2021 Social Trends Report: What's New in Q1 and Q2?

GRIT Blog, 2021 Social Trends Report: What's New in Q1 and Q2

2021 Social Trends Report: What's New in Q1 and Q2?

So far, 2021 has been a year full of change- vaccines, commutes, and even social events! Social media trends are no exception. In fact, social trends on our go-to platforms change so fast that it can be hard to keep up. Don’t worry; Local Grit has you covered. 


In Q1 of 2021, marketers spent 60% more money than in Q1 of 2020, specifically on Facebook and Instagram. Social media continues to prove its power in the marketing sphere by connecting brands to customers. Here are some of the most notable new social media trends 2021 has brought us in Q1 and Q2:

Quarter 1: 

Live Videos

In 2019, 1.1 billion hours of live video were watched by users. Live video popularity rose even more in 2020 with creators, brands, and audiences stuck at home. This social media trend continued in Q1 of this year, bringing access to experiences not possible in-person. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, 63% of millennials watch live-streamed content on a regular basis, and about half of Twitter’s live viewers are under 25. While this feature is primarily used by younger audiences, the predicted growth of live videos overall proves to be a huge opportunity for brands and all social media users. For marketers, Q&As, product launches, interviews, and behind-the-scenes are all effective ways to utilize live videos.

Humanization

Conversational marketing has shifted away from sales and towards an empathetic tone. This is evident through meaningful responses to customer concerns and product education, which Hubspot notes as key in their 2021 social media trend report. On TikTok, for example, brands with a personalized voice excel. The rise of duets allows a quick and personable reaction from brands and increases viewer engagement.  

“Snackable Content”

Snackable content is visually appealing content that tends to be shorter and grab the attention of users quickly. Whether Instagram story infographics or memes, ensure they are accurate and relevant. About 60% of time spent on social media is through a mobile device so your snackable content should always be mobile optimized. If the content is easy to follow and engaging, it has a greater likelihood of being reshared and standing out among information overload. 

Quarter 2: 

TikTok Updates

TikTok will now allow videos up to 3 minutes long. This increase from the previous 60-second max opens up new content possibilities for marketers. However, brands should be strategic when using this feature to quickly capture the attention of an audience that is used to shorter content. 

Twitter

Twitter is launching Twitter Blue, a paid subscription that gives access to new features like ‘undo tweets,’ bookmark folders, and reader mode. While there is concern if users will pay for these additional features when free Twitter is still an option, if successful, other platforms may follow this example. 

Artificial Intelligence

AI developments in social media continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. Machine learning systems take the manual toll off of marketers, saving money by freeing up time. Brands now have access to tools for analytics, research, and advertising, with every platform utilizing this technology. One example is Facebook’s new AI project, TextStyleBrush, which can match the style of text from a single word in a photo. 

Monetization 

Social media platforms seem to be competing to provide the best money-making opportunities within their app. To increase creator engagement, Instagram has announced a new affiliate program in which creators can share product promotions and earn commission for purchases driven from their content. Social Media Today notes that this is easier for creators because they can avoid the deal negotiation process, but brands might not have a say in which creators end up promoting their products. Twitter also is boosting incentives for creators by testing a super follow option where creators can earn money from subscriber-exclusive content. 

Want to learn how to leverage these trends in your social strategies and learn what’s the next social media trend? Local Grit can help! 

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