Hello and welcome to the Digital Snapshot, bringing you all the latest digital news, inspiration, tips and guidance for the arts, culture, museums and heritage world.
Eyyyy! As always, this month’s issue is a bit of a mixed bag in the usual ways: big-picture questions about tech and culture, some genuinely useful resources, and a small dose of anxiety inducing news. I’ve also gone heavy on good examples with some smart, playful, well-judged digital work from organisations who clearly get their audience. Consider it equal parts inspiration and quiet reassurance that thoughtful, human-centred digital can still make the cut.
Also next month is our Let's Get Real conference on AI and if you've not got your ticket yet... like... jeez, it would be so cool to see you there ❤️.
📰 Latest news
- The Interface is a new BBC podcast exploring how tech is rewiring our week and our world, launching on 12 February. The show is hosted by journalists Tom Germain, Karen Hao, and Nicky Woolf, and they'll be unpacking the unfolding story of how technology is shaping all our futures.
- The Lords have backed a UK social media ban for under-16s in the UK by 261 votes to 150. Early findings from Australia are mixed but suggest that the ban is having a positive effect, particularly on children's mental health. But it's still early days. I found this article interesting, featuring interviews with teens sharing their experiences so far.
- The BBC is pivoting towards YouTube, announcing a new strategic partnership with the platform focusing on closer collaboration.
- Ministers are planning to license content to AI systems from national institutions such as the National History Museum, the National Archives and the National Library of Scotland.
🤓 Useful / shareable
- We Are Cast have created a library of AI experiments by nonprofits. You can sort and filter by sector, size and type. You can also add your experiments too, if you wish. A very useful resource.
- 'Does tech need the arts more than the arts need tech?'. A very interesting article on Arts Professional.
- Digital Arts have become ACE's tenth supported artform.
- Moltbook is a 'social media network for AI'. I don't think I need to share how I feel about it for you to know how I feel about it.
💥 Distracting / entertaining / inspiring
- Here's a fantastic piece of content from the NHS about booking a cervical screening. It's timely and current and a great example of how you can mix serious messaging and with a bit of fun.
- And here's another great example of utilising a trend to send a message. The RNIB took on the Beckham trend to highlight the importance of alt text on images.
- I'm packing this month's issue with some great content examples - so here's another from National Museums Scotland. They created a fun Instagram video, parodying The Traitors featuring the Lewis chess pieces.
- And to round off a section focusing on great social content, here's an informative interview with the Museum of English Rural Life's Marketing Manager, Joe Vaughn.
👍 Something good
- '365 buttons' was deemed to be the first viral meme of 2026. Makes more sense than 6-7 (but only slightly). Interestingly people have said that it shows the growing trend of shifting towards analogue in 2026. Not fully sure how they got there, but it actually only has to make sense to them for them to say it and they shouldn't feel like explaining it to anyone else.
And that’s all for this edition.
Don't forget we're here to support you with training, research and consultancy, so please do get in touch.
You can find all past editions of the Digital Snapshot here.
Image by Lone Thomasky & Bits&Bäume.
