The Future Laboratory

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Instagram turns reading into a social signal

Instagram has introduced a profile feature that lets users display the book they are currently reading, turning literary taste into a new prompt for social interaction.

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Marketing & Branding

Coach spotlights banned books in Explore Your Story campaign

Luxury brand Coach has partnered with publishing company Penguin Random House and a range of independent publishers across Asia-Pacific to create fully readable miniature book charms for its bags, many featuring banned works.

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Culture & Media

How Spotify’s book strategy signals the return of intellectual culture

Audio streaming app Spotify is deepening its push into publishing with two updates designed to make reading more fluid across formats.

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Technology

Stat: Nearly a third of children starting school are struggling with basic…

Nearly a third of children starting reception in England and Wales are struggling with basic analogue skills, revealing a widening gap between home environments and classroom readiness.

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Design

Dehydrating Book highlights the global water crisis

Water for People, Edelman and Toronto studio The Gas Company have designed a book that can only be read when wet.

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Culture & Media

Future Forecast 2025: Pop Culture & Media

From immersive experiences to creator-driven content and innovative storytelling, pop culture and media innovators are reshaping how audiences engage with entertainment.

Community Commerce visuals by Pitch Studios for The Future Laboratory

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Fashion

Foresight Friday: Seyi Oduwole, foresight analyst

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, foresight analyst Seyi Oduwole discusses teens and technology, expensive sneakers and bookshop booms.