It is incredible to think about how the internet has changed just about every aspect of life over the last 30 years. An amazing amount has changed in just the last three years, so much so that many aspects of life from before COVID-19 now seem prehistoric. The internet is now an integral part of modern life, and constantly new trends are emerging that are impacting all areas of society. It can be hard to keep up when there are so many trends emerging, so this post will look at a few of the main trends you will want to keep an eye on now and in the years to come.

Remote Work

Perhaps the most notable trend to emerge from the pandemic has been the rise of remote work. Remote work has been normalized in recent times, with most businesses now adopting either a hybrid or fully remote model. Remote work brings a range of obvious benefits for employees, including flexibility, a greater work-life balance, no commute, and the ability to live anywhere. Remote work can also be beneficial for businesses as it can improve employee morale. Many report an increase in productivity, lower costs, and the ability to cast a much wider net when it comes to recruitment.

While there is now some push to return to the office, many employees now prioritize remote work and will look for work elsewhere if forced to return to the office full-time. It seems that it will now be impossible to return to how things were before the pandemic, especially when remote work can be mutually beneficial. Of course, remote work is only feasible thanks to the internet and the development of collaboration tools and videoconferencing software.

E-commerce

The e-commerce industry continues to skyrocket each year. Again, this was accelerated by COVID-19 when people started to buy items online that they would previously buy in person. Nowadays, people get practically all of the items that they need to be delivered straight to their door. E-commerce brings convenience with the ability to shop 24/7 and from the comfort of home; plus, you are not limited by what you find in your nearby shops – you can even buy products from sellers all over the globe.

Second-Hand Market

Following on from this, the second-hand market has exploded in recent years. Many excellent second-hand online marketplaces make it easy for people to both buy and sell second-hand goods online. This can include clothing, technology, entertainment, furniture, and even second-hand cars. It is easy to see why this industry is flourishing as people can make huge savings by purchasing second-hand goods (which is useful during a cost-of-living crisis), they can reduce their environmental impact, and find unique/vintage/interesting items online.

Cybersecurity

While there are numerous benefits to the internet, and it has changed a lot about life for the good, you will find that there are drawbacks. Cybercrime is a huge and growing threat, which is predicted to cost an eye-watering $10.5 trillion by 2025 annually. Both businesses and individuals are targeted by cybercriminals, who use technology and social engineering tactics to cause significant damage both digitally and in real life.

As a result of this, cybersecurity is a major and essential trend right now. While criminals are using increasingly advanced technologies and tactics, the cybersecurity industry continues to evolve at a rapid rate to protect against the latest and most advanced attacks. While it is important that people have high-quality cybersecurity products, it is also important that they educate themselves on how to stay safe online – as many as 95% of cyber attacks succeed due to human error.

Virtual Reality

An exciting type of tech that is already transforming many industries right now is virtual reality (VR). VR enables users to immerse themselves in virtual worlds, which can be used both for entertainment and practical purposes. Video games are one of the most obvious examples, with VR games enabling people to take their gaming experience to new levels and share amazing worlds with other gamers. VR can also be used in several commercial industries, including education, retail, architecture, and real estate.

Online Casinos

Following this, many people use the internet for playing games nowadays. In particular, online casinos are proving to be popular in 2023, with people of all (legal) ages and genders playing worldwide. There are many games that people enjoy playing, but slots online are perhaps the most popular. This is because slot games can be played immediately, they do not require any skill or strategy, and hitting the jackpot can provide a surge of adrenaline. The best online casinos will have incredible visuals, amazing special effects, bonus features, free spins, and more. You can also find a huge selection of slot games to play, including retro-style games, movie-themed slots like Lord of the Rings, and sports-themed slot games. You also want to make sure that you are using an online casino that is licensed and regulated to ensure that you can enjoy fair and safe gameplay. The best online casinos will also offer a range of payment options, including cryptocurrency, so it will never be difficult to start playing games.

Online Gaming & Esports

Online gaming grows in popularity with each passing year. While video games have historically been seen as a solo activity, these days, it is one of the main ways that people socialize. People can play games with friends and even people from all over the world, which can enhance the gaming experience.

This has also led to the astonishing growth of the esports market – it is predicted to reach $12.10 billion by 2030. Esports is competitive video gaming where individuals or teams compete against one another in various video games. This has become a global phenomenon in recent years, with tournaments attracting millions of viewers from all over the world. This has also led to professional players, many of whom now earn as much as professional athletes in terms of both salary and sponsorship.

Social Media

Social media burst onto the scene and became hugely popular in the 2000s, and life has not been the same since. If anything, social media has become an even bigger part of life in recent times and is used heavily by people of all ages these days. Of course, social media is a great way for people to connect and maintain relationships, but it is also big business nowadays. Social media marketing is a critical part of any modern-day marketing strategy as social media provides an enormous platform for brands – there are an astonishing 4.8 billion users worldwide. This allows businesses to reach a much larger audience, engage their target market, and showcase their expertise.

Influencer Marketing

Leading on from this, influencer marketing has emerged to become a gigantic industry in 2023. Consumers rely heavily on influential social media figures to recommend brands and products/services, so it is easy to see why businesses are investing heavily in influencer marketing. Influencer marketing can help a brand to instantly reach a much larger audience as well as build brand credibility. This will be an interesting trend to watch as it shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon, with many people aspiring to become influencers and creating their content online.

Subscription Services

These days, it is common for one person to pay for numerous subscription services. This often includes things like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Apple TV, and Spotify, just a few examples. Streaming services make a lot of sense for the consumer because they can provide instant access to an enormous library of media, which makes it easy to find new content, and there are no limitations. It also makes sense from a business standpoint as these companies can rely on predictable income every month. While subscription services are hugely popular these days, some prefer to physically own their entertainment and are resistant to the culture of streaming.

Internet of Things

The Internet of Things is a growing trend referring to interconnected devices that can exchange data and communicate with one another. This technology can be used in all kinds of exciting and innovative ways and will play a major role in business and life in the future. One of the best examples of how this tech works is with smart homes – having interconnected devices enables homeowners to improve life at home with devices, including lights, thermostats, appliances, and security cameras that can be controlled remotely. The Internet of Things is also used heavily in industrial settings with the ability to automate processes, monitor the health of equipment, predict maintenance needs, and improve overall efficiency.

While there are many benefits to interconnected devices, it does present a cybersecurity concern. Having interconnected devices can put the entire network at risk, which is why it is important to adopt robust security measures when using this kind of technology. This can include performing regular updates, MFA, and data encryption.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is an interesting trend and certainly, one to keep an eye on. While currently, it seems that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are not particularly prevalent, it is important to be aware of just how volatile the value is, with several sharp rises and crashes over the last 13 years. Bitcoin reached its peak of a staggering $68,789 on November 10th, 2021, but has since plummeted.

While the value of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies seems to be in a lull right now, you will find that cryptocurrencies are becoming a more accepted form of payment. With a lot of economic uncertainty in the last few years, it will be interesting to keep an eye on cryptocurrencies to see if a bull market is around the corner.

EdTech

The way that people learn has changed a lot in recent times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and colleges were forced to turn to online learning – much like remote work, this has changed the industry. While most formal education now takes place in person again, you will find that many courses and programs can be taken entirely online these days. Online learning can provide convenience to the student with the ability to study from the comfort of their own home and often with the ability to fit in lessons around other responsibilities.

In addition to courses, many people also use apps and online programs to develop new skills. Skills like learning a new language or playing a musical instrument can be developed entirely online these days, which encourages people to try new hobbies.

AI & Machine Learning

Of course, AI and machine learning are huge online trends in 2023. It is a fascinating time as these technologies are beginning to become prevalent in practically every industry as they can be used in so many ways. AI is a divisive topic, though, because while it can do a lot of good and the potential upsides of artificial intelligence are breathtaking, you will also find that it can do a lot of damage in several different ways. There are concerns that AI could lead to millions of job losses, the fast spread of misinformation, advanced cybercrime, and even uncontrollable self-aware AI.

As technology is changing life as we know it, this will certainly be an online trend to keep an eye on in the months and years to come. It is also intelligent for people to learn to embrace AI, as those who do not will inevitably fall behind.

These are a few online trends that you will want to keep an eye on moving forward. It is interesting to think about how much life and business have changed over the years due to the internet, and even the last few years have been transformative. It is hard to imagine life without the internet nowadays as it is such an integral part of modern life, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds, particularly with the rise of technology like AI and the Internet of Things.

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Team OWN November 10, 2023

677 8 minutes read