Tech Consumer Insights

Appified Side-Hustle
Tech brands are incorporating side hustle-specific features in their apps
Published: December 20, 2020
Re-emergence: February 17, 2026
Trend - Developers are creating mobile applications that can assist consumers and budding entrepreneurs with building and maintaining their side hustles. The platforms include useful features, pertaining to organization, investment, and so on.

Insight - Because the price of living is going up faster than the average wage, contemporary consumers—especially those part of younger demographics—are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their lifestyles in urban environments. This motivates many to take on additional work outside their primary job and this is often either out of necessity or due to an existing passion. In order to not burn out and to keep everything afloat, individuals are looking for tools that will give them peace of mind.
Workshop Question - How can your brand help individuals multi-task?
4.1
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Podcast Tool
Brands help small podcasters create and market their podcasts
Published: December 17, 2020
Re-emergence: February 17, 2026
Trend - The continued popularity of podcasts on streaming platforms has resulted in more consumers trying to enter this space and start their own podcasts. Tools that help edit and advertise podcasts empower average consumers to enter this space, which has largely been taken over by well-known voices.

Insight - The rise of the micro-influencer, propelled by social media, has resulted in more people wanting to use social platforms to make their opinions, talents, and activism known. The increased sharing between peers and to unknown audiences has made consumers more open and entrepreneurial in the digital space.
Workshop Question - How could your brand help empower customers?
5.7
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Dating Challenge
Dating app developers are setting challenges to enhance user experience
Published: December 11, 2020
Re-emergence: February 17, 2026
Trend - Either deployed as a marketing campaign or a new feature, developers of mobile dating applications are inserting more excitement into the browsing experience by introducing various challenge-based activations.

Insight - Contemporary consumers are constantly bombarded with new innovations and interesting opportunities in today's fast-paced environment and as a result, individuals often find themselves in the spirit of being adventurous and trying out something new. This creates a demand for the consistent rotation of exciting experiences that leave consumers not only entertained but also engaged in meaningful ways.
Workshop Question - How can your brand better engage consumers through challenges?
6.7
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Gaming Wellness
Brands in the eSports industry prioritize overall wellness for gamers
Published: December 10, 2020
Re-emergence: February 12, 2026
Trend - "Wellness" isn't typically associated with the fast-paced gaming industry, but brands in this space are increasingly focusing on the overall wellbeing of people who consider themselves to be gamers. This can be seen in everything from mental health initiatives to gamer-specific supplements.

Insight - The gaming industry tends to require focus, concentration, and large amounts of time spent in practice. Whether recreational players or professional ones, many consumers who engage with this space spend a lot of their time in the same position, focusing on their games. This can have unintended health consequences, and gamers are increasingly acknowledging this issue and trying to address it.
Workshop Question - How is your brand prioritizing wellness for its customers?
6.8
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Virtual Cosmetic
Cosmetic brands are being more experimental with their virtual experiences
Published: November 23, 2020
Re-emergence: December 11, 2025
Trend - Distinct virtual experiences that are facilitated by cosmetic brands are on the rise as businesses look to balance customer and employee safety with their bottom line. Experiences include everything from virtual game pop-ups to virtual makeup studios.

Insight - Despite being restricted in the activities they can take part in outside the home, consumers around the world still crave the sense of normalcy that comes with simple things like experimenting with makeup and skincare. Many are turning to brands in this space that prioritize their health without sacrificing the playful nature of cosmetic experimentation.
Workshop Question - How could your brand balance safety and experience?
7.9
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Biodegradable Headphone
Tech brands introduce compostable headphones for greener electronics
Trend - Brands are releasing headphones made from biodegradable materials like plant‑based plastics, natural fibers and compostable foams. Designs focus on reducing long‑term waste, using simpler, repairable parts and offering end‑of‑life composting or recycling options to support more sustainable tech.

Insight - Consumers are increasingly frustrated with electronics that create long?lasting waste, especially accessories that break or get replaced often. They want products that feel responsible without sacrificing everyday performance. Brands are turning to biodegradable materials and streamlined construction so headphones break down more easily at end?of?life, reduce environmental impact and signal a genuine commitment to sustainability—helping them stand out in a crowded, eco?conscious market.
Workshop Question - How can our brand innovate by integrating sustainable materials and end-of-life solutions into our products to meet consumer demand for eco-friendly and responsible goods?
6.6
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Modular Biosensor
Health wearables featuring replaceable biosensors gain popularity
Trend - Brands release smart wearables with modular, swappable sensor modules sold separately; users slot cartridges or plug‑in modules into a durable hub to replace failed parts, add features, or buy upgrades. Products include sealed cartridges, standardized slots, and apps to manage modules.

Insight - Many users resent replacing an entire wearable when a single sensor fails or becomes outdated; they want devices that last, are repairable, and let them add features over time. Brands isolate failure points into sealed cartridges or user-replaceable modules while keeping a durable hub for compute and UI. This aims to lower total cost of ownership, cuts e-waste, enables faster feature rollouts, and creates recurring revenue from consumable modules.
Workshop Question - How might your brand incorporate modular components into your products or services to enhance longevity and user customization?
8.3
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LED Pest
Pest control brands launch smart light-based solutions to attract and eliminate pests
Trend - Brands are releasing UV‑LED pest‑control units that use tuned light spectra to lure insects into traps or kill‑zones, pairing long‑life LEDs with low‑heat designs, and indoor or outdoor formats; offering less-intrusive solutions for consistent pest control in both home and workplace settings.

Insight - Homeowners and facility managers want pest control that feels safer, cleaner and less intrusive than sprays or frequent service visits. Many dislike chemical odors, residue and the need for repeated treatments. As such, there is a clear pressure for less intrusive solutions. Brands lean into this demand by offering energy?efficient LEDs, quiet operation and discreet designs that fit modern interiors. UV?LED systems appeal because they promise passive, continuous protection with minimal effort.
Workshop Question - How might we develop innovative, less intrusive solutions that leverage our existing technology to meet consumer demands for safer, cleaner, and more efficient pest control?
6.9
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Pest Monitoring
Pest control brands monitor pests for preventative data-driven solutions
Trend - Vendors offer IoT solutions that continuously monitor pest activity, send real‑time alerts, score infestation risk and integrate with service workflows; solutions target foodservice, property managers and commercial facilities seeking automated detection, audit trails and targeted interventions .

Insight - Facility managers and operators are tired of surprise infestations, costly reactive treatments and audit failures; they need early warning, verifiable records and minimal disruption. Brands answer these pressures by turning invisible pest signals into continuous data—enabling targeted baiting, fewer blanket sprays, and auditable logs for compliance. This led to brands adopting sensors and data analytics systems for smarter and more effective pest control solutions.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage IoT technology and data analytics to transform traditional practices into proactive, data-driven prevention strategies for our industry?
8.3
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Simplified Editing
New video editing applications enable prompt-based edits powered by AI
Trend - Startups and established editors add prompt‑driven features to trim, reframe, add captions, swap backgrounds and generate B‑roll, packaged as web apps, plugins and APIs for creators and brands; vendors emphasize one‑click workflows, templates and brand kits to speed short‑form production.

Insight - Creators and small teams are under constant pressure to produce more platform-ready clips with less time and budget. Marketers need fast variants for different channels; social creators must publish daily to stay discoverable; agencies juggle many assets. Prompt editing answers the demand for speed and scale, but users worry about loss of narrative control, inconsistent color and brand drift. That tension drives hybrid workflows where AI handle routine edits and humans retain final oversight.
Workshop Question - How might we leverage AI-driven prompt-based editing to streamline and enhance our content creation process while maintaining storytelling quality and consistency?
6.9
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