Social Futurist's Twelve Trends for 2012

Mal Fletcher

Wednesday 14 December 2011

SOCIAL FUTURIST’S TWELVE TRENDS FOR 2012

London, England: 14 December 2011 – De-Gadgetisation, New Frugalism, Mass Collaboration, Cultures of Innovation, Privacy and Lifestyle Logging, and Technology Refuseniks.

These are among 12 social shifts in technology and culture for 2012 predicted by Social Futurist, Mal Fletcher. Widely broadcast and published, Mal Fletcher has researched social trends for two decades and leads the London-based Think Tank, 2020Plus. 

He says: “My interest in the future is not merely in its technological, economic or political dimensions. I’m interested in what they might mean for people – in families, communities, companies and groups of all kinds.”

Mal Fletcher’s ’12 Big Shifts for 2012’, and the public’s predicted response, include:

Technology Refuseniks – interest groups will come together, concerned that technology is moving faster than measures to protect the quality of human life and the environment.

Neo Frugalism – more people will adopt a simpler, less consumer-driven lifestyle with greater levels of physical human interaction. 

De-Gadgetisation – 2012 will see a drive to recalibrate our reliance on digital communications. New studies will emerge showing the impact of Absent Presence and Constant Partial Attention, which limit human ability to interact meaningfully in real-time.

Generational change – the ‘Millennial’ generation will start to exert a strong social influence as their digital-thinking merges (and clashes) with the old-style analogue world. Mass collaboration will lead to the invention of new industries.

Housing: Have’s versus Have Not’s – expect a growing clamour about the wealth gap between those who own homes and those who cannot get on the housing ladder. Strong demands for tenants’ rights and more rent-to-buy arrangements.

Privacy – a discussion on the privacy of everyday people will focus on the role of social networking and mobile phone services in providing data-mining opportunities for marketing companies and the monitoring of workplace communications. Lifestyle logging will become big business.

Anxiety – insecurities surrounding the economy and the speed of change in technology and social structures will lead to a rise in anxiety and other forms of psychological distress. 

Family – there will be a growing discussion on the need to protect and promote family life – and what constitutes a family – focusing on issues of child welfare and adult rights.

Mal Fletcher’s full article will be published on the 2020Plus website on 14 December 2011. 

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