Social Media Trends to Look for in 2018

We all know how many social media advancements we’ve seen in 2017. From Snapchat users being lured away by Facebook to Apple’s latest plans and even all the way up to the POTUS and his famous Tweets, everyone is into new ways of communicating by using the many mobile devices available today. And now, 2018 promises to offer even more amazing social media trends that could change the entire face of technology and have even more of us glued to our devices 24/7. So, for better or for worse, here are a few trends to watch for;
1. Rise of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
Can you imagine using Instagram or Snapchat to take selfies with one of your friends or even a celebrity who isn’t really there, (but then again sort of is)?! Thanks to augmented reality, this may be the year when those two social media giants make it entirely possible along with a number of other experiences via new chips for your iPhone 8 or iPhone X. Other social media platforms are set to follow and are expected to jump on the augmented reality bandwagon, too. In addition, many major brands could be using special filters for projecting their products right into social media users’ homes.
2. Increasing Popularity of ‘Stories’ (Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories, etc.)
Everybody loves a good story, right? And Instagram users seem to love them even more than your average Joe, since 200 million of them are using Instagram Stories every month. Did you know that this number is 50 million more than Snapchat users after only one year in existence? Just in case you’re not familiar with Snapchat’s Stories, it’s a feature designed for allowing users to put together videos and pics from throughout their day in exactly the same manner as Instagram Stories does. Users are able to share as much as they want to during each day, then every bit of it merely disappears after a full 24 hours. Bye-bye, bad hair day and embarrassing posts!
3. Growth of Live-Streaming
Live-streaming is expanding and is no longer just a novelty, but instead is a mainstream social media hook that a number of major brands are utilizing for capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. This year, more and more of them will start to realize just how powerful live streaming can be. It is anticipated that all major platforms will start incorporating live streaming into their content plans every month. Having live-streaming video gives consumers exactly what they want — instant gratification.
4. Branding and Advertising Growth on Apps
Since the worldwide use of messaging platforms has risen meteorically to more than 2.5 billion people, it naturally follows that major brands are expected to be investing a lot more time and money in their efforts to connect with consumers via those messaging platforms. Brands will have the ability in 2018 to start offering a personalized shopping experience for users via chatbots, Al, and voice assistants using messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Kik.
In sum, there’s a whole lot on the horizon in the social media world — and there’s no doubt an even faster future is ahead of us. Therefore, paying close attention to what’s next in the social media arena can significantly help lay the groundwork for a better future online for you, your business, and your brand!