This document discusses trends in digital consumer behavior, commerce, social media, and technology. Some of the key trends discussed include the emergence of two groups around privacy - those who openly broadcast information and those who want secrecy. Content is increasingly vetted by consumers themselves through digital democracy. Life sharing on social media is growing exponentially. Easy to implement APIs will integrate social features across more websites. Emerging markets will see a focus on rural populations and growth of mobile marketing through cheaper, more powerful technologies.
34. Although mobile Smartphone apps
have become an increasingly
popular way of engaging with
customers, mobile ad spend which
stood at £xxm in 2xxx is set to
increase by over 1xx% over the
coming x years
These are the people who will happily and publicly document each and every aspect of their lives via YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and now you can literally track their every step via GPS platforms such as Foursquare and Gowalla
And those who will live an entirely different ‘other life’, under the guise of an avatar who is, more often than not, a polar opposite to their real-world self.
Mobile use and conversations in person are commonplace in younger groups. Arenas where multiple use is frowned upon is decreasing. The social etiquette has matched the desire for multiple usage and consumption of media.
Guidelines for contact with children, blunt instruments for web access and fragmented monitoring for cyber-bullying are all functions in place at present. But users may seek to circumvent these tools. Education would appear the best defence but increasingly, parents and peers are taking matters into their own hands and acting as ‘eyes and ears’ on social media sites.
Consumer behaviour will be increasingly influenced by peers, parents, schools, institutions and brands.
Censorship will remain a largely regulatory exercise, although the content matter itself will be vetted by consumers.
These ‘zones’ will be self-selected by users and policed by users and communities.
This can be see in the phenomenal rise of social media functions such as ratings, “like” tabs or comments
Users will become familiar with what it means to “like” a product.
This will allow for a more robust mobile experience to be downloaded and even faster new standards like 4G will reach urban areas.