The hottest social media trends in 2022 include audio-based social media and live streaming. Live streaming video also ranks top of the list of formats social media marketers spend money on. According to a survey conducted by Hubspot, 65% of social media marketers ranked live audio chat rooms like Clubhouse, Spoon and VoiceHer among the top three most effective social media formats.
Keeping an eye on new, upcoming platforms allows you to get in early, establish your brand and understand the community while it grows. You can also test various social media strategies and campaigns before the environment becomes too crowded with advertising.
Meta-lurgie
Meta means ‘beyond’, ‘after’ or ‘behind’ in Greek. Today it signifies the biggest social platform since the Internet was invented. Facebook launched its Meta for Business Platform in October 2021. According to Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, “We are a company that builds technology to connect people.” The platform now offers a virtual reality space where users can interact with other users and a computer-generated environment. Like MySpace before it, experts are watching Meta closely to see if the world is more ready for it than in 2003 when the platform launched. Perhaps the advent of NFTs, augmented reality, and the astronomical rise in gaming has created an environment where users are ready to exchange their earthly coils for virtual ones.
TikTok
Built in 2016, TikTok rapidly gained popularity in virtually all parts of the world. The platform surpassed 1 billion active global users a month in October 2022. To put it into perspective, Facebook currently has 2.9B users, YouTube 2.2B and Instagram 1.4B. Morning Consult ranked it as the 6th fastest growing brand in 2021, after companies like HBOMax, Peacock, Paramount+, Coinbase and Moderna. If you want to reach a highly interactive audience between 13 and 60, you can’t overlook TikTok’s impressive rise. If you think TikTok is not suitable for serious brands, think again. Brands like Guess jeans’ have 105.9K views and The Washington Post have gained 1.4 million followers as the community embraces insightful news in this short video format.
Twitch
Launched in 2011, Twitch sports 140 million monthly active users. The live-streaming platform aimed predominantly at gamers allows creators to interact with their audience in real-time. Besides gaming content, you’ll find live streams on cooking, music and just about anything else. Twitch also offers e-sport events, festivals and interactive live shows to its more than 2,5 million daily users. The audience on Twitch leans towards young people, with 70% of its viewers between the ages of 16 and 34 years old. It’s a great community-based platform where you can connect with your audience on a personal level, especially for B2C brands.
Discord
Once a gaming platform, Discord has evolved into an expansive chat app. The platform operates on servers – community groups that allow video, audio and text chatting. Users can build their own server or join one created by another user. According to co-founder Jason Citron, the platform became a place designed for users to hang out and talk in the comfort of their own communities and friends. Discord does not allow paid ads. All brands on the platform have to rely on organic growth. It’s a wonderful platform to grow and build brand loyalty and trust if you’re willing to play the long game head on over and take a look.
Instagram reels
Mark Zuckerberg, owner of Facebook, could not just sit back and watch TikTok take the social world by storm. He had to launch a counterattack in the form of Instagram Reels. In direct competition with TikTok, Reels offers a similar video creation functionality. Users can create videos adorned with superficial special effects, music and transitions. Ecommerce businesses can leverage the platform to share their product releases and how-to guides. Still popular with Generation Z, some brands are trending on this platform, like Pimms and Airbnb. If influencer marketing is what you’re after, you’re in the right place on Instagram Reels.
Unlike some social media platforms that are here today and gone tomorrow, Truevo Payments is in it for the long game. We might be trending in our ability to process payments across multiple channels in over 150 currencies, but we never take our eye off the ball when it comes to speed, easy set-up and complete security. Drop us a line if you’re not already doing business with us. We can’t wait to trend with you today.
