Orca’s 2024 Social Media Predictions & Roundup of Popular Predictions Online
You don’t need a magic ball to see what’s coming in the world of social media in 2024. What is happening now is paving the way for 2024 trends and popular marketing practices. It’s still not definite so the Orca Social Media Team comfortably brings you predictions rather than absolutes. Here are our top 5 2024 social media predictions.
- X (Twitter) Loses Popularity to Threads
It’s no secret that X has been in the news lately with advertisers pulling out and users down 15%. We’ve had clients asking if we think X is on the way out and we’ve had the same speculation. With similar platforms like Threads becoming more popular, Orca predicts that X will take a back seat in 2024. We might even leap to predict that X, in a plea to keep users from leaving the platform, will change its name back to Twitter. Time will tell. - Subtle Product Placement Replaces Ads
When we asked our social media team members if they had seen the recent deinfluencing posts on social media, they nodded yes. This response to influencer marketing doesn’t make us think that influencer marketing will go away in 2024, but we believe it’s ready for a big change. Influencers who list their favorite products in roundup videos, product hauls, and obviously promoted content will be replaced with subtle product placement. Think of product placement naturally woven into video narratives that aren’t the primary focus of the storytelling. Products in the backdrop of our lives. No longer selling to followers in 2024, but rather followers finding inspiration.
- Celebrity / Macro Influencers Take a Step Back
Continuing the discussion of the changing influencer landscape, Orca predicts that in 2024, huge macro-influencers will continue to lose audience interest in favor of more personal, organic content and less advertising. While their following numbers might not drop drastically, their post-performance will not be as successful as smaller micro-influencers whose content resonates more with the everyday user. We predict that brands will continue to work closely with nano and micro-influencers, building trust with their audience through authentic partnerships that are also more budget-friendly for small businesses.
- B2B Businesses to Embrace Social Media
We are finding more and more that B2B businesses are seeking out social media management to find leads and opportunities on platforms they have never considered before. While LinkedIn is still the favored social platform for B2B, we will start seeing more businesses testing the waters on Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok. Many of their clients frequent these platforms, and having a presence on them will open up unique opportunities to connect in an online environment that is not saturated with other B2B businesses looking to make a sale. - Businesses Will Turn to TikTok Shops
TikTok Shops launched in September 2023. While it’s still too early to know its full impact, in 2024, we think it will continue to grow. More businesses are likely to be drawn towards the allure of TikTok Shops, opting to diversify their approach rather than going all-in on Amazon.
Round Up of Our Favorite Predictions Found Online:
- Live Streaming
In 2024, it’s predicted that live streams are set to take the spotlight. Customers are growing weary of promotional content, leaning more towards the authentic vibe of live streams. It gives them a sense of connection, allowing them to engage and feel heard by their beloved brands and influencers.
- Medium Length Content is Out
The demand for either concise, quick-hit videos or podcast-style content suitable for multitasking, such as working or studying, is on the rise. This trend, already underway, is expected to gain momentum in 2024. The shift is probably due to people having less time for medium-length content. They seek videos that can be quickly viewed between tasks or enjoyed during the essential activities of work and study.
- Ticktokification of all Social Media
Regardless of the platform people choose to frequent in 2024, they will all start looking more and more like TikTok. The dominance of video content is set to persist, with social media feeds becoming increasingly tailored to individual interests. This observation holds weight as TikTok remains a powerhouse among platforms, inspiring others to emulate its success.
- Creating Content with AI
AI was everywhere in 2023, and the trend is expected to persist in 2024. More companies will likely view ChatGPT and other AI platforms as convenient tools for generating social media content. AI will continue to improve over the next year as more people use it. This will elevate the quality of AI-generated content, making it appear less artificial to the average social media user.
- TikTok will increase as a search engine like Google
Users are now turning to TikTok for book reviews, cooking recipes, and opinions on various topics. As 2024 unfolds, we believe that people will increasingly turn to TikTok akin to using Google as a search engine for information including world news, political updates, and more.