A Trend Briefing by Dion Chang
The annual Flux Trend flagship trend briefing – The State We’re In – is a highly anticipated executive summary of where the world is, and where it’s heading. Using the acronym T.R.E.N.D.S. – representing six key trend pillars – the briefing identifies disruptive undercurrents that businesses should be watching, as they signal shifts in how we live, work and play. This year’s theme is:
NAVIGATING
THE DARK FOREST
“The Dark Forest” is a metaphor for the internet as a hostile environment where “digital predators” (bots, trolls, surveillance technologies, etc) lurk. What started out as a human-centric, public web to enable discovery, connection and community growth has turned into a toxic digital arena. The fact that the “dead internet theory” has become reality is forcing users and communities to retreat into private spaces to eliminate the risk of being ambushed, or simply to speak freely.
It is an unusual form of suppression. The dark forest may seem quiet and devoid of activity but simply by making your presence known, now invites risk. Silence or concealment is fast becoming a form of self-preservation and ironically a new luxury and status symbol.
This is a significant swing of the pendulum, specifically for social media and it’s commercial arms where calling attention to oneself was not only expected but key to online business models. What happens when the loud, performative demands of mainstream digital platforms go silent? The ripple effect will affect, not only retail, but shift the social cultural lens, which in turn will have a knock-on effect on civic engagement.
At Flux Trends we believe that, “to change the world, you first need to understand it”. To help you understand what is unfolding, we invite you to join our flagship trend briefing salon for 2026, presented by Flux Trends Founder, Dion Chang.
We will explore 6 trend “pillars”, each a critical puzzle piece to understanding the present and the future:
- TECHNOLOGY: The Dead Internet Theory Comes to Life
- RETAIL & MARKETING: Learning to Speak to AI
- ECONOMY: Slippery Slopes
- NATURAL WORLD: Pre-Empting Extreme Weather Disasters
- DIPLOMACY: Digital Sovereignty
- SOCIO-CULTURAL: The Shift to Analogue and Privacy
If you want to understand – and change – our world, join us for a special Salon Session as we unpack the six key trend pillars that illuminate where 2026 is headed.
Our Salon Sessions start with a thought-provoking trend briefing and end with a robust “Chatham House Rules” discussion and networking session.
The State We’re In Salon Session is designed for:
- Leaders and managers
- Executives navigating change and uncertainty
- Team leaders and project managers
- Coaches and consultants
- Interested and interesting individuals
This salon will help you confidently enter into the void of uncertainty and complexity. It will help you to see change, however disruptive, as an opportunity for growth and transformation.
Email Bethea at connected@fluxtrends.co.za to book this Salon for you and your team.
Date: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Time: 08h30 for 9h00 – 11h00 SAST
Place: Workshop 17 @ The Bank
Corner Tyrwhitt and 24 Cradock Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196
Cost: R670.00 per person
About Dion Chang: Dion Chang is a transition doula and a sought-after trend analyst and founder of Flux Trends which takes the unique view of “trends as business strategy.” He is a professional cage rattler, a strategic thinker, a keynote speaker, and a walking ideas bank.
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