Contrary to what many futurists have predicted society would look like in 2050 and beyond, the future will likely feel more or less the same as today. Erik Hoel suggests that while we might have put a colony on Mars by 2050, gotten rid of physical stores, and accepted genetic engineering to avoid disease, society won’t drastically change technologically in 30 years. Technological advancements will be there, but so seamlessly integrated into our lives that it doesn’t feel like the radically-different future filled with hovering cars predicted by futurists. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here