Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates may have first created Facebook in 2004 as a means to connect college students, but little did they know the many additional uses that social media would have a mere two decades later. This year alone, social media advertising spending is projected to reach $219.8 billion, while mobile will generate $255.8 billion by 2028. The incredible potential wielded by social media to reach millions in a matter of minutes has led to new developments and trends in social connectivity. Read on to discover top new uses for social media sites, ranging from Instagram to TikTok and beyond.
User-Generated Content to Boost Brand Popularity
Don’t be surprised if your favorite brand offers you a discount or free deal in return for a video reviewing their products or services. User-generated content, including videos, posts, and images of purchased products, is now a top way to boost brand credibility and engagement. The statistics show that people trust people. Some 93% of marketing professionals agree that consumers trust user-generated content over brand content, as this type of video receives ten times more views than those created by companies.
Video Dating Profiles
Nearly 70% of people who met another person on a dating app said that their connection led to an exclusive relationship, indicating the importance of social media on the dating scene. Within this sector, one of the hottest trends is that of “pre-dating” potential romantic interests via video. It all begins by providing a video dating profile so that others can connect with one’s profile more authentically than traditional photo-and-text-only profiles. The next step is connecting live via InstaCams or traditional video conferencing apps. Connecting virtually is an excellent way to “weed out” those one fails to connect with, thus improving time efficiency.
Longer Videos
Short-form video has enjoyed great popularity over the past few years, but long-form video has now seen a big resurgence. TikTok, for one, has been encouraging users to post longer videos, starting with one minute. Recently, it has started testing 30-minute videos and has started to push horizontal videos, reminiscent of the YouTube experience.
The Rise of Social Commerce
Trends such as #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt are continuing to dominate purchasing decisions, so much so that in late 2023, TikTok launched its official Shop and began embracing initiatives such as live commerce streaming and interactive shopping experiences. The growing popularity of social commerce has everything to do with the fact that GenZ consumers are now citing social media as their top source of purchasing inspiration. Within the next two years, live-streaming is expected to make up an impressive 20% of online sales. The advantage of this mode of selling items is that it offers brands the opportunity to showcase products in full and to demonstrate product quality and details.
Social connectivity is about much more than simply connecting with friends. Businesses are making the most of ubiquitous connectivity by encouraging user-generated content and holding live-streaming events. They are also posting longer videos on popular sites like TikTok. The dating scene isn’t left behind, with video profiles and streamed dates making it easier for people to find their perfect match and make the most of their personal time.
