Social Media Trends 2025
Top 12 Social Media Strategies to Drive this Year!
Social media is always on the move —whether it’s a wild ride of fresh features, content, or ideas. To keep your brand relevant, you’ve got to stay ahead of the curve. Ready to give your socials a glow-up? We’re here to unveil the hottest social media trends of 2025! Get the full scoop on how your business can connect, create, and grow this year. 😌✨
1. Are Social Media Platforms the New Search Engines This Year?
2. The Micro-Community Takeover: Connecting Like Never Before
3. A Game Changer For Your Social Media Strategy: AI
4. Video Content: A Must-Have for Your Marketing Strategy
5. Less Corporate, More Human —Say Hi to a More Friendly Side on LinkedIn!
6. In the Advertising Jungle, Social Media Wears the Crown
7. This Is the Platform Where Trends Are Born: The TikTok Effect
8. Move Over Gen Z, Gen Alpha Has Arrived!
9. User-Generated Content, Your 2025 Powerful Weapon
10. Meet the Stars of Your Brand: Micro and Nano-Influencers!
11. Scrolling Meets Shopping: The Boom of Social Commerce
12. Voice Search Optimization as a Game Changer for 2025
First Things First:
Set Goals That Make Sense to Your Business
Focus only on efforts that align with your goals, for example:
Think about what you’re looking for from your social media this 2025. This will help you refine your strategy aligning it with your business needs. 😉
Establish Your Metrics & KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
Post reach is the number of unique users who saw your post.
This is the number of clicks on your content or account.
The total number of social interactions is divided by the number of impressions. This sheds light on how well your audience perceives you and their willingness to interact.
Identify which hashtags drive the most traffic and which types of posts resonate most with your audience.
This includes likes, shares, comments, and saves, and it can give you an insight into the type of content that audiences interact better with.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep your objectives simple and focused. This will help you identify which social media trends best align with your goals and craft a stronger strategy.
1. Are Social Media Platforms the New Search Engines This Year?
Can social media surpass search engines like Google by 2025? It’s a real possibility! Gen Z has been shifting away from traditional search engines, turning to platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to find what they need. And this trend is only set to keep growing in 2025!
According to a survey conducted by Forbes Advisor, 46% of Generation Z and 35% of Millennials prefer social media over traditional search engines. And, what are they looking for? Here’s the scoop! TikTok is to go-to platform for topics like hair, makeup, and gift inspo. On the other hand, IG reigns supreme for fashion brands, while Facebook is the place they go to in search of news and current affairs.
What makes these platforms so appealing? Perhaps this interest is driven by the appeal of visually engaging content and a mobile-first approach. As mentioned in our TikTok SEO post, TikTok, although not a traditional search engine, meets several requirements, including a search bar that autocompletes searches and gives preference to videos that skillfully incorporate keywords, boosting their ranking and visibility in search results and the For You Page. 🚀✨
So, here’s our take for 2025: Incorporate popular search queries and keywords within your niche in your social media content to enhance its visibility. Is all about meeting users exactly where they’re at!
This way, your ideal audience can easily find and engage with your content. Maintaining a well-balanced mix of entertaining, educational, and SEO-focused content is also crucial, as this emerging social search trend is captivating millions of users worldwide.
2. The Micro-Community Takeover: Connecting Like Never Before
Social media has changed the way users interact, connect, and communicate with each other, breaking down geographical barriers. It’s through this newfound connectivity that online users have built like-minded communities where they can share their passions and interests —no matter how niche they may seem!
So, as we look ahead to 2025, micro-communities are shaping the social media landscape. But what exactly are they? At their core, micro-communities are small, private, and focused online groups whose connection is driven by shared goals or interests, like Sephora’s Beauty Insider Community, IG’s Broadcast Channel, or YouTube’s Exclusive Access. Each member joins by choice—not by chance!
Like other social media trends we’re seeing emerge, this shift can be pinpointed to the growing desire for real, meaningful connections. It’s a move from mass audience-driven content to more exclusive conversations.
3. A Game Changer for Your Social Media Strategy: AI
With the buzz around artificial intelligence, some have embraced it as their new best friend, while others remain uncertain. AI can be your source of inspiration—a great tool for aiding brainstorming and providing variation and a spark in content creation.
However, in 2025, it’s time to try it if you haven’t done so yet. Not to be replaced by robots but to make your social media journey smoother. Hootsuite conducted an experiment comparing a human writer to AI, and the conclusion? It’s a great tool but still needs the human touch. So relax and get ready to play around with the different AI tools available, including ChatGPT, Narrato’s AI social media post generator, and others, to see the wonders it can do in helping develop a lovely social media job.
Also, speaking of artificial intelligence, Placeit by Envato has also embraced this practice, combining the power of AI with the talent and manual work of our graphic designers to create magnificent collections for all your social media channels. So, if you’re curious, make a splash into our AI templates and start using them from now on!
4. Video Content: A Must-Have for Your Marketing Strategy
TikToks, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts… video content hasn’t just entered the social media scene —it’s taken over! So, don’t underestimate its power! Did you know that, compared to boomers, millennials are 150% more likely to watch videos before making a shopping decision? ✨
The numbers don’t lie: short-form videos will remain in the spotlight for 2025. And for good reason! They’re perfect for delivering to-the-point, engaging messaging that’s highly shareable and quickly grabs the viewers’ attention.
Here’s what you can do if you’re planning to include video content in your brand’s marketing strategy:
- Create a short clip from your main video to entice viewers into watching the full content.
- Produce quick and easily consumable content for users seeking a break from longer videos, as short vertical videos promise to keep being a trendy format.
- And repurpose content from your TikTok or Instagram accounts to expand your reach across different channels is also a viable strategy.
To ace short-form videos, be quick to jump on the trends that resonate with your brand, prioritize high-quality visuals, and don’t forget to think of a mobile-first approach.
5. Less Corporate, More Human—Say Hi to a More Friendly Side on LinkedIn!
This social media trend is all about LinkedIn, a platform originally designed to connect people in their pursuit of the ideal job.
Over the last few months, we’ve witnessed the networking platform transform into a more welcoming space. Users, brands, and companies alike have embraced it to showcase a more human and authentic side of employment and work experiences. This includes sharing advice and genuinely looking into what companies are all about.
Nevertheless, don’t forget to keep it friendly and professional. Strike for a balance between lighthearted content, informative post styles, and genuine stories.
💡 Keep Reading: The Ultimate LinkedIn Marketing Guide for 2025
6. In the Advertising Jungle, Social Media Wears the Crown
There’s no denying that the budget for digital advertising is set to continue increasing these next years, even reaching an estimated 836 billion U.S. dollars by 2026. This growth aligns with the overarching shift of marketing into the digital world in recent years.
As consumer habits evolve, advertising parallels, too. Therefore, this social media trend underscores the soundness of investing in digital advertising. Especially after considering the increasing number of online shoppers and the role of social media platforms in influencing purchasing decisions.
The insights from Integral Ad Science support this trend, revealing that 46% of shoppers are more likely to engage with in-feed ads in comparison to ads on the open web. Likewise, the evolution of ads has been different, introducing innovative ways to present information that feels natural and engaging, particularly for social media platform users.
So, as you plan your strategies for 2025, it’s crucial to analyze and leverage this social media trend to ensure a profitable, effective, and successful year ahead. ✨🚀
7. This Is the Platform Where Trends Are Born: The TikTok Effect
Regarding social media trends, TikTok plays a crucial role, and if your brand isn’t on it yet, it should be. Big and small, brands have embraced TikTok, finding unprecedented popularity, visibility, and a closer connection with their target audience.
The allure of TikTok lies in its ever-evolving and surprising trends, injecting a dynamic energy into the platform. Therefore, to stay ahead, it’s crucial to stay tuned to TikTok, observe what your admired brands are up to, and gear up to create content that resonates with your audience. The best part? Every kind of company and niche can join in, giving a playful spin to the trends.
Moreover, in 2025, TikTok will likely remain the number one platform for creating trends. And here’s the kicker—TikTok’s influence extends beyond its own platform. Trends born on TikTok often make their way to Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook.
So, don’t overlook TikTok for a winning strategy in 2025; instead, integrate it into your strategy and craft a well-elaborated TikTok plan for 2025.
💡 Key Insight: Timing is everything when it comes to TikTok trends! Hop on them early to maximize your reach as most viral sounds and challenges peak within days. Keep an eye out on the FYP, popular hashtags, and TikTok’s Creative Center to spot popular content.
8. Move Over Gen Z, Gen Alpha Has Arrived!
Meet Gen Alpha!
Born between 2010 and 2024, these digital natives are redefining the rules of social media. They are the youngest generation growing up in a fully digital world. As a result, they’re hyperconnected, technology isn’t just a tool for them—it’s a way of life that defines how they learn, interact, and express themselves.
With the rise of mobile device usage, virtual assistants, AI tools, toys, and gadgets, Gen Alpha navigates the world through technology. Unlike their predecessors, they do not rely on face-to-face interactions to grasp new concepts. This is a trend that has going strong among their forerunners (hi there, Gen Z!), as they too engage with platforms like TikTok to develop new skills.
The Scoop
According to this U.S. Census, Gen Alpha will be the most culturally diverse generation in history! Other data shows that by 2025 they’re projected to surpass Baby Boomers in numbers. Born in an ever-changing, fully digital world, these emerging consumers have strong concerns for representation, sustainability, and mental health awareness.
With a preference for gaming, digital videos, and social media, brands advertising and targeting Gen Alpha need to prioritize highly engaging content that quickly captures attention, campaigns built on authenticity, and genuine connections that match these young users’ values and interests.
💡 Brands that prioritize connection, creativity, and cultural relevance will thrive with these emerging consumers.
💡 Like Placeit with the #madewithplaceit hashtag, you can create a dedicated hashtag to encourage your users to share their creations, reviews, testimonials, or any other type of content. Or simply look at your tags and reviews.
9. User-Generated Content, Your 2025 Powerful Weapon
With the increasing enthusiasm around being influencers and content creators, 2025 is more than ready to welcome User-Generated Content (UGC) more than ever. This powerful social media trend should be at the top of every brand’s bucket list for the year. The openness of real consumers/users testing and sharing authentic impressions about a brand’s products or services is invaluable.
User-generated content offers a unique advantage, providing brands with genuine content to share online. Moreover, it serves as a channel for receiving honest customer feedback. Likewise, as we’ve been reiterating, consumers actively seek the authentic side of brands, leaning towards content that features real people rather than models or unfamiliar faces.
The impact of User-Generated Content is meaningful, fostering confidence in both potential and future buyers, and numbers can prove this:
- 6 out of 10 shoppers consider that UGC represents the most authentic form of advertising content.
- 70% of consumers take into account UGC reviews or ratings before purchasing.
- UGC content can drive a 161% higher conversion rate when featured on e-commerce product pages.
💡 Data: Backlinko | inBeat Agency
10. Meet the Stars of Your Brand: Micro and Nano-Influencers!
In the era of influencers, the spotlight has shifted from the mega-influencers to the rising stars. In 2025, the focus for brands and a strategy you should consider revolves around micro-influencers (10,000-100,000 followers) and nano-influencers (less than 10,000 followers).
These influencers may have smaller followings, but their communities are highly engaged and deeply trust their recommendations. Collaborating with them brings authenticity and credibility to your brand, mainly because they often cater to specific niche markets that align with your goals.
Successfully navigating influencer marketing demands a nuanced understanding of skills, processes, and effective strategies. Collaborating with seasoned influencer marketing agencies like Attrock can offer valuable insights and experience, potentially optimizing the allocation of resources for enhanced outcomes.
11. Scrolling Meets Shopping: The Boom of Social Commerce
We’re almost wrapping up these social media trends and we couldn’t skip social commerce, one of the top e-commerce practices reshaping how, when, and where users shop today.
This game-changer turns social media apps like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok into dynamic marketplaces by integrating features that allow users to seamlessly purchase tagged products directly from the content they view —all within the platform and with just a few clicks!
For brands, this represents an opportunity to shift from traditional forms of advertising to a much more interactive shopping experience. Moreover, it also opens the door to a more organic approach, leveraging word-of-mouth recommendations from micro-influencers and content creators.
Meanwhile, shoppers can engage directly with their favorite brands, whether it’s by recommending products, sharing advice, or sparking meaningful conversations. 😀💬
12. Voice Search Optimization as a Game Changer for 2025
With all the new cutting-edge technologies that are rising and facilitating how we consume content, this last social media trend is handy.
In 2025, social media marketers and managers should be prepared to optimize content for voice queries, ensuring visibility in search results on platforms like Google and TikTok. This emphasizes the importance of a robust SEO strategy, especially for the king of vertical short videos.
Therefore, for 2025, make sure to include clear captions, incorporate text-based keywords, pronounce words distinctly, and leverage relevant hashtags.
To Wrap Up
These are the social media trends set to take 2025 by storm! Embrace change and take bold risks to get awesome results.
Also, don’t forget to keep an eye on your competitors —there’s always room to do it better, smarter, or more creatively. Plus, remember timing is everything in the fast-paced world of social media, so get your calendars in check. Start planning for key events, seasons, and holidays to keep your content fresh and relevant. 😌✨
2025 Is the Year to Put Your Brand in the Spotlight!
