Social media trends change faster than my commitment to meal prepping. One minute, we’re all posting filtered selfies, and the next, it’s all about unedited “photo dumps” and BeReal snaps. To stay relevant and, let’s be real, avoid looking like a total boomer, you gotta keep up.

Short-Form Video: The King of Content (For Now)

TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts—short videos are everywhere. I once spent two hours watching “10-second pasta hacks” and still ordered takeout. But that’s the power of bite-sized content—it hooks you. If you’re not making short-form vids yet, start. Just don’t be that person who reposts the same TikTok with a giant watermark. Nobody likes that guy.

Social Shopping: Your Wallet’s New Enemy

Buying stuff directly on Instagram or TikTok? Dangerous. I once bought a $30 candle because some influencer swore it smelled like a “rainy morning in Paris.” (It didn’t. It smelled like my aunt’s dusty attic.) But social commerce is booming. If you sell anything, make sure your audience can buy it without leaving the app—because if they leave, they ain’t coming back.

AI & Personalization: Creepy But Cool

Ever feel like Instagram knows you better than your own mother? That’s AI at work. Social media trends are leaning hard into machine learning—customized feeds, eerily accurate ad targeting, and chatbots that answer your questions before you even finish typing. Good for marketers. Slightly terrifying for the rest of us.

Influencer Marketing: The Underdogs Are Winning

Forget the Kardashians (okay, maybe not entirely). Micro-influencers—folks with 10K to 50K followers—are stealing the show. They’re more relatable, more affordable for brands, and way less likely to cause PR disasters. If you’re running a business, team up with these influencers. If you’re an influencer yourself, congrats! Just don’t fake a sponsorship. We can tell.

AR & VR: Fancy Tech That’s (Slowly) Taking Over

Augmented reality is that thing that lets you see what a couch looks like in your living room before you buy it. Virtual reality is that thing you tried at the mall once and nearly fell over. Both are creeping into social media trends—think interactive filters, virtual store tours, and trippy ad experiences.

Authenticity & Transparency: No More BS

People can smell fake from a mile away (like that “rainy morning in Paris” candle—still mad about that). If your brand or profile isn’t real, people won’t stick around. Show your mistakes. Be honest about your struggles. Tell people when you don’t have all the answers. Nobody expects perfection—just honesty.

Ephemeral Content: The Art of Vanishing Posts

Snapchat started it, Instagram perfected it, and now everyone’s using it. Stories are THE way to share quick, informal updates without clogging up your main feed. I use them to post everything from “look at my cat” to “why does my sink make this noise?”—and people actually engage with them.

Algorithms: The Ever-Changing Headache

One day, your posts get 100 likes. The next? Three. Social media platforms love changing their algorithms just when you think you’ve figured them out. If there’s one social media trend that never dies, it’s this: Engaging content wins. Comment back. Ask questions. Reply to DMs. The more you interact, the more you’ll be seen.

Community Building: Find Your People

Forget chasing millions of followers. Find your niche. Whether it’s a Facebook group for dog lovers or a Discord server for conspiracy theorists who believe pigeons aren’t real—there’s a community for everything. And if you can’t find one? Make it.

Social Responsibility: Do The Right Thing

People expect brands to care about more than just profits. If you’re running a business, show that you actually give a damn. Support causes you believe in. Be vocal about issues that matter. But—pro tip—don’t fake it. Nothing screams “cringey corporate” like hopping on a social movement just for clout.

Social Media Ads: You’re Gonna Have to Pay Up

Organic reach isn’t dead, but let’s be honest—it’s on life support. If you want to grow fast, social media ads are the way. Target your audience wisely, or you’ll end up like me, getting ads for maternity clothes (I’m not pregnant) and Norwegian fishing gear (I don’t fish).

The Bottom Line (No Fancy Transitions Needed)

Social media trends change, but one thing stays the same—people want real, engaging, and valuable content. Whether you’re here to grow a business, become internet-famous, or just post your daily coffee order (no judgment), adapt, experiment, and most importantly, have fun with it. After all, if it’s not fun, what’s the point?