Since the start of the pandemic, many things have changed drastically in terms of social media. First, people are spending more time on their phones than ever before—an average of 4.8 hours (or one-third of daily waking hours, to be exact). And with an increasing number of new social media features and platforms hitting the market – from Instagram Reels to Clubhouse – the sheer volume of content created on these apps has increased, from content produced by brands themselves to the efforts of social media influencers.
5 Social Media Trends to Keep in Mind for 2022
1. Accelerated adoption of augmented reality
There’s a reason I put augmented reality first on my list of social media trends for 2022: in my eyes, it’s the most critical and exciting of the trends emerging in the sector. Ever since AR entered the scene a few years ago, brands have started using the technology to better meet the needs of consumers. On Snapchat, for example, consumers can virtually try on a pair of the ever-popular Nike Air Force 1, switching between different color and texture combinations before purchasing.
2. Increased content creation on TikTok
TikTok has seen its share of exponential growth over the past few years. In fact, in 2021, TikTok was the first non-Facebook app to reach 3 million downloads worldwide.
The increasingly popular social media platform is designed in a way that allows brands to essentially explode. Unlike other social platforms, TikTok’s home feed includes an embedded “For You” feed that allows users to see content from individuals they don’t follow. This algorithm shows that individuals or brands with relevant content can see a huge increase in engagement and organic growth when they reach a wider audience.
3. The continued growth of influencer marketing
During the pandemic, the number of social media influencers grew due to the rise of social media platforms such as TikTok. In addition to this growth, consumers who spend more time on social media have more trust in social media influencers, who have organically grown their devoted followings faster. Recognizing this dynamic, more brands are teaming up to partner with these influencers as a means of promoting their products. Best digital marketer
4. Increased Marketing Traction from Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels are essentially Instagram’s response to TikTok: short videos that can be submitted to the platform’s Explore page. The Instagram Reels feature is a great way for brands to tap into TikTok-like content, trends and challenges without the hassle of moving to another platform and starting over. Given that value, this new IG feature is worth considering for any marketer when developing a social media plan for 2022. (In case you need a little more incentive: Instagram has started rewarding Reels users by paying them to feature this style of content on their followers.)
5. More live social media content
Instagram Live, Facebook Live, and TikTok Live have become staples of their platforms. We’ve reached the point where 1 million people tune in to Instagram Live a day, with 26% of Gen Z and Millennials now tuning into Instagram Live.
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