We all know by now how important of a role social media has on your business strategy.

If you’re not on social media, you’re making things significantly harder on your business than they need to be. Social media is always evolving, making it tough for social media marketing managers to keep up with these changes.

We’ll outline the top eight social media marketing trends of 2025 that are reshaping our perspective on social media.

Key Takeaways:

  • Augmented Reality: AR is reshaping customer interactions, with tools like Snapchat filters leading the charge, paving the way for more immersive marketing.
  • Focus on Generation Z: Gen Z is entering the workforce and reshaping retail trends with their love for personalized, shareable experiences.
  • Video Dominance: Platforms like Instagram Stories, YouTube, and Houseparty highlight video’s unparalleled ability to engage visually-driven customers.
  • Messenger Apps and Chatbots: Messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp enable businesses to engage directly, enhancing the customer journey.
  • Live Streaming: Real-time video fosters transparency and intimacy, helping businesses build trust and drive engagement.
  • Influencer Marketing: Social media influencers act as trusted intermediaries, connecting products with their engaged audiences authentically.
  • User-Generated Content: Empowering customers to create content fosters trust, loyalty, and authentic promotion that resonates with modern buyers.
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1. Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is already being implemented in small ways, but it’s leaving a significant impact that will last well into the future. In fact, it’s estimated that the augmented reality and virtual reality markets will surpass $298 billion by 2023.

The most obvious example are Snapchat’s facial filters.

Some of them have sponsors displayed in the corner of the screen, and users can make their own geofilters too. Social media marketing managers can and should, if they aren’t doing so already, use these features that will keep becoming more common on other platforms to expand their reach and personalize interactions.

2. Focus on Generation Z

Generation Z is starting to enter the workforce, meaning they have money to spend. Marketers are starting to target the new generation early, which is a smart move.

Retail businesses, for example, are offering clothes that are higher-end while offering a wider range of styles.

Retailers are also opening pop-up stores and hosting events that offer more intimate, personalized customer experiences, which will continue to be a major business trend for years to come. The reason pop-up stores and events are so popular is that they’re unique and are designed with the intention of being shared on social media.

Generation Z was born surrounded by technology, which makes them and social media marketing a natural fit for each other.

3. Video

Video continues to be the dominant medium in social media.

Instagram copied Snapchat by creating Instagram Stories, which work in exactly the same way. According to Entrepreneur, 200 million Instagram users use Instagram Stories each month. This makes Instagram a vital focus in your marketing efforts, and one you should give your best effort at. YouTube continues to grow in popularity due to the rise in YouTubers (we’ll get into that more a little later).

Generation Z also uses social video platforms like Houseparty, where users can join group video chats and talk to each other online and on the go.

By making their presence known on all these video platforms, social media marketers will have a unique advantage in 2025 because video platforms, again, make it easier to offer personalized customer experiences, which is what customers – regardless of generation – want from businesses.

People are visual learners by nature, and video goes beyond what pictures offer. Businesses are realizing this, realizing the popularity of video channels, and realizing the versatility of video.

4. Messenger Apps and Chatbots

Like video, messenger apps offer customers another channel to reach out to businesses and vice versa.

We all know how popular Facebook Messenger is and how easy it is for people to reach out to each other without leaving Facebook. This is important because customers who are on Facebook aren’t always on it with the intention of buying a product.

If a customer does, however, land on a business page and see something they’re interested in, marketers can reach out to them via chatbot and initiate a conversation that could ultimately lead to a sale the customer never saw coming.

This is a great way to increase engagement throughout the customer journey. Businesses can reach out on Messenger, WhatsApp, and Kik, which are all popular messaging apps Millennials and gen Z’ers are using regularly.

5. Live Streaming

Live streaming takes video channels to another level.

Instead of creating a video and worrying about developing it or needing to start over because it didn’t come out exactly as you planned, social media marketing managers can live stream what they’re doing to give potential customers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at what’s going on around the office and how products are being made.

We’ll repeat this over and over again: personalized customer experiences matter.

Live streaming helps marketers to not just give potential customers an intimate look at what’s going on, but to offer a natural call-to-action. For example, marketers who want to offer a one-time promotion can start a live stream and announce on social media that the promotion is starting right now while interacting directly with customers who may or may not have questions and comments.

6. Influencer Marketing (YouTubers)

Remember when we mentioned YouTube? YouTubers are the best example of people who market products and businesses to viewers.

Any time you see a sponsored video by anyone with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, you’re watching someone who’s considered an influencer. By reaching out to Influencers on YouTube and even other social media like Instagram, you’re getting other people who come off as normal, everyday people to promote your products.

Again, this comes down to offering personalized customer experiences.

YouTubers gain fame by putting out content that relates to tons of people. When they talk about a product or service, they’re taking advantage of social engineering to give off the impression that the product or service they’re marketing plays a significant role in their life and that it can play a significant role in ours. They’re people we feel we can trust and that goes a long way in a market where customers are hesitant to trust big companies.

7. User-generated Content

User-generated content is content created by unpaid fans of businesses that businesses can use to promote their products.

It can come in the form of photos, videos, or memes. Doing this is an extremely useful way of getting the customers involved with the business strategy, which – as you can probably guess – leads to a better, overall customer experience.

Word-of-mouth referrals still play a significant role in this technology-driven market.

People no longer respond to simple marketing tactics anymore. It’s not enough to tell someone they need a product. They want a story behind the product. Like what we just mentioned about YouTubers playing a big role in social media marketing, people also want to see products being used in real life situations. User-generated content personalizes products in ways businesses simply can’t.

There are new emerging trends in social media marketing that you need to keep an eye on:

Shoppable Social Media

Social media platforms are no longer just for connection and entertainment – they’re now powerful shopping hubs.

Shoppable social media allows businesses to showcase their products directly on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, enabling users to browse and purchase without leaving the app.

This seamless shopping experience eliminates barriers to purchase, making it easier than ever for customers to convert. Features like Instagram’s “Shop Now” buttons or TikTok’s product links transform casual scrolling into a revenue-driving activity.

Why It Matters:

  • Convenience: Shoppable posts streamline the buying process, reducing friction for customers.
  • Engagement: Interactive shopping keeps users on the platform longer.
  • Impulse Buys: By meeting users where they are, brands can capitalize on real-time interest.

How to Use It:

  • Use high-quality, eye-catching product images and videos.
  • Tag products directly in your posts and stories.
  • Collaborate with influencers to showcase your products through their social shopping content.

Short-Form Video Content

Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have skyrocketed in popularity, highlighting the power of short, snackable videos. These bite-sized clips are perfect for grabbing attention in a crowded digital space and delivering quick, impactful messages.

Short-form videos thrive on creativity, offering businesses the chance to humanize their brands, showcase products, and engage in trends that resonate with their audience.

Why It Matters:

  • High Engagement: Short videos have higher completion rates compared to longer formats.
  • Viral Potential: Trend-driven content has a greater chance of spreading quickly.
  • Accessibility: Short videos are easier to produce, requiring fewer resources.

How to Use It:

  • Focus on storytelling that captures attention within the first three seconds.
  • Use trending sounds, hashtags, and challenges to increase visibility.
  • Experiment with behind-the-scenes clips, tutorials, or quick product demos.

AI-Powered Content Recommendations

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way brands interact with audiences. AI tools analyze user behavior to deliver hyper-personalized content suggestions, ensuring customers see posts, products, or services that align with their interests.

AI not only saves time but also enhances user experience by making social media feeds more relevant and engaging. From targeted ads to tailored post recommendations, AI bridges the gap between brands and their ideal customers.

Why It Matters:

  • Personalization: Customers are more likely to engage with content that feels tailored to them.
  • Efficiency: AI reduces the need for manual segmentation and content planning.
  • Improved ROI: Targeting the right audience with the right message drives higher conversions.

How to Use It:

  • Use AI-driven platforms like Hootsuite Insights or HubSpot to analyze audience preferences.
  • Implement predictive analytics to anticipate customer needs and behaviors.
  • Employ chatbots that recommend products or content based on user interactions.

Wrapping Up

Social media marketing trends in 2025 are all catered to personalizing the customer experience by putting the customer in charge.

Businesses understand that they’re now playing the role of navigator, guiding people to their products and letting them decide whether or not it’s right for them.

Through social media, businesses can connect with their customers quickly and personally to help generate more revenue while rebuilding trust by becoming more transparent, public figures.