Social media, now best friends with digital marketing, is constantly on the move and really difficult to keep up with. How do you know which trends are the ones you need to sit up and pay attention to, which platforms really matter for your brand and how do you really make that connection with your customers on Social Media? We’ve done the homework for you, and these are the top 5 social media trends we suggest you keep your eye on in 2023.

1.     Say goodbye to ‘likes’

Instagram has had its eye on ditching ‘likes’ for a while now. Experts are speculating that this is so that the focus can shift to the genuine user response, rather than the click and move on the brigade.

This is really quite a shift in how we’ve come to ‘do’ social media. Given the strength and size of Instagram, we can assume that a change that they make, will filter through to other platforms fairly soon.

It’s also believed that Instagram is doing this because of the impact of waiting for likes on the user. It feeds into struggles with self-worth and mental health, and it’s not a true measure of ‘likeability’.

Others think the change is more about money. The push for likes has given rise to the boom in influencer marketing. Instagram, therefore, doesn’t get any direct revenue from ads. Without ‘likes’, ads will go back to the way to measure ROI.

2.     Content is STILL king

We know content matters. That’s why we all invest so much of our time and resources into it. However, this has pushed a situation where quantity has started to eclipse quality. What we are seeing now, is a push back to quality content. In the saturated social media world, users are now taking the time to be savvier, and only give their attention to content that really adds value to them.

It’s vital that in 2023, you move beyond memes to authentic and valuable content.

3.     The Digital Detox

Globally, there are a whopping 3.5 billion social media users, and these numbers are growing year on year. It’s understandable this has become an enticing marketing arena.

However, an interesting trend to notice is that Digital Detoxing is gaining traction. People are actively choosing to limit their social media use, and indeed step away from it.

The reason for this is overload. Social media is now crammed with businesses trying to sell their wares. Users’ trust is waning. Then there are privacy concerns.

Marketers need to understand why users are doing this and ensure that their reach goes beyond social media. You also need to make sure that your social media offerings are in tune with the needs of your audience.

4.     Communities matter

While likes may be moving out of favor, influencers do still matter. However, we need to understand them within the context of the community they serve and build. This word-of-mouth marketing is extremely powerful.

However, in 2023 we will be looking beyond the big influencers, who users are starting to mistrust. Instead, we need to cultivate the influential power of friends and family, and real people, with a genuine love for your product or service. These micro-influencers can actually become incredibly powerful.

5.     The rise of other platforms

Users may be leaving Facebook in large numbers, but other platforms are growing in popularity. A good example is TikTok. Only launched in 2016, it now has 1.4 billion active users each month. If you have a young target audience, TikTok is worthy of your attention.

Pinterest is also experiencing a renewed popularity rise. It’s making its presence known in the eCommerce area.

What’s worth noting here is that these platforms are offering users an experience of old – uncluttered, low-ad, community interaction.

The social media trends for 2023 are absolutely fascinating. They are notably different from previous years which have almost worked as a list of actionable steps to follow. The key takeaway now is that you will have to be considerably more careful and strategic in your use of social media as a marketing tool.

At Element 8 we make it our business to stay ahead of the trends. We are a social media and digital marketing company in Dubai, making sure that that you use all the resources available to you, wisely. Importantly, we help you to do social media marketing in a way that is tailored for your business and not through a one-size-fits-all approach.

Get in touch with the best social media marketing agency in Dubai to find out more.