WHAT'S NEXT?: In the years to come, social commerce will become more widespread and the level of personalization will improve with advanced AI solutions & chatbots. The number of worldwide social media users is projected to grow from 2.1 billion in 2016 to 2.5 billion by 2018.

• [New] Many countries in Latin America face an increasing risk of social upheaval in coming months as the coronavirus pandemic slams their economies and exacerbates existing problems.
• [New] Although phones will remain the main device for accessing social media, the usage of AR and VR devices will increase in the next decade as they get lighter and more versatile, expanding their usage beyond gaming.
• [New] The COVID-19 pandemic represents a massive shock for societies and economies around the world and threatens to reverse the enormous progress that off-grid energy companies have made in bringing power to 470 million people in the last decade.
• [New] Social distancing measures will need to remain in place for a longer time, depressing economic activity in the second half of 2020 and leaving more scarring going forward.
• [New] As the economic and health risks of the COVID-19 pandemic are predicted to persist into next year, there are growing reservations about society returning to normal.
• [New] While organizations can create branded AR filters for followers to use on social media, the interactive content marketing of 2020 will have to go beyond the social sphere.
• [New] Bolivia: Nearly $900,000 in previously announced funding, including $750,000 in health assistance to build capacity in COVID-19 diagnostics and improve epidemiological surveillance; and $130,000 in MRA humanitarian assistance will support COVID-19 response efforts for refugees and host communities.
• [New] Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, fintech will continue to play a significant role in the industry's development in the coming years by improving access to financial services and transforming Islamic social finance.
• The strength of the global economic recovery will depend in part on how quickly countries are able to open up for economic activity safely, and in particular how effectively societies comply with social distancing rules.
• The use of digital services offered by Europe's largest banks has accelerated due to social distancing rules, according to Moody's, but the ratings agency warns that heightened adoption of digital services will require further investments in IT infrastructure and may increase cyber risk.
• Retirement communities should aim to be carbon neutral and use renewable energy as part of meeting the UK's target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
• Social distancing will continue to curtail activity across all sectors of Victoria's economy during calendar 2020, raising the unemployment rate to levels not seen in decades.
• Social distancing has driven a collapse in sales volumes, home prices are starting to fall and a sharp fall in employment, a stop to immigration and rent holidays poses a major threat to Australian property prices into next year.
• Banana exports from the Philippines could drop as much as 40% this year - from 4 million tons to 2.5 million tons - because coronavirus lockdowns and social distancing measures have slashed cultivation and transport.
• On-trade revenues have fallen 6% in Europe, but there will be more trouble ahead if social distancing measures continue to be enforced throughout the year.
• The World Bank now expects zero percent growth for Indonesia if large-scale social restrictions last for two months amid a severe global economic slowdown and falling commodity prices.
• Britain is facing an irreversible cultural catastrophe with a projected £74bn drop in revenue for creative industries and the loss of 400,000 jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
• Social distancing measures are still required in most countries and could remain in place until at least the end of the year to prevent fresh coronavirus outbreaks.
• Russia's domestic demand will plunge on evaporating investment activity and falling household spending due to social distancing measures and a weaker ruble.
• The UK could accept non-regression clauses - a commitment not to reduce the levels of protection when the UK exits transition at the end of the year - on environmental and social issues.
• Apple's initiative will start in the US and be rolled globally over time with the goal of challenging systemic barriers to opportunity faced by communities of color, particularly black communities.
• The emergence of online ordering, the rise of organic ingredients, and the use of social media are just some of the vital trends which are expected to drive the growth of the pizza industry in the coming years.
• Denmark, Finland and Sweden make the top three of the SRI 2020, exhibiting the lowest levels of social risk.

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Last updated: 05 July 2020