Top 15 Social Media Trends for 2024 and Beyond
What is one of the biggest social media trends of the moment?
To help you stay on top of the biggest social media trends of the moment, we asked content creators and social media managers this question for their best insights. From telling personal stories to handling customer service to business activism, there are several social media trends that businesses have engaged in and plan to continue in the coming year.
Top 15 Social Media Trends for 2024 and Beyond
I have noticed a lot of people posting their personal stories on LinkedIn. Professionals are gaining a lot of followers by being honest about their personal experiences with work. Some are talking about their challenges from a DEI perspective; others are talking about work/life balance, toxic workplace environments, or great life lessons. What all of these stories have in common is that the writers are tapping into peoples’ desires to bring their authentic selves to the workplace. I find this refreshing, and it’s a good sign of how work culture is growing and evolving with the times.
Short-form videos are currently one of the biggest social media trends. Producing these vertical videos for a wide range of content has become a standard for e-commerce and social media brands in recent years, and these attention-grabbing videos are here to stay. Thanks to TikTok and Instagram Reels, the growing marketing for short-form videos continue to dominate social media platforms for higher organic engagement. More individuals and businesses continue to create content in short-form video format on social media. Creativity, in-depth tutorials, and social media tools facilitate their growth and provide better accessibility in the future.
The social media landscape is constantly evolving, and one of the biggest trends we see emerging is the rise of communities. In a world that’s becoming increasingly digitized, people are looking for ways to connect with others who share their interests. Social media platforms are the perfect answer to this since they connect like-minded individuals. We’ve already seen a few platforms like Facebook and Reddit capitalizing on this trend by creating dedicated spaces for communities. They give people a space to share their interests and connect with others who share the same passions. And, we believe that this trend will only continue to grow in the years to come.
The increasing focus on short, creative, and sometimes absurd reels that stand out from the rest is one of the biggest social media trends of the moment. It’s no wonder that platforms like TikTok and Instagram have seen such a surge in popularity. In a world where we are bombarded with constant updates and notifications, it’s refreshing to take a break and watch something that makes us laugh or think. And what’s more, these videos are usually only a few seconds or minutes long, so we don’t have to commit to anything too time-consuming.
There is no doubt that the biggest social media trend of the moment is live streaming. People of all ages are using platforms like Facebook Live, Instagram Live, and YouTube Live to share their lives with the world. Some people use live streaming to document their everyday lives, while others use it to share special moments or to give people a behind-the-scenes look at their work. One of the most popular uses of live streaming is for Q&A sessions. A lot of people use live streaming as a way to connect with their fans and followers. They’ll answer questions about their lives, their work, or anything else that people are curious about. Live streaming is a great way to connect with your followers and to give them a glimpse into your life or your work. It’s a fun and interactive way to share your thoughts and ideas with the world!
Social media networks have progressed well beyond their roots as merely platforms for connecting with others and sharing content. As they became more widely used for business purposes, so grew their use as a customer care channel. Most customers want their concerns resolved fast and simply. Increasingly, many individuals are now resolving customer care issues on social media. This is directly tied to the fact that dealing with brands on social media is quick, simple, and dependable. The interaction is nearly instantaneous. For this reason, social media is rapidly evolving from a platform for brands to publish information and marketing materials to one that allows them to communicate with consumers and swiftly respond to their concerns.
The pandemic helped put a spotlight on mental health and the importance of raising awareness around issues like anxiety and depression. Social media has been an outlet for many folks to share their stories and show their followers that they are not alone in their struggles. TikTok has become a platform where many people share their daily struggles and offer links to resources where people can find the help they need. In general, social media has helped to remove the stigma surrounding mental health as it allows people to share their stories and know that they are not alone in their struggles. This trend will continue as people continue to think about ways to create content around mental health issues.
Short, vertically oriented videos like those in TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are still taking the social media world by storm. Part of this is due to just how successful TikTok has become in recent years, and how many of the rival social media sites are trying to catch up. When creating content for your audience, or trying to capitalize on marketing trends, using this format is a great way to catch the eye of your customers. You don’t have to speak directly to the camera and create educational content, simply changing how you film or produce advertisements can be enough to capitalize on this trend. However, businesses should consider how they can become content creators through these platforms. Building an audience who wants to learn from your expertise will help you develop a loyal following that you can lean on. Running a business isn’t just about mastering your product, it’s also about building content around that product so you can connect with a wider audience.
Besides the Corn song on Tiktok, a huge trend our marketing team has pointed out is the rejection of curated content. Instead, there is a trend towards more candid, unfiltered content from creators and brands alike. This is popping up with more user-generated content in marketing strategies, and with the actual content they are creating. The sleek, perfect “day in the life” videos are being replaced with “realistic day in the life” or unfiltered, raw glimpses into creators’ lives. Vulnerability and accessibility are paramount. The social media platform BeReal is a great example of this trend gaining ground. It forces you to capture a random moment during your day when prompted, with zero regard for aesthetics or “brand. It’s just a real moment in time.
Brands are developing social audio strategies. This includes podcasts, playlists and radio. Although Clubhouse is no longer super popular, Facebook offers live audio rooms, Twitter hosts Twitter Spaces for small group listening, and Spotify has their Greenroom App which allows artists to connect with fans. A plethora of startups have released audio platforms as well. Finally, LinkedIn, Slack and Reddit are all developing audio features. It seems audio is social media’s wave of the future!
Thankfully, inclusivity is on trend. Brands will need to pay attention to which social issues mean the most to their fans because social responsibility is important. Moving forward consistency will be key as a one-time gesture to make an impression will be transparent. Corporate responsibility has finally moved to the forefront of social topics.
I think one of the biggest social media trends at the moment is social commerce. More and more businesses are using social media; not only to promote their brand but to sell their products and services as well. Platforms like Facebook allow customers to purchase products from their favorite brands without ever leaving the platform. Not only is it convenient for customers, but it’s also a cost-effective way for businesses to connect with their audience, while simultaneously increasing sales.
Social media advertisements have become quite the norm in today’s digital age, but along with that came shoppers’ expectations of having a more convenient purchasing experience. As soon as they see the ad, they would want to buy the product immediately. Getting to transfer into another website or platform has become two taps more of an inconvenience. Platforms like TikTok have made this possible. With their shop center feature, online merchants now have the opportunity to advertise and sell directly on the platform. This is also a nod for influences, who now can make money off their huge following by selling merchandise through their social media handles.
Content creators or influencers have been soaring high for some time now. They have changed the way people view content online. Movie or TV personalities are not the only popular people anymore. As the name suggests, influencers have the power to influence their audience. These influencers are paid heavily to endorse brands and products. Working with niche influencers means high customer engagement and fewer costs paid. TikTok and Instagram have noticed a boom in the number of influencers since the COVID-19 pandemic. Influencers help bring customer loyalty. By providing trust in the brand they are promoting. This motivates their followers to view the brand as trustworthy as well. Influencer marketing is the present and future of social media marketing.
The increasing social climate in the streets is translating to more and more demand for brands to be outspoken on social justice and political issues. Audiences are looking for brands to speak up and have involvement in causes that align with their values instead of maintaining a cloak of neutrality. A start example would be how Nike launched its campaign on equality or Adidas and its environmental sustainability campaign. Some brands see this trend as a social marketing tactic to stay relevant, while some do so as a sincere involvement. Either way, this rising trend of business activism highly engages audiences which can translate to vitality and an increase in sales rates. It opens up an opportunity for brands to genuinely connect with their clients through the causes they support.
Leveraging the top social media trends in 2024
Now that you know what the experts think, it’s your turn. Drop a comment below about the social media trend you are most excited to try in your social media efforts.
