Social Media Trends & Topics To Watch For in 2022

As we wrap up another year, social media platforms have gathered together their analytics to shed some light on our collective interests. Check out this platform-specific data to inform your 2022 social media strategy!

Insights from Instagram 2020

The 2022 Instagram Trend Report focuses on how Gen-Z users are influencing the platform. Though this might not include your specific audience, the introduction of Instagram Reels and the rise of younger influencers have changed how many people experience the platform.

• Influencers: Almost 50% of young people view relatable people with small, loyal followings as critical for setting trends. 80% of them agree that online influencers are more impactful than mainstream celebrities.
• Shopping: The majority of young people keep up with shopping interests on Instagram. 27% of young adults and teens expect to shop directly within the app.
• Holistic wellness: Instagram users are looking beyond just physical wellbeing. Alongside the popularity of at-home workouts, mental health exercises, creative outlets, and eco-friendly homes are trending wellness topics on Instagram.
• Humor: Memes continue to dominate the social scene, with the best performers combining irony and sincerity. Absurdist humor is expected to continue to trend in 2022, with memes about cryptocurrency, astrology, and stocks being popular topics.
• Responsibility: Instagram has risen as a hub for education on social justice issues and sustainability. 28% of young people will follow social justice accounts while 37% expect to donate money to social causes.

What does this mean for Florida Businesses?

While a lot of these trends may feel like they don’t apply to your business, there are some common threads you can use to your advantage.

• Shopping decisions are made online. Showcase your product through video, reviews from customers, influencer collaborations, and public relations work. Trusted first-hand accounts and authentic, less “produced” videos help people understand your product before they buy.
• Educate through social media. People look to social media for information on sustainability, social responsibility, and what small businesses are bringing to the table. Don’t be afraid to highlight your processes, ingredients, and where you differ from competitors. As users look to become more intentional about purchases, the more information you share, the better.
• Authenticity is key. A lesson learned throughout this year is about authenticity. As Instagram embraces video and Reels, don’t be afraid to show realistic content. The most persuasive way to win over your audience is to let your personality shine!

There’s more information in the full report if you want to dive into specific trends and data for fashion, video games, music, and more!

What’s Trending on Twitter 2022

Twitter’s year-end wrapup highlights the top Tweets of the year and the trends we saw in 2021. The trends prove that Twitter demands a different approach than other social media platforms. With an emphasis on news and daily trends, the best performing Tweets were those that quickly responded to real-life events.

• The news of the day: 2021’s most liked Tweets all featured the events of the day. The inauguration of a new president, the most popular k-pop artist BTS, and the infamous moment when Facebook’s suite of apps went down.
• Wide-ranging events: Other top-performing content on Twitter included themes like popular TV shows, sports matchups, and award-winning music.
• Retweeting as a resource: Some of the most retweeted posts included social justice content. Throughout the last two years, using threads to compile resources for easy sharing lets people educate themselves, donate to causes, and stay up-to-date on current events.
• Brand Tweets: The best Tweets from brands in 2021 were successful for a variety of reasons. Ford’s electric truck struck a chord with an audience interested in sustainability, a message from Blue’s Clues’ Steve hit us with nostalgia, and a sandwich cookie surprised astrologists with the absurd idea of “Oreoscopes”.

What does this mean for Florida Businesses in 2022?

Branded content and personal content share an interesting space on Twitter. So what lessons should you gather from both sides?

• Twitter is a responsive medium. If you’re looking to enhance your Twitter audience, being timely is key. Respond to local news, share your take on the latest text meme, and reply if someone mentions you.
• Find an approach that works for you. Branded content that performed well includes giveaways, absurd humor, product launches, and feel-good content. Consider what aligns best with your brand’s personality, audience, and product.

Find Your Own Trends on Facebook’s Creator Studio!

As reported by social media connoisseur Matt Navarra, Facebook’s Creator Hub has a new feature to drive discoveries daily! After navigating to your Creator Hub, check out the new Inspiration panel on the right side. At a glance, you’ll see a few popular Facebook posts and hashtags to inspire you. After clicking “See More”, you can sort trending posts by time period, content type, and more.

This resource is a great way to hear about the next #IceBucketChallenge before it blows over. By staying on top of trending topics, you can adjust your strategy to increase your engagement on Facebook. And since you have the option to sort by a specific page, you can easily check in our your competitor’s top-performing posts every month.

What does this mean for Florida Businesses?

This is another great resource from Facebook to understand what audiences respond to. While it displays some top performers that aren’t ideal for brands, the filter feature is great for looking at engaging images and text posts or getting a better look at competitor’s content. Try this one out and see how you can use this inspiration in your next social media posts!

Ok, now what?

As we’ve seen, social media works best when you’re providing high-quality content your viewers will enjoy. Liquid Creative is here to help business owners with all their marketing needs, including managing your social media! We can also help you turn those views into sales with a beautiful website, produce ultra-engaging video content, or brand your business from the ground up.

We’re a full-service marketing agency ready to craft the perfect solution for your business goals. Our talented team can pick up your marketing strategy without missing a beat, help you out with a one-off project, or get your business on the digital map. Call, email, or leave us a message to let us know how we can help you!