What is the “New Normal”? Understanding the Shift in Our Global Society

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Muhammad Atique
June 30, 2025

The term “New Normal” has become ubiquitous in recent years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic transformed our lives. But what does it really signify? At its core, the “New Normal” represents a fundamental shift in how we live, work and interact as a society following major global disruptions whether from health crises, technological revolutions or environmental challenges. Rather than a fixed state, it’s a continually evolving concept reflecting our collective adaptation to change.

Remote Work Transforms the Global Workplace

Perhaps the most visible manifestation of the New Normal is the revolution in work arrangements. While remote work existed before the pandemic, COVID-19 accelerated its adoption at an unprecedented scale. According to a 2023 McKinsey Global Institute report, the pandemic compressed five years of digital adoption into just eight weeks, forcing companies worldwide to embrace virtual collaboration virtually overnight.

Today, major corporations like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Shopify have established permanent remote work options, while research from Gartner indicates that 82 percent of company leaders plan to allow employees to work remotely at least part-time going forward. In metropolitan hubs from New York to Berlin to Shenzhen, The Economist reports that traditional offices are being reimagined as collaborative spaces for periodic team gatherings rather than daily necessities.

Digital Commerce Becomes Mainstream Everywhere

The surge in e-commerce represents another cornerstone of our New Normal. Online shopping, once considered merely convenient, has become essential across all sectors from groceries to furniture. This digital transformation extends far beyond wealthy nations.

In India, expanding internet access coupled with payment platforms like Paytm and Google Pay has driven a 25 percent increase in e-commerce transactions, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India. Pakistan has seen similar growth through systems like Easypaisa and RAAST, with the State Bank of Pakistan reporting a 37 percent increase in digital financial transactions in 2022. In Kenya, M-Pesa has revolutionized financial transactions, with Bloomberg reporting that the service now processes over 50 percent of the country’s GDP through mobile devices.

Health Consciousness Reshapes Public Spaces

The pandemic dramatically shifted our approach to health and hygiene, particularly in Asia where these priorities were already cultural values. A 2023 study in The Lancet found that in Japan, South Korea and China, practices like mask-wearing, temperature screening and regular sanitization have become deeply embedded in daily life.

Japanese society, which already normalized mask use during flu seasons, now considers masks standard attire in many settings, according to the Japan Times. Countries like Singapore and South Korea have deployed sanitizing robots in public spaces—technological solutions that The Wall Street Journal reports will likely outlive the pandemic itself.

Environmental Sustainability Takes Center Stage

The New Normal isn’t limited to pandemic responses—it also encompasses our evolving relationship with the planet. European nations like Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands are pioneering sustainable approaches that integrate environmental consciousness into everyday decision-making.

Denmark has committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, reimagining urban spaces like Copenhagen with extensive bike infrastructure and electric public transport, as documented by the European Environment Agency. The UK’s push toward net-zero emissions has catalyzed investment in renewable energy, with the Financial Times reporting that wind power now generates nearly 25% of the country’s electricity. Simultaneously, Nielsen’s Global Sustainability Report indicates that consumers increasingly demand sustainable options across all purchases from food to fashion.

Mental Health Awareness Gains Recognition

Another critical dimension of the New Normal is the heightened focus on mental wellbeing. The isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic brought psychological health to the forefront of public discourse, with the World Health Organization reporting a 25 percent global increase in anxiety and depression during the first year of the pandemic.

In North America, the American Psychological Association notes that employers increasingly offer mental health benefits and flexible scheduling to support employee wellbeing. Digital platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace have democratized access to therapy, with JAMA Psychiatry reporting a 300% increase in telehealth mental health services since 2020, allowing people to seek support from their homes and normalizing conversations about psychological health.

China’s Technological and Green Revolution

China exemplifies how the New Normal manifests uniquely across different societies. The country has embraced a dual transformation driven by technological innovation and environmental commitments.
Digital payment systems through Alipay and WeChat Pay have created a nearly cashless society, with the People’s Bank of China reporting that over 85 percent of payments now occur digitally. Meanwhile, AI and 5G technologies are being deployed to create smarter urban environments from Hangzhou to Shenzhen, according to research from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Simultaneously, the International Energy Agency confirms that China leads globally in solar power production and electric vehicle manufacturing through companies like BYD and NIO, supporting its pledge for carbon neutrality by 2060.

Social media platforms like Douyin (TikTok) and Xiaohongshu have transformed cultural norms and consumer behavior, with the China Internet Network Information Center reporting that over 900 million Chinese citizens now actively engage with short-form video content.

Embracing Perpetual Change

The New Normal isn’t a destination but a journey of continuous adaptation. As we navigate this evolving landscape, the changes that initially seemed disruptive—from virtual offices to digital payments to heightened health protocols—increasingly become our baseline expectations.

What unites these diverse manifestations of the New Normal across continents is their reflection of human resilience and adaptability. Whether through technological adoption, environmental consciousness or mental health awareness, societies worldwide are demonstrating remarkable capacity to transform challenges into opportunities for progress.

As a recent United Nations Development Programme report concluded, perhaps the most significant aspect of the New Normal is the recognition that change itself is now our constant companion—and our ability to thrive amidst transformation may be our most valuable collective skill.

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Author: Dr. Muhammad Atique is an academic and writer specializing in public policy, digital governance, and digital Media. He is author of Digitally Hijacked: The age of influence. He contributes regularly to PA Times, focusing on innovation policy, technology and society

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