🧠 Brain Brew 9 - July

It's coming up to holiday season. 🌻 🏖️

If your kids are soon to be released from their educational centres of excellence for 6ish weeks of 'special family moments' then buckle up for a wild ride. 🐴

Unlike the idyllic summers depicted in Winnie the Pooh and Swallows and Amazons (don't mention the racism!), the 2023 version is more likely to be 11 hours of iPad bashing while stressed-out parents flit between Zoom, doing an Art activity for 5 minutes (that is supposed to last at least 40 minutes that's why you paid £7 for it) and managing horrific flashbacks from Covid times. 😱

No kids, no problemo - it's hanging out in the park for long-lazy days, festival hopping and jetting off to more exciting climes. Just don't mention the carbon footprint. If I sent you an email recently - don't worry about replying - I expect to get ghosted until at least September. My therapist tells me I can deal with it just fine. 😢

So what do we have for you this month in Brain Brew? Loads of excellent stuff. 

This edition completely SLAYS....(my much younger niece told me to write that btw).

1️⃣ We have spoken before about some of AI's positive sides. The opportunities it affords and how it may help us in the future. But - many potential negative implications cannot be ignored. Here's a story from the USA about AI worsening the housing crisis. Landlords are screening out tenants from housing due to inaccurate convictions attributed to them in the algo. And bias built into the algo will double down on structural inequality and oppression.

2️⃣ To learn more on how AI systems can perpetuate racism, sexism and ableism, have a look at this great organisation - The Algorithmic Justice League 

3️⃣ Here's an interesting piece about how Gen Z is upending the buying funnel. A traditional buying funnel states a consumer moves linearly from awareness through to sale. A new report from Edelman suggests Gen Z's relationship with brands often begins at purchase and is too dynamic for the traditional approach. It rings true to us!

4️⃣ Tropes, stereotypes and generalisations are always harmful. So when they are exposed as complete #$&%^Q@# with data and evidence - we love it! Men are hunters - women are gatherers 🤮 Nope - women are hunters. This study shows women were hunting in 79% of societies with data.

5️⃣ Tiltify is a major platform for livestream and digital fundraising. It now has new features supporting live auctions, giving a major shot in the arm to galas, in-person events and philanthropy. They worked with the Immune Deficiency Foundation to raise over $400,000 dollars. More background to that project here as well

With the Sidemen football game selling out in record time last week, it's a boom time for content creators and fundraising.

6️⃣ Our friends at Massive have published their annual top 25 mass participation events in the UK. Virtual events are down and some clear evidence that the cost of living crisis is impacting peer-to-peer fundraising. This report is always worth a read. Shout out to Save the Children & Christmas Jumper Day - the only event not by a health charity to make the top 25.

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We want to end this Brew-Up by flagging two massive campaign wins that make us feel happy. It's easy to become depressed by negative news so here is some positive stuff to see us home. And thank you to the tireless campaigners that made them happen.

7️⃣ Women are 27 times more likely than men to be harassed online. And many groups have called for women specifically to be included in the Online Safety Bill. After SIX years & FOUR Prime Ministers the government have conceded to include guidance on Violence Against Women and Girls. This recognises that women are disproportionately impacted by online abuse. More on this hard fought win here

8️⃣ Flexible working is hugely important for all workers. We were not born to work and work alone. We were born to live! The Flexible Working Bill has passed its third reading in the House of Lords and will become law. So all workers will have the legal right to request flexible working from day one. For everyone. Many groups fought for this and, it is amazing to see these changes happen.

That feels like a great note to end on! 🎺 🎹  

Enjoy your summer sojourn. We are sticking with the Slay.s