Here are some social media trends that you should expect this year:

• Transparency will matter more than ever

We are living in an era where customers want the correct information. However, at a time when social media has become the most influential platform for managers, false advertising has become a problem, not only for small businesses but for the big ones as well. With the customers' rising demand for truthful information, it is crucial to establish a transparent relationship with the customers. Companies using social media platforms in their marketing efforts have a responsibility to be straightforward. With this in mind, expect more demand from the customers to know more about a given product or service now that most transactions will be going online.

• Influencer and user-generated content will increase

As we recover from a COVID-19 ravaged year that saw a massive reduction and even complete halt of in-store shopping and events in some places, consumers have gotten used to influencers as their main recommenders of products and services. Throughout the pandemic, online influencers have become highly influential in creating marketing content and will continue playing this critical role in branding and developing digital strategies in 2021 going forward. Although influencers are the leading content creators, they are not the only ones creating meaningful content. As we head to a more digital marketplace, even ordinary people will continue to create content to alleviate boredom and lack of social interaction due to lockdown.

• Facebook and Instagram ads will continue rising

Instagram and Facebook stole the show in 2020. With more than a billion Instagram users, it is not surprising that many organizations are using this platform to market their products and services. With video content now a favorite for many social media visitors, Facebook and Instagram video ads will continue growing, and many companies will take advantage of this and other similar social media platforms to reach their potential customers. Expect more features from these social media platforms that will enhance customer interaction and increase sales.

• Marketers will get creative with TikTok

Last year was a year where TikTok took over social media content generation and proved to be a success in video content creation. The social media saw a meteoric rise, mainly during the lockdown, where people from different backgrounds created videos of their liking on different subjects. The rise of this platform into one of the biggest social media platforms is evidence that video content will continue growing in 2021. For online businesses, the rise of TikTok will mean a lot this year. It will become useful in building brand awareness and getting almost instant results through comments on videos. According to Wyzowl’s survey, consumers spend an average of 16 hours a week on video content. This is the reason why video content platforms such as TikTok will emerge as top destinations for marketers in 2021.