The online world is evolving at a rapid, seemingly exponential pace. With new technologies emerging from every corner and consumers’ appetites for the content it produces growing bigger by the minute, entertainment has become one of the most powerful and lucrative industries in the world.
Entertainment takes many different shapes and forms, and the online world is in no short supply of it. Movies, series, podcasts, social media, e-books, livestreams, and virtual experiences are just a few of the entertainment channels that people across the globe use to unwind, connect, and have fun.
Every year, a new wave of trends hits the entertainment market, with advancing technologies and digital tools constantly refreshing and recalibrating how we consume recreational media.
Following the latest entertainment trends that are shaping the online world can help both brands and consumers understand the evolving state of the digital media sphere and shed light on some of the most exciting and innovative products on the market right now, as well as what to expect from future years.
1. Mental health and mindfulness apps
Apps form a big part of how we entertain ourselves these days. And in the mid-2020s, while consumer culture is certainly alive and well, many people are turning to forms of content that help them feel better, improve their mood, and adopt healthier ways of dealing with stress or difficult emotions.
Investment in mental health and mindfulness mobile apps has skyrocketed, reaching over $500 million annually in 2022. This signifies a shift in how audiences around the world are perceiving their mental wellbeing and indicates that the online world is making space for more mindfulness looking forward.
2. Multidimensional audio technology
The way people consume music and audio entertainment is changing—for the better. Recent technological advancements in machine learning and spatial audio design are allowing sound producers to create more innovative augmented performances and even 3D music tracks that produce an all-round, enveloping sound that feels more immersive than regular sound waves.
A form of AI and algorithmic content creation, multidimensional audio technology is a trend that is making quick rounds within the music production industry, highlighting the potential for a future of sound design that extends beyond what we ever thought was possible before.
3. AI-engineered content
We couldn’t discuss entertainment trends in the online world at present without referencing AI-generative content platforms like ChatGPT. Marketing brands and consumers alike have latched onto this incredible (albeit creatively controversial) tool like bees to honey, using the generative technology to produce instantaneous and precise content in the blink of an eye.
AI-engineered content is a big trend in the entertainment industry right now for more than one reason: First, it can be used to create entertaining content for websites, social media platforms, school projects, and even entire videos.
Second, the process of using AI-generative tools can be a form of entertainment in and of itself. Increasingly, people are turning to platforms like ChatGPT to make humorous images and videos or engage in interesting conversations with the automaton.
4. Immersive e-sports
Technological advancements in the e-sports sector have rendered it one of the biggest sources of entertainment in the world. Attending livestreamed international sports events via the internet has become a huge trend across the globe, with people tuning in to watch everything from boxing to the Olympics
But what sets present-day e-sports apart from previous years are the immersive elements that have entered the market.
The Las Vegas Sphere, for example, which is an 875,000 sq ft spherical concert area comprised of 1000s of 16K LED screens, enables audience members both in-person and online to enjoy a virtual wonderland of immersive sound and visual design that enhances the sports-watching experience.
5. Content personalization
When it comes to online content-based forms of entertainment such as apps, games at Grand Eagle, and social media profiles, there are few things consumers appreciate more right now than some strong personalization features.
Being able to mix, match, and tailor your world to suit your individual style is something that audiences are craving more and more, fueling the use of AI editing and machine learning algorithms that can predict a person’s interest points before they even know what they are. Spooky but cool!
6. Subscription service model growth
Subscription-based services have seen incredible growth across multiple industries in the past few years—OnlyFans, Asana, Hello Fresh, and Spotify, to name a few. But the one sector that has seen more activity in this regard than almost any other is that of the entertainment industry.
People like subscription-based entertainment because it’s an affordable and consistent way to consume relevant content in a personalized format. It’s also typically a great way to stagger out and organize content consumption from a central device.
The subscription service model is one of the biggest trends in the entertainment industry right now, and predictions claim that this isn’t likely to change soon.
7. Interactive digital storytelling
There is a significant increase in the use of strong narrative themes in visual content right now. Interactive digital storytelling, that is, using visual content to craft compelling, emotional narratives as entertainment, satiates consumer’s needs for authenticity while allowing content producers and artists to connect with people in a more emotionally sensitive way.
The interactive element comes in when creators use content that can be influenced by the consumer, such as Black Mirror’s Bandersnatch (2018), which allows the audience to make decisions on behalf of the characters throughout the movie.
Summary
Understanding entertainment and media trends in the online world provides an interesting look at where we’re at as a society and what our relationship to technology is at present. It offers a snapshot perspective on the flavor of the times and paints a picture of what we might expect from the future of content and entertainment in years to come.
The most outstanding online entertainment trends right now mainly revolve around AI-generated content, subscription-based streaming services, immersive virtual experiences, and a focus on narrative-centered visual storytelling. As we leave the early 2020s and head into the mid-to-late portion of the decade, we can expect these trends to remain active while new forms of entertainment emerge.
