The number of U.S. adults on at least one social platform leads to a staggering 72% utilization, and the validation of social media as a brand growth and consumer behavior tool is undeniable. As 2025 unfolds, brands must stay on top of emerging social media trends to effectively engage their audiences and maximize their marketing efforts.
What’s trending this year?
Here are nine must-watch social media trends for 2025 — to guide you in developing a winning strategy:
1. Reddit Advertising
Reddit remains a great place for authentic discussions and recommendations. Now, with Google integrating Reddit’s “forum” results into search, this site is the place to go for product reviews and recommendations. When users are in the research phase, a brand is less of a brand and more of a friend to talk to when buying a product. Being active in appropriate subreddits can also position your brand as a thought leader in your niche.
2. Shopping via Product Ads in an App
Shoppable in-app experiences on platforms like TikTok and Instagram are transforming e-commerce. Shoppable ads allow users to discover, research, and purchase products within the app, providing a seamless customer journey. This trend is especially effective at targeting younger audiences who desire quick and convenient shopping solutions. In 2025, brands that utilize these interactive ads will see their ROI increase.
3. Social Media Ads and First-Party Data
Stiffening privacy regulations are making capitalizing on first-party data critical. First-party data enables brands to:
- Create Lookalike Audiences that are high performing
- Personalize ad content
- Improve campaigns based on customer reactions
As one of the cornerstones of 2025’s social media strategies, this data-driven approach will boost targeting accuracy and campaign performance.
4. Forum Marketing
Forums like Reddit and Quora remain largely untapped for organic engagement. They are platforms where real-life conversations happen, making them ideal for subtle marketing techniques.
Tips for success:
- Find forums that your target audience belongs to.
- Be open about your brand.
- Focus on helping instead of making overt sales pitches.
Creating interest groups or forums for your brand can automatically attract engaged audiences.
5. Playful, Authentic Content
Audiences are moving away from overly polished, staged content. They crave real, relatable, and realistic content that showcases your brand for what it is. Create playful and authentic content that shows your brand’s attitude. Whether memes, behind-the-scenes videos, or raw testimonials, let the brand voice shine to build a deeper connection with your audience.
6. Community Over Follower Count
For 2025, it’s quality over quantity. Grow your community instead of focusing solely on follower count.
Connect with your audience via:
- Responding to comments and DMs.
- Reposting user-generated content.
- Writing interactive posts such as polls or Q&As.
A perceived community fosters loyalty, leading to organic brand advocacy.
7. Social SEO
Social platforms are becoming search engines in their own right. As more users turn to TikTok and Instagram for answers, optimizing your social profiles for search is critical.
Strategies to implement:
- Use relevant hashtags.
- Write keyword-based captions.
- Add alt text to images.
- Provide subtitles/captions on videos for accessibility.
Social SEO not only increases visibility but also enhances online authority.
8. Transparency in the Ethical Use of AI
While AI tools help with social media marketing, audiences appreciate authenticity and transparency. Brands must be responsible with AI by:
- Using AI to brainstorm ideas, not to write complete content.
- Ensuring accuracy by fact-checking AI outputs.
- Labeling content generated by AI, where relevant.
When approached ethically, AI maximizes efficiency without sacrificing the human connection that resonates with audiences.
9. Edutainment Content Creation
Edutainment — a portmanteau of education and entertainment — remains dominant. It must be engaging, easy to consume, and used to educate audiences in a fun way.
Popular formats include:
- Research presented as skits explaining industry trends.
- Golden nuggets of wisdom from memes.
- Interactive stories or videos.
Edutainment also allows you to establish thought leadership and maintain follower interest over time.
Be Up-To-Date On Current Social Media Trends
Brands have to evolve with the 2025 social media trends to keep relevance and engagement high. From embracing Reddit advertising and creating playful content to nailing social SEO, the closer you align your strategy to these trends, the better your brand’s outlook for the future social media trends.
If managing your social media strategy feels overwhelming, consider partnering with a social media marketing company. Expert teams can handle everything from content generation to analytics, ensuring you get the most out of your campaigns.
