Five Trends in Social Media Today

Posted August 6, 2024 by swimcreativeSocial trends from Swim Creative

Time to get trendy!

Social media. Some shudder at the mention of those two trendy words, others’ ears perk up with excitement. Here at Swim, we acknowledge that social media can be daunting. Keeping up with the new trends, algorithms and jargon can seem like an impossible task.

That’s why we decided to put together a list of trends we’ve noticed are happening AS WE SPEAK! Read on to get the latest info!

#1 – Video

Video has taken the social media world by storm over the last five years and is only increasing in popularity. I would challenge you, reader, to scroll through your Facebook or Instagram feed and count how many posts are video vs. photo. It is likely filled with 60-70% video content. With the rise of Tik Tok (and Vine before that), other platforms started prioritizing the medium over still photos.

Instagram Reels and Youtube Shorts were byproducts of the short video trend developed over the last few years. However, longer-form videos are starting to make a comeback. Tik Tok is pushing one minute or longer videos by making the one minute mark the lower limit for monetization. Rumor has it they’re beta testing even LONGER video options (an hour + ?). Longer videos are getting boosted in the Tik Tok algorithm as well, and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) is following suit.

#2 – Authenticity

This one goes without saying, but is often lost in the hustle and bustle of the internet. Authenticity will rule over staged, overly-edited or cringeworthy content every day. A vast majority of media consumers on the internet can sniff out fake, over-the-top content from a mile away. There is a time and place for professional pictures and video on social media, but it doesn’t have to be every day. Staying true to a brand and showing realness and vulnerability is appreciated by consumers today.

Oftentimes users are just looking for relatable content. “Day in the life” or “Get ready with me” videos are popular because they make the brand or content creator more relatable. Behind the scenes content is also popular, as consumers are interested in the process of a professional production or a look into the world behind the camera.

#3 – AI Generated Content

Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay, whether we like it or not. Social media platforms are starting to use AI technology to help users create content, find what they’re looking for and interact in a way we haven’t seen before. Users on TikTok and Meta sites can generate pictures and videos using AI to enhance their content without the technical skills of a professional photographer or videographer. The sites reward users when they utilize this and boost content produced using the technology in the algorithm. Instagram even added a new toggle button when creating a post that asks if the content was AI generated!

Recently, the Meta platforms launched a new search feature that allows users to interact with their own “chatbot.” Users can ask it to find content and even treat it as a search engine (we will talk about this more in the next section). 

#4 – Social Media – The New Search Engine?

How often do you, reader, go on Facebook or Instagram to find a recipe? Or peruse Tik Tok for your next vacation destination? This is becoming more and more popular as the algorithms get smarter. The platforms know users are starting to do most of their browsing on social media sites, and are working to enhance their search capabilities using AI technology (as mentioned above). 

This makes keywords and hashtags even more important than they used to be. The algorithms are pulling information from these words and phrases to curate what a user is searching for. For example, if a user searches “things to do in Moab, Utah” the algorithm will scour the site for hashtags and keywords using the words searched and provide the user with relevant posts. It will also take into consideration the tagged accounts in a post, the tagged location of the post and any sounds or music overlaid on the post.

#5 – Social Commerce

Brick and mortar? Not quite. Social media shopping is becoming one of the more popular methods of commerce in the world. In fact, according to a Porch Group Media study, nearly 70% of consumers have purchased a product through a social media site. Using the algorithm and AI (are you sensing a pattern here?), the platforms are able to curate products to the interests of the users. Consumers are served products they might not even know they need, but could buy impulsively.

Influencers play a part in this trend as well. Brands are willing to pay (or at least give free products to) individuals with a significant following to promote their products. Consumers trust the information communicated by the influencers due to their status and likeness.

@swimcreative

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♬ Inspiring Sunny Travel Pop – Dmitriy Sadovoi

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