The Future Laboratory

69 results

Early social media and smartphone use linked to lower academic performance

Children who begin using social media aged 11–12 perform worse in maths and reading tests than peers who delay joining, according to a Nature Human Behaviour study of more than 5,000 pupils.

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Technology

Stat: AI use in the classroom linked to decline in core thinking skills

Two-thirds of secondary school teachers in England say pupils’ core abilities, including writing and problem-solving, are deteriorating due to increased use of artificial intelligence, according to a National Education Union (NEU) survey.

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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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Fashion

Luxury’s Literary Economy

As AI accelerates image and content production, luxury brands are embracing literature as a cultural system, using reading, authorship and intellectual labour to signal value, credibility and long-term relevance.

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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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Culture & Media

The Rise of The Intellectuals

Critical thinking is cool again. In a rebellion against AI slop and algorithmic dependency, a new wave of consumers are reclaiming curation, intellect and deep thought as status symbols, but is it purely performative?

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Culture & Media

Innovation Debrief 2025: Sober Socials

Amid digital overload, consumers are seeking moments of connection away from the internet. But for many, sobriety, connection and affordability are top of mind. Clubs and bars are being replaced with reading parties, supper clubs or meeting in arcades to play claw machines, while coffee shops are emerging as venues for daylight partying.

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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.

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Diverging Demographics

Stat: UK study shows sharp decline in reading for pleasure among children

A new UK survey by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) reveals a shocking decline in children’s enjoyment of reading.

Browsing Reading

Early social media and smartphone use linked to lower academic performance

Stat: AI use in the classroom linked to decline in core thinking skills