October 27, 2023

Hopecore and trust, what does it mean to your company?

Identifying with ‘hopecore’ early on can signal your company’s potential to serve as a role model for constructive debates
October 27, 2023

Hopecore and trust, what does it mean to your company?


Identifying with ‘hopecore’ early on can signal your company’s potential to serve as a role model for constructive debates

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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?