Social media in 2019 is changing. To say that social media had a difficult year in 2018 is a real understatement. Issues regarding the use of personal data along with potential breach of users’ privacy were eventually exposed following the allegation of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election. Social networks had to undergo congressional investigations, and are now forced to realize that their power is overwhelmingly vulnerable for abuse.
But we’re not here to talk about politics. Instead, let’s talk about what’s changing for social media in 2019. Here’s what to expect.
1. More Personal
Amid the unavoidable backdrop of possible hoax – now famously referred to as “fake news” in every corner of social media – you can expect that the vast majority of users are growing more careful in choosing which influencers to follow. According to the 2018 Special Report on Brands and Social Media by Edelman Trust Barometer, 60% of users no longer trust social media companies to behave responsibly with the information they collect.
The distrustfulness of media personalities can be a good thing, however. People are now more engaged with friends, families, co-workers, and close acquaintances. In other words, social media is becoming more personal in 2019 with brands connecting more and more with individual followers.
2. More Honest
The growing leeriness will also bring about some difficulties for businesses as far as marketing and advertising are concerned. Click bait, bait-and-switch, and other annoying practices were the norm. But that’s changing in 2019.
Progressive companies are shifting away from focusing on the click and more on meaningful conversations and listening as well as more transparency. So 2019 is the year you see less stale sales pitches and click on fewer link-bait articles.
3. More User-Generated Content
With users somewhat skeptical about corporate content, businesses are increasingly turning to their loyal group of followers and customers to share stories in their own words, as explained in a publication by Inc.com. This actually is a win-win situation in which real users do the heavy-lifting for many businesses while simultaneously making content more relevant to the readers. The audience has a stronger sense of connection with each other, and companies take the advantage of potentially acquiring a larger customer base.
4. More Personal Stories
Social media is becoming more than just a place to share a few short updates every day. In 2019, social media for business will revolve more around longer stories with narratives to keep others engaged in the conversation. Both brands and their followers will interact less around corporate talking points and more around a two-way narrative. Human stories and experiences written from individuals’ own points of view will be the dominant force.
5. More LinkedIn
Despite the controversies and scandals surrounding a lot of major social networks, LinkedIn remains as trustworthy as ever. Social media in 2019 is becoming more and more about LinkedIn as predicted by Fast Company. For an online networking platform that focuses heavily on professionals, LinkedIn’s blogging platform has turned into a massive contents powerhouse with more than 100,000 organic articles a week and tagging capability. This platform has relatively free of clickbait, toxic rants, irresponsible hoaxes, divisive content, or useless information. This straightforward platform is perfect for businesses connecting with their audience in helpful ways.
Social Media in 2019 is Returning to Authenticity
In essence, social media in 2019 is shifting back to its original purpose. It was to be a place where everyone could feel connected and engaged in meaningful ways. Social media was always about communicating with people close to you. Then corporatism took over, privacy abuses abounded, and users became distrusting. 2019 is the year social media regains much of that organic connection. Smart businesses will follow these trends and be real with their audiences for a better conversation and more results.
