Livestream Shopping, that was recently launched on Instagram. To be successful when it comes to Livestream Shopping streaming pioneers Bambuser advice brands to present varied content, activate the viewers and think of it as part of a long-term brand building process.

Other trends to consider from this year: Video first:

• We’ve had the mindset mobile-first long enough for it to come naturally, now we need to establish video-first in order to create higher engagement (…and don’t forget to use subtitles for your content, always!)
• Streaming is everything: The landscape of streaming is only growing. Both Disney and UEFA have launched their own sites and popular royalties Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have signed a deal with Netflix. The gaming industry is also a key player here, with Fortnite being Netflix’s biggest streaming competitor.
• Sound On: The audio market is booming! We’re not just talking about audiobooks and podcasts but new emerging techniques for audio recognition, smart speakers and logos with added sound that strengthens brand identity.

In a year where everything changed we hope that more people will focus on what really matters in life, and that the search for things that bring stability and positivity can continue and grow. An overall conclusion from 2020 is that this was the year where trends that have been discussed the past 5-10 years effectively grew in both numbers and size.