Mispredictions for 2012
It’s that time of year where everyone makes predictions about the year to come. So instead of that I’m going to debunk the three most popular predictions.
1. Mobile taking over the internet
For the fifth year in a row everyone is predicting this year will be the year of mobile. I’ll believe it when it happens. Sure there will be more and more mobile devices coming into previously untouched markets. Asians and Africans who may never in their lifetime see a computer will have access to smartphones. However the people who create the internet are still doing it with their iMacs and digital SLRs. We won’t see mobiles taking over the world until typing, reading and cameras on them are drastically improved. Until then all they’re good for is Instagram photos and showing off which restaurant you’re at.
2. End of the world
Ok this could happen, as the SNL skit below demonstrates. But most likely the world won’t end with the Mayan calendar. It seems likely there will be more natural disasters and unpredictable weather in the coming year. With a slew of conservative governments being elected across the world there won’t be much money or time going into humanitarian or environmental causes. The morbid truth is we won’t see the end of the world but we will see more animal species becoming extent and more human suffering in 2012.
3. China will over take USA as world power
Who are we kidding? China owns USA and has a military which could kick it’s butt and now they have an American drone too. I’m not trying to say that China won’t take over USA, I think they are already there. But what have they done with their power? Fuck all so far. Throughout history China has lead the way and let other nations steal the glory (think paper or the carb diet). The same thing is happening now; they perpetuate the illusion of the West being in control. Maybe they will take over the world with their military force next year, but I think they’ll lay low for awhile yet.
So that’s my rather negative mispredictions. Here’s a collated list of other 2012 trends, many are advertising / digital related. I thought this slideshow from Millward Brown was quite good:
