Rural economies are crucial for global development, with more than 80% of the world’s population living in rural areas and agriculture providing livelihoods for approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide. However, these economies are often vulnerable to various factors, including climate change, natural disasters, and a lack of progressive economic policies. The main aim of making rural economies more sustainable is to promote long-term economic development, protect the environment, and improve the quality of life in urban–rural communities. This paper explored certain strategies for enhancing rural economies to be more sustainable. The results show that smart growth has been rapidly growing in urban cities, while certain communities outside urban areas have been left behind. However, both urban and rural communities need economic growth and be adaptive to smart growth to serve their communities and adhere to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the new era of innovation. Thus, we argue that rural areas are a big part of emerging economies. As such, they cannot be left behind in any smart growth. In this study, we found that rural economies need training and up-skilling in order to improve their sustainability and efficiency targets. Through a systematic review, this paper looked at various ways rural communities can solve their challenges toward smart growth and the sustainability of their resources. As a result, we propose solutions for urban–rural communities to implement in daily activities in terms of policy and practice approaches.

Tourism is a critical driver of economic growth, particularly in BRICS+ nations, where it contributes significantly to GDP and fosters multilateral cooperation. However, challenges such as limited direct air connectivity, regulatory barriers, and financial constraints hinder seamless travel experiences and impact tourism and trade. This study investigates the potential of direct air transport links among BRICS+ nations to alleviate these challenges, focusing on economic benefits, policy recommendations, and sustainability implications. Using a mixed-methods approach, including policy analysis and economic impact modeling, the findings reveal that enhanced air connectivity could reduce logistical inefficiencies, promote cultural exchange, and drive sustainable economic growth. This study concludes with strategies for implementing direct air routes and collaborative frameworks to advance the sustainable development goals of BRICS+ countries.

Over the years, social media has emerged as the largest source for global communication. In post-COVID-19 times and especially in the New Reality, social media consumption patterns have shifted significantly. As these platforms become more open and widespread, they also exacerbate issues related to information and news consumption, mediation and mediatization. This is particularly crucial for young populations in developing nations such as those in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) group, who face both high external pressures and internal challenges. Examines the state of social media usage among youth in BRICS countries, focusing on data from 2023 to find the specificity of social media driven mediatization. Research indicates that youth in BRICS nations have been active social media users over the past decade. The authors identify key consumption patterns among Generation Z and millennials in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa in 2023, and conduct a comparative analysis of social media usage in these nations. Provides a brief overview of the mediatized challenges posed by social media in the BRICS nations, particularly the spread of fake news. The study reveals that the increasing reliance on social media for news and information by younger generations underscores the need for identifying specific field of media studies in BRICS countries (Media Studies based on the concept of BRICSology). The conclusion highlights the social media consumption patterns and challenges that need attention in future research.