Agalia Tan

Brick is not without competitors: Opal, Padlock, and Freedom are other products on the market gaining steam as methods to curb screen time. But I've noticed Brick has become one of the most recognizable tools in the growing ecosystem of screen-blocking products — recognizable enough that some users now refer to being "bricked" the way people once... See more

2026 will be a struggle. The legacy institutions and tech platforms are consolidating, and this gives them more power. It’s reassuring to see how poorly they exercise that power—churning out reboots and retreads. (If they were smarter, the culture would suffer even more.) Their mistakes offer an opportunity for the outsider.

And the next new thing... See more

“Whimsy builds distance from the pressures of the present, like vintage or nostalgia; living whimsically flies in the face of challenges by presenting an alternate, more playful reality,” says Jane Dhall. “It’s armour, if you will.”

“desire to be unserious in a serious world”.

In 2025, whimsy has increasingly blended with the soft, internet-driven forms of spirituality that are popular right now. Astrology charts, tarot pulls, and intuitive journalling sit comfortably beside pastel accessories, handmade trinkets and other gentle, nostalgic aesthetics. The result is a simple mix of playfulness and quiet metaphysics, where... See more

What links these testimonies is a shared desire for small interruptions in the standardised rhythms of adult life. Whimsy becomes a technique for reopening channels to surprise and emotional immediacy, qualities that are often dulled by structure, screens and repetition.

We are living through an era where trend cycles move at hyper-speed, compressed into 24-hour cycles. Every day, there’s a new shiny fad, a new viral moment, flocks of forecasters and oracles eager to crown them with a new catchy title, in an attempt to drive engagement and visibility in the feed. Yet, these isolated spikes flatten the story and... See more