We are only a couple of months into 2023 but it’s already clear what content is going to be popular on social media this year! Taking into account the social media trends of previous years, as well as the social and technological environments, we are predicting a huge shift towards user-generated content (UGC) and the rise of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
We are going to discuss three social media trends of 2023 that you do not want to miss out on!
UGC and Micro-Influencers
The rise of micro-influencers (between 1,000-100,000 followers) arguably began during the pandemic, when people turned to social media for communication and engaged in more content creation as lives became almost solely digital.
The pandemic push not only transformed the way content was created, but also influenced the way it was received; 84% of consumers trust UGC and recommendations as opposed to that of businesses or larger influencers. In addition to this, 90% claim that UGC has a higher influence on purchasing decisions, perhaps related to the authenticity and trustworthy nature of the content.
Based on this information, we think it is evident that UGC and micro-influencer content will continue to grow, particularly with new social media platform opportunities, such as TikTok.
TikTok and Short Videos
The growth of TikTok has not gone unnoticed, and many businesses now recognise the importance of TikTok-style videos. Short, snappy content formats are the most popular. In the modern age, attention-spans are short. It is clear that users want digestible content that can be quickly and easily accessed… cue TikTok, with over 1 billion active users!
‘Edutainment’ content is becoming popular on social media channels, encompassing education through entertainment. TikTok is quickly becoming a rival to Google, with 40% of Gen Z turning to the platform for information as opposed to just entertainment. This information isn’t necessarily coming from approved, trusted sources. The growth and stability of UGC is becoming more and more accessible on platforms such as TikTok, where users and creators have no limitations and are able to easily reach huge audiences.
The so-called ‘creator economy’ presents a huge opportunity, even in 2023, for the further growth of UGC through channels and platforms like TikTok that have more specific formats.
AR and VR
Reports of companies like Whatsapp, Instagram, Snapchat and Google utilising AR more highlights growth and confidence in innovative technologies. Meta are investing more in developments into AR and VR and, again, signify that the metaverse and extended realities are here to stay. YouTube are utilising experiences through VR including concerts and environments and are also engaging in sponsored VR ads.
Being in the industry, we can see the trajectory of these innovative technologies and how they will continue to grow in popularity. Not only this, but the content they are able to create and bring to life is becoming particularly popular across social media.
Integrating some of these social media trends into your marketing strategy can help boost engagement. Get in touch if you want to speak more about your marketing strategy and see how we can help bring yours to life!
