My apologies, but there are times when reading tweets and social media threads leaves me feeling drained. The prevalence of irony-driven, nihilistic shout-outs often turns discussions into aimless exchanges, overshadowing the potential for exploring new realms of opinions and beliefs.
While nihilism still has a presence, a refreshing new wave of optimism is starting to take root in online culture. As a response to the religiously unaffiliated Gen Z, the rise of nihilistic attitudes among both Gen Z and Millennials, and even my own, much older generation, which has endured years of hatememes and unconstructive spam, out comes the trending hashtag #hopecore.
This is critical, because all the harmful reactions (not to be confused with proactive criticism) have a severe impact on trust – the fundamental currency of all relationships.
Consider conflicts such as Israel vs. Palestine, the divide between right-wing and left-wing political parties in your country (think ‘Democrats vs. Republicans’), or the interactions between tax legislators and companies. On a more personal level, think about your relationship with an ex-bestie, friend, or employee. Through my work on fostering a zero-tolerance culture in the healthcare system, I’ve come to understand how trust can be a significant barrier to progress.
From a business perspective, Trustpilot stands as a brilliant example of how to cater to the need for trust and hope. Many other industries have started to follow: Wellness tourism, third spaces , spiritual events, social emotional learning, digital health, positive media and entertainment and so on. Moreover, new industries are poised to emerge.
How does this impact your business?