Social media trends are the short-lived fads, memes and other content types that capture audiences’ attention on various platforms. Brands that keep up with social media trends can improve their visibility, reach and customer engagement. However, failing to adapt to emerging trends can lead to irrelevance and missed opportunities.
As social media networks evolve, their user communities develop their own unique cultures. These emerging platforms also offer a testing ground for brands to test and experiment with innovative content and engagement strategies.
Despite the rise of newer, more visual social media channels, many consumers still value long-established platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. This means that brands must have a strategy for both long-standing and emerging social media platforms.
Consumers have high standards for social media content. They want to connect with brands that are authentic and transparent. They expect businesses to use UGC and other social media marketing trends to build trust, foster community engagement, and create a positive experience. In 2025, this means focusing on raw, unfiltered content that showcases real-life experiences.
The rise of the creator economy has brought more influencers into the spotlight, allowing brands to find their audience and connect on a deeper level. This trend has also helped to make the content creation process more collaborative.
Brands should have a flexible content strategy that includes repurposing and creating content specifically for each channel. For example, makeup brand Cheekbone Beauty repurposes video content across all their channels but uses videos that are tailored to each platform’s audiences, such as TikTok’s minute-long format and LinkedIn’s longer, thought leadership style videos.