PMG Named Among Adweek’s Fastest Growing for Third Consecutive Year

It was a year unlike any other, defined by unprecedented events, yet characterized by a strong sense of togetherness and community around the world. And though year in review stories are a time-honored tradition for publications, this year’s batch feels different. In similar form, many of the major tech platforms published detailed reports and insight into what drove the most significant amount of conversation and engagement among viewers and users this year and what trends will carry into 2021.

Renewed Focus on Social Good & Wellness

The events of 2020, including the devastating wildfires and ecological losses in many parts of the world, the pandemic and its economic impact, as well as the national reckoning of racial equality and equity, collectively turned the public’s attention to social issues related to civil action, social justice, education, mental health, and improving sustainability initiatives and environmental protections.

According to the World Bank, the pandemic has had a wide-ranging impact on nearly every aspect of life and economic development, including:

Millions of families have been forced to make trade-offs and sacrifices that will harm global health and learning outcomes as a result of job loss and financial insecurity. Student dropout rates have also grown worldwide since the pandemic began.

Reversing the gains made in economic progress, economic empowerment, voice, and the agency of women everywhere.

A global rise in food insecurity, conflict, and violence resulting from economic lockdowns and the pandemic’s impact on public health and business sectors.

A renewed focus on mental health and wellness has also emerged due to the pandemic, with health and fitness firms like Calm and Peloton experiencing record adoption and growth. In contrast, a greater emphasis has been placed on addressing and monitoring the pandemic’s psychological impact across academia, public health organizations, and large businesses with the resources to offer new benefits for employees.

Google’s 2020 Year in Review noted that searches for invisible disabilities doubled, demonstrating the collective awareness of disabilities including PTSD and autoimmune disorders in 2020. “How to donate” was searched twice as often as Google searches related to “how to save money.” According to Reddit’s 2020 Year in Review, some of the most discussed topics in r/worldnews included COVID-19, Climate Change, and Human Rights, while the most discussed in r/longdistance included separations due to COVID-19, supporting one another’s mental health, and more.

Further Reading: PMG on Reaching and Resonating with Women Impacted by the Pandemic

Stay-at-Home Culture Fosters Streaming’s Growth

As we reported in last week’s briefing, in 2021, pandemic-induced behavior and pre-COVID normalcy are likely to co-exist, assuming that once vaccines are out and the pandemic is under greater control, pent-up consumer demand will make up for lost time in the entertainment sectors hit hardest by restrictions – including cruises, theme parks, and live events. Simultaneously, streaming, podcasts, and gaming will continue to rise and orbit the home, as home continues to be the center of how we live, work and play.