The release of Toy Story 5 sparked a conversation in our office about friendship. 

At its heart, the film explores a very current tension for parents and educators alike: how do we protect the meaningful face-to-face relationships that are built through play and imagination, while embracing the benefits that technology can bring? Rather than positioning technology as the villain, Pixar uses the contrast between toys and a tablet to explore a much broader conversation about what modern childhood should look like. 

We found ourselves wondering to what degree some of the challenges we assume lie ahead for future generations are already shaping the lives of adults today. Are our communities already changing? Has technology irreversibly altered the way we connect with one another? Does work play a different role in our social lives than it once did? And what does all that mean for our ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships, not just with people but with brands too, in modern Britain?