Talk:Scenario: Life in the 2020s/@comment-2016617-20170503202852

Much of this sounds a little too nostalgic, but as the population in general gets older, nostalgia may be big business. Retro-style tech with modern features, a new generation of muscle cars aimed at older, affluent buyers, and clothing inspired by past decades could become popular in the next decade.

Education: Online education is now commonplace as a cheaper, more personalized alternative to traditional colleges, which, while still important for many, will focus increasingly on medicine, sports, and technology courses. With fewer people having children, public schools will start to become smaller overall, while private and charter schools will be on the rise. There is a greater emphasis on teaching children how to socialize in what is becoming a post-social media generation.

Economy: More people will be displaced by robots and AI software than ever before in the US, Europe, and the developed parts of Asia. The US will still be a major economic power, but growing protectionist sentiment will lead to the economy becoming more localized and specialized in North America. By the end of the decade a basic income will be available for those who have been displaced by technology. There will be growing interest in "do it yourself" home businesses, growing your own food, and "economic survivalism" due to the changes in the economy. Physical retail will make a comeback as a reaction against online shopping.

Entertainment: VR will finally become mainstream. Traditional network TV will have become obsolete as the final "cord cutters" abandon it for VR, the Web, and streaming. Movie theaters will still exist, but be smaller, more like art house theaters, and will offer other entertainment besides films. Hollywood studios will still make money, but a new generation of independent film makers will create their own markets and audiences. Music will indeed become more nostalgic, and there may be a shift towards more acoustic and experimental styles. With fewer people going to clubs, online music will become a huge shared experience for many. The traditional music labels will finally catch up with technology, offering their own streaming services for new songs and albums. Many artists will bypass the music labels altogether to offer their music directly to their fans.

Politics: Donald Trump serves two terms, with his presidency ending in 2025 and Mike Pence rounding out the decade with one term of his own in a manner similar to the Reagan/Bush era. Although he makes mistakes early in his presidency, Trump eventually earns respect from both liberals and conservatives and leaves office with relatively high approval ratings :) Millenials start to become more conservative as a reaction to both political correctness and censorship on campus in the previous decade, and as economic realities and adult responsibilities sink in. : ) The Democrats and Republicans are still the two major parties, but more voters than ever identify themselves as independents on both the left and the right, and the two parties have to scramble for their votes. Immigrants, both legal and in what will be a "grey area," will make up a large part of the vote as well.

Science and technology: There will be a crewed mission to Mars by the end of this decade, either from a private endeavor, or a resurgent NASA. The Russians and China will have sent their first manned flights to the Moon as well. A habitable planet with an atmosphere like Earth's will have been found, profoundly affecting our views of the universe. Cloning of humans will become a reality, creating major ethical issues. Printed limbs and other body parts will be widely available, as will cloned organs for transplants. Diverless cars and other vehicles will start to become widespread, with public transportation taking the lead.

Society: The population is becoming older overall, fueling the "nostalgia economy." There is a population shift to states with warmer climates and lower taxes as a result. Women will outnumber men in many professional, white-collar jobs, particularly in the legal fields and education. There will be a "Men Matter" movement in response, and a reaction against "sensitive" males as ideas of manhood change. Gay marriage is now commonly accepted, as are gay rights in general although most people are still heterosexual. Views on parenting are also changing as the roles of mothers and fathers are redefined.