Last year was a big one for change and trends across social media, with the Instagram reels shift, Elon Musk and Twitter Blue, TikTok’s continued popularity, the introduction of BeReal and LinkedIn continually moving toward a more humanised platform – there was lots that came into play to keep us social media marketers on our toes.

2023 is going to be no different! There are more adaptations and changes on the horizon. Here we’ve shared our top three social media trend predictions for 2023, based on the latest data and insights from UK audiences. For more insight and trends, you can sign up to our Social Media Trends for 2023 webinar.

Trend #1: Decline of Twitter and continued takeover of TikTok

In 2022 we saw Twitter turbulence amid the Elon Musk takeover as he strived to bring the platform back to life in terms of profitability, to retain advertisers and generate more of a revenue stream.

This proved very volatile and the future of the platform is still unclear, specifically alongside the rise of immersive video, which Twitter typically is not positioned for.

With this, TikTok continues to dominate as one of the fastest growing platforms overtaking older channels like Twitter. TikTok stays ahead of the curve with subtle advertising opportunities and clear successes such as the #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt trend. The creative capabilities and candid nature of the platform continue to draw in brands and creators – if you’re not on TikTok in 2023, you should be considering a strategy shift, as this platform is here to stay and will continue to make its mark.

Influencer putting on makeup in front of a camera

Trend #2: Native scheduling across all platforms​

After Instagram suddenly made the shift to move all video to reels, without any form of scheduling tool, creators and marketeers eagerly awaited the native reel and post scheduling Instagram implemented in early 2023.

Users can now schedule posts up to 75 days in advance in the app itself, making third-party social media management platforms not as needed for the scheduling aspect on the channel.

LinkedIn has also launched native post scheduling for some users, with iOS native scheduling coming soon. For businesses, this could be a cost saving shift away from third-party platforms, however move with caution as these platforms are often very useful for reporting purposes too – so make sure the two are working together this year.

Trend #3: Multi-sensory social

For years brands have been using multi-sensory experiences in the real world to engage customers, and in 2023 there is potential for this to cross over into the digital realm.

The most obvious example is the move toward the Metaverse and expanding virtual reality technology, with Meta looking into Haptic gloves to bring real touch into the social media world.

Opportunities for brands to tap into this are endless! There are so many ways this can be utilised to create standout content that engages consumers and resonates with audiences. This is definitely one brands should be exploring this year.

At Prohibition, we work with a range of B2C and B2B brands across all sectors to create engaging social media marketing strategies that allow brands to stay up to date with the latest trends and updates. Get in contact today to find out how we could help you.

For more interesting articles from us check out these posts:

  1. How brands can utilise TikTok to support PR strategies
  2. Social media updates: Instagram increase transparency, TikTok dominates news & LinkedIn release 2023 best practice 
  3. Moving to the Metaverse? Top 3 Brands Utilising Virtual Influencer Marketing