Each and every week the Square Holes team are deep in the bowels of a number of projects, working to mine all of the insights that we can to help grow businesses and support thriving cities.

Businesses and organisations use these insights to innovate their offerings, move into new markets, track their impact, and hone their products and output. Each week we will be sharing a broad insight that we have learnt for you to use in your own work.

Let us know what you find valuable!

Dylan: The step after

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to speak with a group of migrants about their experiences of learning and improving their English.

What was really interesting was how learning better English wasn’t necessarily the end goal. It was a stepping stone towards something bigger. A better career, further study, making friends, feeling more confident and becoming more connected to their new community.

For many, learning English was about much more than language skills. It was about building a new life in Australia, with more choices, opportunities and independence.

It also made me think about how we measure success in education. Completing a course or improving language skills matters, but perhaps the more meaningful measure is what people are able to do next.

Mahalia: Connection through tribes

As I’ve gotten older, I’m finding more and more connection with people through my hobbies. There is the monthly book club I run for leatherfolk, the friendship built on customising clothing, the community of connections through weightlifting and the regulars at the dog park by the creek.

Our passions and interests draw us to each other, and more and more people are seeking community in spaces that allow you to learn new skills and get to be amongst like-minded people. But meeting around a hobby also lets you engage with people who might sit outside your usual friendship demographic – which, as we explored in our article about third spaces, is very important for expanding our worldview.

So if you have a hobby, or a new skill you want to explore, I would implore you to find some groups that you can go meet up with IRL!

Ewa: Social media and democracy

Is social media good for democracy? It depends on who you ask.

A recent Pew Research Centre study across 37 countries shows growing concern about social media’s impact on democracy, particularly in Western countries. Yet, despite these concerns, the majority of people surveyed still believe social media is good for democracy.

There’s also a significant generational divide, with younger people much more likely to see social media as a positive force than older generations.
We hear a lot about the negative effects of social media, such as misinformation and political division. And these concerns are certainly valid. But social media has also given a voice to people who previously struggled to be heard and provided a platform to challenge established institutions. What some see as a threat to democracy, others may see as an opportunity to have their say.

I’ll be watching this space with interest, particularly as the regulatory environment changes.

Can we find a way to reduce the harm without losing one of social media’s greatest benefits – giving a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard?

Square Holes is a cultural insight studio.

We design mixed method explorations of people and culture beyond the category,  uncovering the patterns, tensions and shifts shaping behaviour to inform strategy, inspire innovation and enable confident decisions. Our studio model brings together the right mix of thinkers, researchers and specialists for each exploration. If you’re navigating change, entering a new market, or seeking deeper understanding of people and culture, let’s start a conversation >