From anti-social-media apps to chatbot beauticians, here are some things that made us say “That’s Interesting” in the studio this week.
Sky’s big-screen bundle.
Thirty years ago, Sky revolutionised British TV with satellites – taking us from just five channels to over five hundred. But far from being content, entertainment’s marched on, with cable TV reducing hassle, set-top boxes reducing price, and the internet blowing everything open… Sky’s latest proposition, Sky Glass, rolls all these innovations (and more) into one. Essentially, it’s Sky’s attempt at a smart TV: a (minimum) 40-inch screen, built in sound system, subscriptions and Sky TV. This foray into closed-system hardware seems more out the Apple playbook than traditional telecoms. But constantly evolving consumer demands means that traditional category players need to work that bit harder to keep up.
Change channel here
Healthy social media.
Social media has a bad rep, with ‘attention-grabbing’, ‘mental-health ruining’ and ‘politically-polarising’ being a few of the complaints levelled. This week we’ve come across two social media apps that are oriented around the wellbeing of users. First up is Minus, a platform that discourages constant use by limiting each user to one-hundred posts for their entire lifetime. Intended more as a commentary than a sustainable business, Minus aims to raise awareness of the addictive nature of conventional social media. Second up is Blue Fever. Billed as an ‘emotional media’ platform, with toxicity-blocking tech and a ban on selfies, it facilitates ‘anonymous and judgement-free groups’ where users can have sincere conversations. Hitting much maligned Big Tech user-experience weak-spots is a fertile area for innovation.
Chatbot beautician.
Most of the beauty industry is preoccupied with younger generations – Gen Z and Millennials. Clean beauty, in particular, is one segment you could assume over-indexes on the young. But Naked Poppy, launched by Jaleh Bisharat (a woman in her sixties), is built on universality. Avoiding the anti-ageing messages that regularly alienate older women, Naked Poppy’s service is built on an AI-led algorithm (read: chatbot) that asks users a whole load of questions – from eye-colour, to how often their lips chap, to what colour t-shirts they look best in – and then uses their information to offer up a tailored beauty and skincare regime. The over 65s are expected to control over 70% of global spending power this year. Ignore them at your peril!
Curate your beauty here
Super(power) foods.
CBD is by-and-large the most in vogue ingredient – featuring in everything from gummies to drinks to dog food. But the compound isn’t the only natural ingredient with physical and psychological benefits. Botanical terpenes – as they’re known – are aromatic compounds found in many plants that, when extracted and consumed, can have positive effects on the user’s psychic state. CBD is just one. Within the plant kingdom there are thousands (if not millions) of other terpenes. Crisp & Crude is one brand that’s caught onto this – releasing a range of ready-to-drink terpene-based drinks that leverage the mood-lifting effects of natural ingredients. Rising interest in functional ingredients is part of the reason the wellness industry is projected to reach a value of $1.5 trillion. What other scientifically backed super ingredients could be integrated into otherwise mundane consumer goods?
Swig here