Chaos or Connection? The Global Media and Information Landscape in 2035

How will the media and information landscape appear in the year 2035? What, if any, regulations for social media platforms will be in place? And who will impose and enforce them? Who will control global data flows? How will the global state of media literacy and freedom of speech evolve? How will forces like nationalism and populism develop? What will the geopolitical balance between states look like, and how will it influence media actors and the distribution of and access to information?

Methods described in detail here

Key uncertainties were derived from expert interviews. These uncertainties were split into two scenarios: a 'pleasant' outcome and an 'unpleasant' outcome.

Scenarios include a description of key uncertainty outcomes, a history of the future timeline, a diary entry, factors driving the scenario, and implications.

Drivers mentioned include:

• Freedom of Speech
• Social Media Platform Regulation
• Digital and Media Literacy
• Nationalism and Populism
• Geopolitical Balance between States
• Data Flows and Sovereignty
• Mistrust
• Disconnect
• Decline of the Nation State
• Digital Scores
• Growing Frustration with and Lack of Trust in Big Tech
• New Business Models and Technologies
• Emergenge of New International Organizations Governing Information and Data Flows
• Information Wars

Categories: 2021 publication year | 2030 time horizon | 2030s time horizon | 2035 time horizon | English publication language | communications technology | conflict | geopolitics | global geographic scope | information | media | nationalism | networks | polarization | social media drivers methodology | scenario methodology | expert interview methodology | backcasting methodology