Here’s your TrendWatch for May 2022. I’ve curated and researched 10 long-term, interesting trends from thousands that were highlighted by the data engines at SISTRIX. The trends this month include gampling and adult entertainment, balanced-out by a fluffy toy and some light humour. The full 10-trend publication is only available in the newsletter.
Unblocked Games 76
Most of the schools’ networks block all the major gaming websites. They use firewalls to block or blacklist gaming websites to ensure that their students are not wasting their time playing online games. But some websites sneakily circumvent these restrictions imposed by the school authorities. Unblocked Games 76 is one such website.
Remember being in school, logging onto the computer to complete that final assignment…and play your favourite online game? These days, most schools’ networks block all major gaming websites. Firewalls are used to blacklist online games, ensuring that pupils are not wasting their time visiting gaming sites. However, some websites sneakily circumnavigate these restrictions imposed by the school authorities, with Unblocked Games 76 being one such place. Its use rapidly rises during the final four months of 2021 – just in time for the new school term beginning in September.
Uluru
Uluru is the original aboriginal name of Ayers Rock Australia. In 2017 the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’, is a call to establish a ‘First Nations Voice’ in the Australian Constitution. The topic gained sustained interest when the Australian Labour party, which just won the federal election, made it a central topic of their campaign platform.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are not mentioned at all in the Constitution. The Constitution currently states that the land was terra nullius which means “nobody’s land”. The Uluru statement provides a practical path forward to finally address the issues that governments alone have been unable to resolve. The Uluru statement has been rejected in the past because it was felt that the language of the final statement was too watered down to be effective. Once accepted into legislation it will result in the establishment of a Makarrata Commission for the purpose of treaty making and truth-telling.
The first thing the new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said in his victory speech, was to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land where he stood. The Aboriginal communities in Australia finally have an ally in power that may affect real change. Let’s all cross our fingers we continue to see Uluru trending.
Gaslighting
Urban Dictionary describes “gaslighting” as “a form of intimidation or psychological abuse, where false information is presented to the victim, making them doubt their own memory, perception and quite often, their sanity”. The term itself comes from the 1944 film Gaslight, in which a husband uses trickery to convince his wife that she is mentally unwell so he can steal from her. Its use has trickled into the 21st century, with searches for the term rising since 2020. Whilst it is sad that gaslighting is still a real and dangerous problem, increased awareness around the term can only be a good thing.
