Social media is evolving at such a rapid rate that it constantly seems like something new is just around the corner.

Do you know where social media will go in a few years? Our educated estimations are based on current Gen-Z data and brand-new social media platform capabilities.

Working in a field that transforms more quickly than a Power Ranger can be challenging since the social media environment is always shifting. 

If you’re unsure what’s popular or not or how to incorporate current social media trends into your action strategy.

1- How Many People Use Social Media?

According to the Datareportal July 2022 worldwide overview, social media usage has risen steadily:

Currently, social media is used by 59 percent of the world’s population. Social media is currently used by 4.70 billion people worldwide, and 227 million more people have signed up since last year.

Social media use takes up 2h 29m of everyday time.

2- Instead Of Using Search Engines, Use Social Media.

These days, we immediately head to TikTok when we want to search for something, whether it be a product, a suggestion, or a review. Unfortunately, data also indicates that Gen-Z is doing likewise.

According to a TechCrunch report, a Google executive recently claimed that popular Google discovery tools Google Maps and Google Search are under threat from apps like TikTok and Instagram.

For the past several years, Instagram has become the social media platform that social marketers love the most. Depending on your industry, it was the one expanding the fastest, had the best ROI, and was a great place to be. But that is now changing.

“According to research, roughly 40% of young people don’t use Google Maps or Search to choose a lunch spot,” according to Senior Vice President Prabhakar Raghavan, who oversees Google’s Knowledge & Information department. Instead, they visit Instagram or TikTok.

3- Why Does This Matter So Much?

However, there were only 689 million users in January 2021. That represents a growth of 45% in less than a year.

And this comes after its biggest growth surge, which saw a 1,157% increase in the worldwide user base between 2018 and 2020.

In order to put this into context, in 2020, there were 6% more monthly active users on Instagram. Even more fascinating, TikTok entirely controls Instagram’s short-form video content, according to Google Search Trends.

Even more intriguing? TikTok entirely controls Instagram’s short-form video content, according to Google Search Trends.

TikTok has seen a 173% increase in search demand over the past year. But the number of searches for Instagram Reels has only increased by 22%. And it has dropped for Instagram Stories by 33%.

But despite TikTok’s huge growth, few companies are willing to put money into the platform.

Tips:

If companies haven’t already rushed to TikTok, they soon will. So being in front of the wave instead of behind it is advised.

• Get hold of your brand on social media.
• Explore TikTok to get a feel for the app and discover some inspiration.
• Create a rough draft of your TikTok marketing plan.
• To effortlessly plan your TikTok, manage comments, and assess your performance on the network, use a social media management application like AppsGenii Technologies.

4- Easy Online Shopping On Most Social Platforms

One of the first social media sites to provide a smooth purchasing experience and integration was Instagram. They probably won’t be the last, in any case.

Let’s set the stage: In a few years, Gen Z will fully assimilate into the working class and have a sizable amount of disposable income. 

Our study of consumer trends revealed that short-form videos on social media are the most popular way for Gen-Z to find new items.

Therefore, social media platforms must provide seamless purchasing experiences to attract and retain users.

In this area, Instagram has already achieved remarkable success; it’s only a matter of time before other platforms do the same.

Higher VR/AR Adoption

Virtual reality will probably play a bigger part in how we socialize online due to this year’s trends in the metaverse, NFTs, and web 3.

With its amusing filters, Snapchat pioneered the social AR revolution. Later, it added virtual try-on capabilities to provide an immersive buying experience.

39% of customers are interested in using augmented reality to purchase, according to Insider Intelligence research. This adoption need not, however, be restricted to purchasing.

It can also include online gatherings for gaming, socializing, and other purposes.

5- Final Thoughts

We can’t predict the future of social media with any degree of precision since it changes so frequently. However, based on recent statistics, we may infer that it’s probably going this way.

Since mobile devices will be the primary focus of social media in the future, it might as well be an Inspector Gadget episode. 

Marketing platforms will also find a way to integrate themselves into our daily lives, and the rise of holographic and virtual reality will make it difficult to differentiate the social media landscape from the real world as we currently know it.

Good luck to everyone, and we’ll see you at the VR Meta party!