2024 to 2034: What Social Media Experts Predict for the Next Decade

Hey there! 👋

Lately, I haven't been able to stop thinking about the future of social media and what it might look like 10 years from now.

I mean, we've already seen big shifts, especially with the AI hype.

So, instead of just guessing, I went straight to the source and asked some of the top social media gurus to share their predictions.

Some of their predictions blew my mind and some others got me a little worried.

I thought you might find their insights as interesting as I did.

Shall we take a look at them all? 👀

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The next decade is going to be all about trustworthy microinfluencing, not from celebrities, but from local community enthusiasts who share their favorite hotspots, products, and recommendations to their personal audience.

That being said, physical product brands need to focus on creating a well-regulated gifting collaboration program, and digital or software products must implement an affiliate or referral network to see active word-of-mouth recommendations of their brand on social media.

Chelse Hensley, Social Media Strategist, Visme

I believe personalization will be paramount in the future of social media. Users will demand content that resonates with their feelings and experiences. Algorithms are already becoming more sophisticated in delivering individualized content.

Users want brands to evolve into "online friends" rather than just businesses. They seek brands that feature real people, engage in authentic conversations, and maintain transparency. This shift requires brands to build genuine connections and foster trust by being more relatable and open.

To meet these demands, social media managers must deeply understand their audience's behavior, needs, preferences, and demographics. By analyzing this data and adapting their strategies, brands can create content that personally resonates with users, moving beyond mere trends.

Miruna Vocheci, Social Media Manager, Socialinsider

One area that I feel social media managers should particularly focus on is performance marketing. Social media is becoming more data-driven, and there will be an even stronger need for measurable results and ROI from social media campaigns. This shift is happening because businesses want to justify their marketing costs and show real outcomes from their social media efforts.

To do this, social media managers need to go beyond just creating engaging content. They need to use analytics and data insights to guide their decisions. This means setting clear, measurable goals for each campaign, like increasing website traffic, generating leads, or boosting sales. By keeping track of key performance indicators (KPIs) such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and engagement metrics, managers can see how well their strategies are working in real-time.

Additionally, performance marketing requires a cycle of testing, analyzing, and optimizing. Social media managers should try out different types of content, ad formats, and targeting options to find what works best for their audience. Using techniques like A/B testing will help fine-tune campaigns for the best results.

Debbie Moran, Marketing Manager, Recurpost

Social media is no longer a multiverse of apps that you use just for a few minutes. Slowly, social media is moving towards building habits and lifestyles. It has become a part of our daily routine and has the power to influence your most minute choice.

Now that things have become easier, it is only more important to pump out original content than emulating others. It's the time when even commoners get stardom fame due to a single-outlier activity that managed to entice their followers. In the coming years, one needs to be incredibly creative. Bringing out more raw stories will be appreciated.

Plus, we are seeing greater investment in tools for social listening as brands start to be mindful and cautious about their online existence. Further, there is a rise of building community over comments. In the next few months, empathy/humorous comments on social media will be one of the vital strategies for brands and individuals alike.

Sweta Panigrahi, Marketing Manager, Keyhole

While we are used to thinking about social media as a product for the younger generations, I believe that in ten years a very important and active segment will rise - senior citizens.

We can already see Facebook's average user age growing, and younger generations moving from the platform to new means of communication. In ten years we will start seeing a rise of generation that are internet native yet aging. In this case, social media becomes an interesting solution. Senior people via social media are able to maintain social contacts, communicate with people without physical travel, stay in touch with relatives, or find new friends. While this is an organically rising trend in ten years we might see it as a more defined and proactively nurtured phenomenon.

Also, with the rapid evolution of AI and its use cases, it is difficult to predict how exactly, but it’s quite certain AI will merge with how people use social media. Content creation will be even more simplified which will push for new unexpected forms of content creation to stand out.

Pija Ona Indriūnaitė, Brand Manager, Omnisend

As I look toward the next decade in social media, I'm excited about the possibilities that immersive technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will bring. I believe these technologies will become a standard part of our online interactions, offering us new and engaging ways to connect with content and brands. Imagine being able to virtually try on clothes or attend events in a completely digital environment—these innovations will transform how we shop and socialize online.

Another trend I'm particularly focused on is the continued rise of video content, especially short-form videos. Platforms like TikTok have shown how powerful this format can be, and it's clear that video will only grow in importance. I see video content becoming even more integrated into social commerce, where we'll be able to make purchases directly within social media platforms. For brands, the key to success will be embracing these new formats and technologies, staying ahead of the curve, and finding creative ways to connect with their audiences.

Mark Voronov, CEO, SocialPlug

As someone who’s pretty deep into the crypto space, I’ve been watching decentralized technologies closely, and I genuinely believe we’re about to see decentralized social media networks take off in a big way over the next decade.

These platforms, built on blockchain, will finally give users complete control over their data and content. With all the concerns about privacy and data security that keep popping up, people are going to start demanding more from their social media platforms. We’re already seeing this in the growing interest around decentralized finance and NFTs—people are waking up to the value of their digital assets, and I think that’s going to spill over into how they use social media.

By 2034, I see decentralized social media becoming a major force, offering a real alternative to the platforms we know today. Users are going to flock to the places where they have more control and transparency, and that’s going to fundamentally change the way we interact online.

MILO CRUZ, Content Lead, BuddyCRM

Something I'm seeing already is social media is moving towards more short-term content as people become too busy to commit to long podcasts or even long stories on Instagram. Users want their information concise, and they want it fast. Plus, with AI developments, social media is set to become more personalized.

Therefore, social media managers should be on the lookout for the latest trends while also keeping up with AI and how it transforms social media.

Dmytro Tymoshenko, the CEO of Eightify

As a social media expert, I can tell you that in the next decade, many features will become more individual and prone to providing so-called “presence”.

In the coming years, there will be increased use of augmented reality and virtual reality hence making social media more engaging so that people can be able to interact with brands they like and even with other people. Also, the continuation of the focus on the post-truth content will persist as people’s need to interact with real-life houses instead of the highly edited ones. The author believes that the firms that are committed to stewardship of information and customer networks will be valuable, given that they will continue to align themselves to changing customer needs in this environment.

Abhinav Girdhar, Founder and CEO, AppyPie

Shopping and Facebook Marketplace are changing). So, I think that soon, most social media sites will have built-in shopping features. This will change the goal for brands from "just" engaging with influencers to selling products right there at their feet.

With this in mind, social media managers should focus on creating frictionless shopping experiences in their apps. Not just pictures of products, but shoppable posts and stories that can allow a transaction to be conducted without leaving the app. The new gold standard will be content that is fun and interesting, but also commercial and directly leads to sales.

In my opinion, the social media manager of the not-too-distant future will function somewhat like a digital shopfront manager, with some of the job functions of an e-commerce analyst, web usability specialist, and consumer psychologist rolled into one. Understanding the buying journey on social media and ‘optimising’ for it will become a core focus. Managers will be able to experiment with ways to keep content fresh but shoppable and to balance brand storytelling with hitting the target for commercial objectives.

ANDERS BILL, Co-founder/CPO, Superfiliate

Niche communities are expected to thrive in the next decade. The shift towards more personalized and interest-specific content is already gaining traction. People are looking for spaces where they can connect deeply over shared interests, rather than wading through the noise of larger platforms. Social media experts predict that these smaller, focused communities will see significant growth, driven by the desire for authentic engagement and specialized content. Brands and influencers will need to adapt by offering more targeted and relevant content to these niche groups. Effective strategies will likely involve creating value-driven content and fostering genuine interactions within these smaller communities.

Think of it as shifting from broadcasting to narrowcasting. Expertise will be key, with brands becoming thought leaders in specific areas rather than trying to appeal to everyone. For those looking to tap into these burgeoning communities, the recommendation is to focus on platforms and tools that facilitate deeper connections.

Features like private groups, forums, and exclusive content will become increasingly important. It will be about offering a sense of belonging and delivering tailored experiences that resonate on a personal level. This targeted approach not only builds loyalty but also drives higher engagement and, ultimately, better results

Will Yang, Head of Growth & Marketing, Instrumentl

And there you have it! 🙌 Some pretty exciting (and a little nerve-wracking) predictions about where social media might be heading.

The one thing you should conclude? Adaptability is your best weapon.

It's clear from what we've just read that the future of social media holds many surprises.

To stay ahead, you need to be constantly aware of what's working and what’s not. Keeping yourself updated with the latest updates and trends should be at the top of your priority list. You also need to be ready to completely change your entire strategy when necessary. Being rigid with a strategy you made a year ago won't get you far.