2017 was an exciting year for social media. Twitter doubled its character count, Linkedin rolled out its video capability, Facebook shared its love for storytelling and Snapchat embraced augmented reality – among other things. 2018 is a promising year in terms of new projects, new technologies and strategic plans for social media companies. Some might go unnoticed, but others might reshape the way you interact with social media as a whole. Here are 5 trends you should be ready for this year.
1. Facebook will continue building a powerful video platform
Facebook is highly betting on video content, it’s no longer a secret. For years, we’ve been told that people’s attention span is decreasing and that content needs to be shortened for better effectiveness. Some of this is of course still true today, but there is a shift. We all love binge-watching long series, and don’t mind spending hours in front of a screen when there is something in it for us (that’s right Netflix lovers, we’re looking at you). Facebook is dedicating an increasing budget to building an online video platform where creators could share their work. There are plenty of new TV-series and Facebook based shows that are coming to life, and this is helping the company on its long-term battle against Youtube. Live streaming is another trend that will turn mainstream this year. Facebook jumped on the wave at the right time and is now seen as a leader in the live content sharing universe – so much than about 1 in every 5 Facebook videos is now a live broadcast.
2. You will be shopping on Instagram
You might already be shopping the feed. Well, you’ll be doing it on Instagram very soon. The Facebook owned firm had began rolling out the first phases of the project back in 2016 and we are a few steps closer today, as Instagram is now expanding shoppable photos to even more merchants. With 800 million active users and counting, Instagram’s idea of style shopping is fairly easy: browse pictures you like and find items you love. With a few clicks and using easy payment systems such as Apple Pay, you’ll be able to select items and check out within seconds. New ways to generate revenue, both for Facebook and brands/influencers on the other end.
3. Snapchat will focus on being a camera company
Snapchat’s struggle is not ending in 2018, but don’t write them off yet. Fighting the tide since Facebook began rolling out similar features to Instagram and Messenger (but also other apps), Snapchat is battling and is obliged to find new ways to stay a strong market player. 2018 should be the year for Snapchat to underline their mission statement, which positions them as a camera company, and not a social media company. As a matter of fact, Snapchat recently announced Lens Studio, a platform that will allow developers but pretty much everyone else to build their own lenses. This year will be the year Snapchat highlights that they are leaders in augmented reality, by bringing new features to help you change the way you see the world through your smartphone.
4. Augmented reality is slowly reaching cruising speed
Speaking of augmented reality, it’s now everywhere. And you will see an increasing amount of it as we move forward. Google set the tone five years ago with Glass, and since then, things have moved pretty fast. We can claim with certainty that AR will dominate this year as many major players are pitching in: Facebook, Snap, Apple and Google are all competing to take the lead. AR will have a massive impact on social media but also on gaming.
5. Digital hangouts will become mainstream
People love spending time with each other, and that doesn’t mean physically. We chat and share online, and with the rise of social media, our digital interactions increase as well. Houseparty is an app used by millions of people and acts as a hub for digital hangouts and chats. Facebook has been carefully watching and has shown a solid interest in building their own hangout platform. Today, you can already have a multiuser video chat using Messenger, but Facebook wants to take it one step further. With the rise of augmented reality, there are plenty of exciting opportunities and concept that could see the light in 2018.
Bottom line
Needless to say, 2018 will be a big year for social media. And pretty much every year going forward, you’ll see new technologies and new trends emerging. With the rise of augmented and virtual realities, and the observable commitment from industry giants to social technology, you better buckle up – it’s going to get increasingly exciting.
Don’t stop exploring! 🙂
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