This is a topic I've pondered time and time again, and I figured now would be a good time to discuss it. See, today most savvy internet users claim stuff like "current year bad" or "this trend needs to die." Trends like minimalism and bean-mouth come to my mind.
Now here's the thing. Trends always come and go. And if there's one thing I'm really ready for, it's the next big thing. I'm really interested in the potential renaissance that media or the Internet could go through in the next couple years. Some may argue that we currently live in an Internet dark age, and some pessimists claim that the Internet will never be good again, but that just further proves my point. If anything, a dark age is almost always followed by a renaissance.
One big common trend I've seen this year in particular is the increase in noise between consumer and corporation. When a corporation does something that their consumers don't agree with, they'll really try to speak up. Examples off the top of my head include #BringBackNationalDex and the 2018 YouTube Rewind. Why is this a good thing? Because it tells me that people want change. They are ready for change. The most important thing to be aware of with generational shifts is the concept of counter-culture. Compare the colorful, radical tone of the 80s, to the brash, rebellious tone of the mid-to-late 90s, to the clean, futuristic tone of the early 2000s. Counter-culture is important because it helps shape the next generation, and the next one after that.
Another thing I would at least like to bring to light is a new renaissance in Japanese media. The Olympics next year are being held in Tokyo. And if you've been paying attention, Anime and Japanese-developed video games are hitting new strides on the internet and in pop culture. Compare offerings such as Breath of the Wild, Persona 5, or Nier Automata to Battlefront II EA or Anthem. Which group of games do you feel people speak about in a more positive light? If anything, Japan favoring more complete experiences is good for the industry. In the 80s and 90s, Japan held a major stronghold on the video game industry (Nintendo, Sega, Sony), and most video game companies developed using the Japanese mindset. If Japan continues their uphill stride, maybe Western developers like Activision and gasp! EA, may change their mindset.
And before you give me the "The world will never be good again" card, here's the thing, you need to realize that at one point, things will get better. It's just a matter of "when", not "if." Do you think people thought the world would ever pick itself up again during The Great Depression, or World War II?
I'd like to see what you're excited about with the 2020s, and if you have any hopes or predictions yourself!
let the 20s come