2022 has once again proven that there is never a dull day in the world of social media, with the ongoing rising fame of platforms like TikTok and the overnight success of BeReal. Let’s take a look at what our team predict will be the new social media trends for 2023.
The rise of UGC (User Generated Content)
Ads, in whatever form they take, have been around for a while now, and we’ve become wise to them. The rise of influencers has also paved the way for ‘non-influencers’. For instance, the general public, has become more vocal on their own social media channels as to what they do and don’t enjoy.
Any forward-thinking brand has already realised this and begun utilising it. From seeking ambassadors, reposting Instagram stories or even just liking and commenting under a tagged post, brands who show how much they value customer satisfaction are more likely to build relationships and increase their popularity which ultimately translates into sales.
Audio Everything
Anyone else’s phone just blast out music as soon as they open a social media app? You can thank TikTok for that. The big wigs at all other platforms hit the emergency button once they saw how popular video-based content had become. We have Instagram reels, Facebook reels, Twitter voice tweets, YouTube shorts, and the list goes on. Just recently, we’ve also seen Instagram introduce music audio to still image posts. Like it or loathe it, it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere!
Gated Content
With so much available at the tap of a finger, social media is a fantastic way to make a name for yourself if you want to raise your profile or show off a talent or skill. However, most content generated by beginners or amateurs is typically free to consume. Those who begin to gain popularity online (singers, comedians etc) now have platforms to upload content onto that consumers have to pay to gain access to.
Initially, that seemed like a silly idea due to the high volume of free content out there, but once a consumer becomes a fan, they are enticed by the thought of exclusive content, early access and more interaction at a fairly low fee. Membership platform ‘Patreon’ is the perfect example.
In 2022, Patreon announced that they have more than 250,000 creators who are using the platform, and there are more than 8 million active patrons from 200+ countries.
Authenticity, Authenticity, Authenticity
The surge in popularity of BeReal in 2022 tells us everything we need to know about the direction in which social media is headed, and in October 2022 it became the most downloaded social media platform on Apple’s App store. For years, we have heard about ‘ditching the filter’ and showing our true selves, but with complete control over how and what we post, most people obviously choose to show the best version of themselves – even if that version doesn’t exist in real life. The idea of being given no warning and no choice of when to post a picture of yourself on a social media platform, as well as your surroundings, or even manipulating the image – however boring – has revolutionised the game.
BeReal allows for a better representation of day-to-day life, and no doubt in 2023, we will see all apps responding and adapting.
Social Media is the New Customer Service
There are a few reasons why a quick DM to a company has become more popular than a formal email, with the first being the pandemic. Many brands quickly realised that they were not fully equipped to deal with customer expectations, especially when they were unable to deliver face-to-face service. Use of social media surged during Covid, particularly as a tool to interact with others. If we’re DM’ing our friends, why not DM everyone else?
The use of social media as a customer service tool has also humanised. by breaking down a barrier and allowing the consumer easier access. Plus, it’s more informal which many people, especially the Gen Z generation, prefer.
Emails are for work and professional life – if I just want to track the status of my order, I’d rather send a quick, short message with my order number. It’s as simple as that.
Do you agree with our predictions? What are your thoughts?
For help navigating around social media for your business in 2023, we can help – just drop us an email or DM via our socials.