Social media has changed the way we communicate and consume information. More people are turning to online platforms for shopping, working and entertainment, which means that online platforms are going to have to start evolving too. (Facebook and the Metaverse saga are a notable example)
So, what platforms will we be seeing in 2022? Before we answer that, lets focus on who is consuming the content first.
Gen Zs –Use social media primarily for entertainment, followed by product information / education and community engagement.
Millennials -Use social media primarily for news & current events, followed by entertainment.
Gen X – Use social media primarily to follow & research businesses.
Baby Boomers – Although they might not easily adopt modern technologies, they have large wallets, and know how to shop online (accounting for 20% more online purchases than Millennials).
Now let us look at the latest trends and platforms set to take off in 2022.
Tik Tok
Contrary to widespread belief, Tik Tok is not only a place for Gen Zs. Taylor Swift falls into the category of Millennial, yet she has a strong and growing following on Tik Tok of 9M fans. Plus, it is available in over 150 countries and has over one billion monthly users. We believe this platform will continue to surprise and dominate into 2022 and beyond.
Social Commerce
Social commerce, which enables consumers to make purchases via social platforms, has been on the rise in recent years. The Heavy Chef Foundation reported a 60% increase year on year of online shoppers being referred to the Payfast payment engine via social channels. Facebook produced a 113% increase in shoppers and a 35% increase was generated from Instagram, between January and December last year. These figures are expected to show continued growth in 2022, as more businesses embrace Social Commerce.
Easy Online Communication
Convenience, Convenience, Convenience! Today’s consumers do not want to pick up the phone when a quick and simple WhatsApp or Direct Message will suffice. Quick & effective responses to customer queries are the building blocks for long-lasting relationships. Make sure all communication with your brand is fun, engaging, and informative.
These are just three of the trends that are going to dominate the social media landscape in 2022. Leverage these trends to gain a competitive advantage.