Michael Abata

New media technologies are rapidly emerging. Looking back on the past few decades of media, it’s clear that the content that catches hold plays a foundational role in sculpting how we live and think and interact. As the technologies with which we create and communicate change, cultural transmission will change in tandem.

CAMP’s Columbus Circle store in New York City has added an interactive two-part sustainability activation through a partnership with H&M. The Kid-Powered Style Experience, which operates through Sept. 5, encourages families to work together on sustainable projects. Guests are asked to bring unwanted clothes to upcycle through the installation. The... See more

General Motors Co and travel operator Pilot said Thursday they will develop a national network of 2,000 electric vehicle charging stalls at travel centers to make it easier to recharge near highways. By 2030, US President Joe Biden wants 50% of all new vehicles sold to be electric or plug-in hybrid electric models and 500,000 new EV charging... See more

Last week, Niantic (the makers of Pokémon GO) announced Lightship, a developer platform for localized augmented reality. AR will transform how we communicate. Virtual reality, for its part, also continues to pick up speed. It’s been overhyped for a decade, but I expect we’ll look back and realize the hype was deserved all along; it just came too... See more

Nike on Friday opened its latest store concept, Nike Style, in Seoul, South Korea. The athletics giant in a blog post described the store as a “remixed expression of sports retail culture that blurs the line between physical and digital.”

Nike Style has tech baked into it. QR codes throughout the store allow shoppers to open augmented reality... See more

Lil Nas X embodies Gen Z in his scrappiness, in his fluency in internet culture, and in his unapologetic self-expression. Lil Nas X speaks Gen Z culture fluently; he even helps create it. He effortlessly memes and tweets and posts to social platforms constantly, forging connections with fans and ensuring his own virality. More than any other Gen Z... See more

A reason for optimism is that Gen Z’s know their mental health is poor, and they’re taking action. Talking about depression is no longer stigmatized; more and more people are going to therapy. And new companies are emerging to provide support. Pace, for instance, is a startup that matches you with six strangers for weekly 90-minute video... See more