7 Key Social Media Trends for 2020
Social media has transformed the way society works. It has had an immense impact on the way we interact with other individuals and brands, and how we search for and consume information. Social media has also had a significant effect on our behaviors and decision-making processes. It continues to shape politics, commerce, education, careers, culture, and more, in ways that will change the world.
The speed of change in social media is revolutionizing the way we advertise, publish, purchase, and socialize. Now, it's hard to even imagine a world without social media. The past year saw some major changes in social media. But what's in store for social media in 2019 and the years to come?
Here's a rundown of the 7 key social media trends to watch in 2019.
1. Social Media Users Worldwide
There has been a steady growth in the number of social media users around the world. Since 2010, the figure has doubled and is expected to reach 3.02 billion users by 2021.
2. Social Media Users by Gender
Our study shows that female users outnumber male users around the world. 73% of females use social media, compared to 65% of males.
3. Social Media Usage by Group
Adults also comprise a major proportion of social media network users. The greatest social media consumers are aged 18-29 years. Around 88% of this age group use at least one social media site. Those above 65 years old consume social media the least, with only 37% using at least one social media site.
4. Social Media Audience by Platform
YouTube dominates the social media space, with about 73% of adult users using it. Moreover, about 91% of adult users aged 18-29 are engaged in the video-sharing platform. Facebook closely follows with 68% of adults using the platform, and Instagram with about 35%. Other platforms such as Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn are popular among a quarter of the total adult social media users.
5. Frequency of Using Social Media Sites
More people seem to have made Facebook a habit as the social media network leads to the frequency of people visiting it on a daily and weekly basis. Snapchat also comes in second place, with 60% of users checking it daily, while Twitter seems to be taken for granted, with about 29% of Twitter users checking the platform “less often”.
6. Millennials Dominate Social Media
It is no surprise that millennials are the main consumers of social media. Boomers and GenXers also adapt easily to social media, recording a solid number of social media users. About 85% of millennials are very well adjusted to social media at present, compared to only 81% of millennials getting to know social media in 2012. Boomers' social media usage has picked up heavily over the past 6 years, moving from 40% in 2012 to 57% at present.
7. Top Social Media Industries
Industries and brands have been very active on social media, using it as a tool to market their products and services. Higher education entities are active on social media, especially Instagram, with an average of 3.392% utilizing the platform. Meanwhile, 0.25% of F&B brands and influencers use Facebook to further their reach.
