The latest social media trends for 2025

From its humble beginnings in the early 2000s, social media has evolved into one of the most vital aspects of any business, regardless of the industry. 

Using interactive technologies has now become common culture, with an increasing proportion deeming social media as one of their main sources of product inspiration.

Brands are now tasked with creating, engaging and interactive experiences across a variety of channels in order to capture fleeting consumer interest, which can be a sizable challenge. 

In this article, you will discover how to implement the social media trends for 2025, in addition to tools and best practices that help you fully leverage your social channel marketing. 

Here are some instances of these tools:

14 Social media marketing trends to focus on this year

Sometimes, it can be challenging to curate strategies that will be as engaging as they are effective. This is particularly true when attempting to formulate campaigns to carry out on social channels while keeping your ad costs reasonable. 

One way to combat potential decision fatigue is to consider the current social media trends and incorporate it into your strategies in a way that aligns with your brand. 

Let’s take a look at these 14 social media trends for 2025 that you should pay close attention to:

1. Continuation of social commerce growth

The rise of ecommerce has encouraged the development of social commerce. Many brands and even private users are using social channels to sell products and services.

Numerous social platforms have implemented features that make it easy for consumers to shop in-app, without disrupting their scroll. This makes it much easier for businesses to produce user-friendly ad experiences while users are interacting more with these ads. Social commerce is projected to generate over $1 trillion in global sales by 2028, with the market growing at an annual rate of approximately 10–14% as adoption continues to expand worldwide.

To capitalize on this trend, it is increasingly important to enhance your social media presence by linking directly to product pages and using shoppable posts, especially on platforms like Instagram.

Shoppable posts let you tag products in your feed, stories, and videos, allowing customers to seamlessly click through and make purchases without leaving the app.

2. Increase in creator and micro-influencer brand partnerships

The creator economy is growing exponentially, being composed of over 200 million active creatives that specialize in a variety of fields. For the rest of the year, you can expect to witness a noticeable increase in brand partnerships with various creators, and more specifically, micro-influencers.   

The value of micro-influencers has become increasingly apparent as brand partnerships have gained popularity. They tend to garner greater levels of trust amongst their following and are deemed significantly more authentic than macro-influencers. 

In 2025, teaming up with micro-influencers is one of the most natural ways for brands to spark real conversations and connect authentically with their audiences. These smaller creators often drive around 60% more engagement than their larger counterparts, making them a high-impact addition to any digital marketing plan.

When selecting an influencer for your brand partnership, consider choosing a creator who has a following between 10,000 and 50,000 with a target audience that is similar to yours. Take a look at how Audible leveraged this social media trend in their collaboration with photographer Jesse Driftwood.

3. Sustainability is becoming a key driving force 

Gen Z is quick to back brands that truly walk the talk on climate action. When a company shows genuine commitment to the planet and to broader social good, it wins this generation’s trust and long-term loyalty. 

This strategy can also shape how tomorrow’s consumers choose to spend their money.

Gen Z already commands an estimated $450 billion in direct spending power. This figure is projected to soar to $12 trillion by 2030 as they come into their own economically.

This is a deeply values-driven generation: more than 70% say they prefer to buy from ethical or socially responsible companies, and over 90% report choosing brands that align with those principles.

To earn their trust and engagement in 2025, communicate authentically about all your efforts to benefit everyone.

Toms, the well-known shoe brand, shared its dedication to environmental consciousness through its Instagram.

4. Increase in the importance of authentic, channel-aligned ads 

As social advertising has developed over time, content has become substantially more sophisticated and engaging. Even with marketing saturation, this progression has not gone unnoticed and consumers are holding brands to a higher standard of social advertising. 

Overt ads and in-your-face marketing campaigns are a thing of the past, no longer having the same effect on prospective customers who have become accustomed to a preferred style of communication.  

This year, the social media trend to focus on is maintaining authenticity throughout your advertising, and matching your campaign formats to the channel on which it will appear. For instance, native app content such as Instagram Stories or built-in TikTok ads can be leveraged to achieve your objectives whilst simultaneously utilizing the most suitable channel features. 

5. The power of TikTok will continue 

Since its launch in 2016, TikTok has steadily grown its user base, making it one of the most popular platforms to date. In addition to allowing businesses to use short-form videos to showcase their product or service creatively, TikTok provides a variety of in-app features. 

This includes business profiles and ad objectives, that can be used to engage audiences and increase brand awareness. 

LeadsBridge offers a number of integrations that can enhance your TikTok advertising capabilities. TikTok Lead Generation integrations allow you to collect your followers’ details, while TikTok Custom Audiences enable you to set up laser-focused targeting. 

6. Significance of social SEO

As well as performing SEO on your website, the same is necessary for your social channels. As a lesser-known social media trend for 2025, you may be asking yourself.

So, what is social SEO?

Social SEO is designed to help businesses ensure that the correct audience sees their content by adding text-based features, including links, captions, and alt-texts. This practice also takes interaction into account when deciphering search rankings. 

To achieve optimal SEO, start by removing empty fields from your social channels and being as descriptive as possible in your profiles. Consider using keywords and phrases pertaining to your business and searches that your target customers may perform. 

Additionally, link building is an integral part of effective SEO, given that you respect Google’s best practices. The greater the number of high-quality inbound and outbound links, the higher Google will rate your authority, and thus, your ranking will increase.  

7. Focus on user-generated content 

User-generated content (UGC) refers to content, such as images, reviews, or videos, created by customers and published on their personal social media accounts, which is then reposted by the business itself. 

This has become a preferred technique used by companies to promote their product or service in a more authentic way. 

Not only does content published by UGC creators foster greater impressions of authenticity amongst leads, but it also lends itself to improved SEO and an increase in brand reach and engagement. 

8. Social search will have heightened significance

What is social search? This is a type of web searching that takes into account the social activity of the user performing the search, content tagging, shared bookmarks, and signaling to algorithms to generate results. 

The entire idea behind the social search is to show human network-oriented results for search queries that are more relevant to the user. In addition to providing more suitable results, social search plays a role in creating a human network, which fosters a more trustworthy impression.

9. Pay-to-play will be essential 

The surge in e-commerce that has taken place in recent years has paved the way for a heightened degree of competition amongst businesses trying to sell their product or service online. 

This competition has created a necessity for businesses to pay to play, a social media trend that cannot go unmentioned. In order to project your brand above competitors, you will have to reinforce your advertising campaigns across multiple channels using financial means. 

Using LeadsBridge, you can automate these advertising campaigns by employing a range of our available integrations. Some of our most popular integrations include Facebook custom audiences, Instagram lead ads, LinkedIn Lead Gen Forms, and Facebook lead ads. 

10. Video content will remain

Video-focused platforms like TikTok are leading the charge against monotonous marketing. Businesses are presented with a prime opportunity to showcase their creative flair and engage customers in a way that text simply cannot achieve. 

You can even create funny memes for your videos using a meme generator. This will be great if you want your video to be relatable, entertaining, and shareable on every social media platform. Whether it’s behind-the-scenes content, packaging videos, brand Q&As, or participation in viral trends, customers relish the opportunity to visualize a company and discover another layer to the brand that may not be otherwise accessible.

11. LinkedIn has changed its focus on content

If you have not already noticed, LinkedIn has begun to feature content that is less focused on people’s professional lives and job finding, and turned toward showing content that is much more personal in nature.

Take, for example, this post by Erin Gallagher, the founder of Ella. 

Although the reasoning behind this is unclear, it appears to be a social media trend that is likely to continue based on its reception and engagement. 

In 2021, LinkedIn launched its own Creator Fund, designed to invest in creators and encourage them to spark conversations and foster community on the platform. This, matched with the introduction of carousels and reactions, has seen many businesses change their approach to how they use LinkedIn. 

Going forward, you should begin to alter your LinkedIn-specific content to showcase:

• A more human side to your business
• The reasoning behind your core values
• Your challenges as a company, and how you overcame them
• Other anecdotal, thought-provoking tactics  

LinkedIn is a rich source of leads, and when used correctly can be an advantageous asset for businesses. LeadsBridge offers several integrations that help to streamline your lead generation efforts on LinkedIn, including the following:

12. Reaching new audiences will be integral 

With each social media platform comes its own distinct audience. While Facebook is primarily inhabited by millennials and boomers, apps such as TikTok and Snapchat are predominantly favored by Gen Z. 

What people engage with on Instagram may not necessarily have the same effect on Facebook, and vice versa. To reach your segmented audiences, you must adopt an omnichannel approach and create relevant content for each platform where your business has a presence. 
 

13. Threads-first, text-plus-short-video engagement

Meta’s Threads hit 350 million MAU in April 2025 and now pipes posts into the wider “fediverse” via ActivityPub.

Source

Brands that jump in to share hot takes, paired with quick vertical clips or image carousels. These posts are earning outsized reach before the ad platform rolls out.

Prioritize real-time commentary, mini-threads (2-4 posts), and prompt replies to sit atop the “For You” queue.

14. Generative-AI co-creation goes mainstream

From instant voice-over translation on YouTube Shorts to TikTok’s script-to-video tools, AI now sits inside every major platform.

Marketers who weave AI into content workflows like storyboarding, asset versioning, and even chat-based customer service cut the production time.

All you have to do is find the right tool for you and be ready to label AI-assisted material: transparency boosts trust and keeps you compliant with the EU’s new disclosure rules.

Learn more about AI lead generation here.

How to keep up with social media trends

Staying on top of social media trends has never been more crucial for marketers. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, here are three strategies to ensure your social media tactics are fresh, relevant, and impactful.

Put AI on trend-watch duty

Set up AI listening tools (e.g., SparkToro Trending, Brandwatch Iris, or even a custom ChatGPT agent) to sift millions of posts, then ping you with a one-line brief when a keyword spikes or a new feature rolls out. 

Automating the scan lets you spend time acting on insights, not hunting for them.

Curate a “signals” feed, not a fire-hose

You have two reliable options here:

• Google Alerts 2.0: Layer RSS feeds from platform-update blogs (TikTok Pulse, Meta for Business, LinkedIn Ads) into a single Feedly board.
• Creator round-ups: Subscribe to one or two trusted newsletters (e.g., Social-Proof or Future Social) that distill algorithm shifts into plain language by Friday afternoon.

Join the right micro-communities

LinkedIn Groups are still useful, but 2025’s fastest feedback loops live in:

• Slack and Discord servers for paid-social pros (try Exit Five, Measure Slack).
• Threads Circles, where brand and agency strategists trade screenshot evidence of ad performance in near real-time.
• Ask and answer questions twice a week; you’ll learn more than you would scanning public posts for a month.

Refresh your credentials annually

 Free badges are fine, but the standout certifications this year are:

• Meta Performance Marketing Certification (v6, rolled out Jan 2025).
• TikTok Creative Effectiveness Certification (beta).

TikTok now includes access to sandbox ad accounts and generative-AI asset tools, practical experience that you can apply the same day.

Adopt these strategies and you won’t just “keep up”; you’ll spot the wave before it crests and be ready with a board in hand.

How to generate more leads from social media 

When thinking of how to keep up with social media trends and generate leads from social channels, it is easy to become unsure of where to start. There are multiple paths available across the range of platforms.

1. Select the appropriate channel

Not every platform, despite how many users it has, will be aligned with your objectives or target audience. 

If you are a business selling B2B, it would be best for you to begin engaging leads on LinkedIn, given that it is a professional platform where many companies across the globe hold a presence. 

However, if you wish to focus on B2C, social channels such as Instagram and Facebook would be a more suitable choice. Create and share engaging videos on your profiles, especially on Instagram. 

Get followers who can help amplify your reach by sharing your content.

2. Begin live streaming 

Live video has become a powerful way for brands to connect more deeply with consumers and boost sales in 2025. It’s an authentic, interactive channel that fosters real-time relationships and drives meaningful action.

To deliver smooth and reliable streaming experiences at scale, a live video CDN helps reduce latency and ensures high-quality playback across devices, making it essential for brands leveraging real-time engagement.

A clever way to leverage live streaming is to transform it into gated content. Be it a webinar or product release, you can require users to register with their email before granting an access code.  

3. Use hashtags to expand your reach 

When applicable, related hashtags can make your content more discoverable on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. 

While creating your own hashtags can work for some campaigns, you also need to use the tags that other people are already using and browsing.  

For more inspiration, discover how to generate more leads from Facebook. 

Social media best practices for 2025

Social media will play a huge part in brand marketing this year, but it’s important to get it right. If you want to succeed, try some of the following social media trends for 2025:  

• Employ social commerce features
• Partner with creators and micro-influencers
• Promote your sustainability efforts
• Create authentic ad campaigns
• Start using TikTok 
• Pay to play with social ads
• Build your library of video content 
• Focus on authentic content 
• Reach new audiences on their favorite platforms 

Keep in mind that in addition to the following value-based suggestions, automation is a constant factor that no strategy can survive without. That’s why we have added the highest performing integration for each channel for your ease of access.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each platform’s social media marketing trends for 2025.

Google & YouTube trends for 2025

Your highest-intent traffic lives here. Optimize these search-driven channels, and you capture buyers at the precise moment they’re ready to act.

• Prioritize Performance Max: Feed health and first-party audience signals now drive 70% of conversion volume.
• Layer video in every campaign: P-Max automatically syndicates to YouTube Shorts; supply at least one 15-second vertical asset.
• Balance automation with insight. Schedule monthly data-layer audits so Smart Bidding learns from clean, deduplicated conversions.
• Go hyper-local: Local Services Ads and refreshed Local Inventory Ads surface real-time store stock in Google Maps and Search.

Facebook & Messenger trends for 2025

Still, the broadest reach in paid social, Meta’s ecosystem lets you blend storytelling and precision targeting to scale profitable acquisitions fast.

• Experiment with AR try-ons: Sunglasses, lipstick, even sofas; the API is open to all brands in 2025.
• Reels first, always sound-on: Meta’s algorithm now boosts ±20 sec vertical clips with brisk captions and auto-generated music.
• Story Ads = quick polls: Interactive stickers lift swipe-through rates by about 25%.
• Test Advantage+ Shopping: This is to let Meta’s gen-AI remix copy, creative, and audiences.

LinkedIn trends for 2025

No platform matches LinkedIn for decision-maker density. Master it, and you turn thought leadership into a pipeline on a B2B-friendly stage.

• Lead with narrative carousels: Multi-slide posts and native PDFs earn outsized reach.
• Mix personal and professional: Founder origin stories outperform press-release style updates.
• Spark discussion via native video Q&As or Audio Events: Comments drive impression recirculation.
• Use Conversation Ads for ABM: Hyper-personalised InMails triggered by firmographic data.

TikTok trends for 2025

TikTok converts curiosity into checkouts at record speed; nail its short-form vibe, and you unlock culture-driven commerce.

• Treat TikTok Shop as its own funnel: 1-click in-app checkout now covers 35 plus countries.
• Blend Spark Ads 2.0 with creator-made UGC for the lowest CPT.
• Add live-shopping drops: Schedule countdown stickers 24 hours beforehand.
• Cross-post to Reels & YouTube Shorts as insurance against any late-2025 US restrictions.

Learn everything you need to know about the TikTok US ban here.

Instagram trends for 2025

From discovery to purchase, Instagram is the visual trust engine. Consistent Reels and Stories translate brand aesthetics into measurable sales.

• Keep your grid consistent: Color palette, font stack, and tone still matter for quick brand recall.
• Reels dominate feed real estate: Aim for 6-second “hook, payoff, CTA” pacing.
• Broadcast Channels & Notes: This helps build DM-level intimacy; share behind-the-scenes scoops first here.
• Leverage Collab Posts. A way to piggyback on partner audiences without duplicated content.

Pinterest trends for 2025

Users come here already looking to do or make a purchase. Besides Pinterest Lead Ads, Pin Smart intercepts shoppers at the inspiration phase, long before competitors.

• Upload a nightly product feed to ensure Price & Availability Pins remain evergreen in search.
• Idea Pins are the new blog post: 5-10 frames with step-by-step visuals outperform static images.
• Optimize for visual SEO: Front-load pin titles with primary keywords and add 3-5 niche hashtags.
• Shoppable Collections Ads: These let users swipe entire “room looks” or “outfit grids” into the cart.

Threads (by Instagram)

Threads rewards hot-off-the-press opinions; engage quickly, and you amplify brand voice across the fediverse while the competition is still lurking.

• Lead with real-time, text-first takes: Bite-sized opinions or news reactions (≤ 500 characters) earn ~2× more non-follower impressions than bare link drops.
• Pair text with punchy media: A 15-sec vertical clip or 4-image carousel lifts engagement; the algo rewards “mixed-media” posts.
• Build mini-threads (2-4 posts) to unpack bigger ideas: follow-up posts boost the visibility of the opener.
• Jump on “Trending Now” tags: Add one or two laser-focused hashtags; over-tagging can throttle reach.
• Cross-sync strategically: Auto-share to Instagram for discovery, but tweak the caption to suit each feed’s tone.
• Expand via the fediverse: It enables ActivityPub so your posts mirror to Mastodon and compatible apps with zero extra work.
• Reply within 30 minutes: Early engagement signals push your post back into followers’ “For You” queues and extend shelf life.

Small-business social media trends in 2025

Smart operators will lean on tactics that punch above their weight without ballooning budgets. Here’s where the savviest independents are already steering their efforts:

• Hyper-local Reels & Shorts: 20-second vertical videos geo-tagged to a neighbourhood now surface in “Nearby” tabs, driving foot traffic at a fraction of paid-ad CPMs.
• DM checkout buttons: Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp all added native “Pay in Chat”. Offering it cuts checkout friction to one tap, perfect for limited-inventory drops.
• Creator collabs under $500: Micro-influencers (2- 15k followers) deliver over three times the engagement vs. larger accounts, and most accept product-plus-fee deals.
• Threads for real-time customer care: Quick, text-first replies to FAQs on Threads rank in Google’s new AI snippets, giving local brands free SEO lift.
• DIY Gen-AI content kits: Free tools like Meta’s Text-to-Image or TikTok’s Script Generator slash production time; use them for B-roll and ad-test variations, not your hero creative.
• Integrated automation flows: Link auto-DMs, chatbots, and your CRM so every comment, click, or swipe instantly queues a personalised follow-up while you sleep.

Pick two that match your audience and bandwidth, iterate fast, and you’ll outmaneuver bigger rivals still stuck in 2023 playbooks.

Final thoughts

Social media isn’t going anywhere, mainly because it’s now an all-in-one space for consumers to socialize, be entertained, and shop. 

In 2025, brands will need to establish their presence on social platforms and lean heavily into authentic video content. Most importantly, social media trends indicate that brands should spread themselves across a variety of channels to reach a wider audience. 

Generate leads from your favorite social media channels with a variety of available LeadsBridge integrations.