Zone’s Turi Henderson-Palmer handpicks and shares the five best new stories on digital trends, experiences and technologies…
1. Feeling the burn(out)
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, so it’s worth mentioning that the World Health Organisation recently added burnout to its classification of diseases. We should also note that 81% of tech workers have said that they’re regularly feeling burnt out.
This is having a profound impact on the tech industry, so UKTN caught up with tech leaders to find out what’s at the root of it, and what can be done to keep it from happening.
2. The end of an iEra
Apple has announced that it is, at long last, discontinuing the once-popular iPod music player. What was innovative 20 years ago has been swallowed up in ever-expanding iPhone capabilities, with “the spirit of iPod” living on in all models that play music. If this news is heart-breaking, die-hards and nostalgia buffs can still get the last of the seventh-gen iPod Touch while supplies last.
3. Think of the children
The market for child influencers online is, apparently, booming, and the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee are reporting that some child influencers could be exploited, and not everyone is playing by established advertising rules. There is risk for the influencers, but also for child viewers, and MPs are fronting the Online Safety Bill to keep people protected on the internet.
4. Queues are so last year
In an effort to reduce in-store queues and to help shoppers who are short on time, Co-op is trialling external click-and-collect hatches at their busy Lewes Road, Brighton store. Between their own online shop and orders through Deliveroo, Co-op’s online offering has exploded, and they’re betting on this solution to make shopping easier for all of their shoppers, both online and in-store.
5. Fifa falls to EA Sports FC
Electronic Arts has announced that it will soon no longer produce football games under the Fifa banner. Beginning in 2023, gamers can find their favourites under the new EA Sports FC brand. Loads of licensing deals with leagues, teams and players remain in place, but this new direction means that, while Champions League will be available for players, the World Cup will not.
