About fourteen to fifteen years ago, when the possibility of a virtually connected social world was thrown at us, we were astonished by the creativity and the opportunity to get in touch with the lost-long friends or even to get a glimpse of the lives of the celebrities. It is no longer a way just to try and stay updated about the lives of our friends or families. Today, people have been using their social media accounts to share tips and ideas, promote their business, and much more. When you were starting a company a few years back, social media would have been the last thing on your mind. But not anymore. Especially with the pandemic and people moving towards online from the brick-and-mortar way, the presence of your business online is very significant.
What social media means today is far from the objective of what it started years ago. Today, social media is essential for all entrepreneurs, budding or already established. But the more significant question to ask is “What is the future of Social Media?” What can we expect from the social media world for businesses in the coming days?
Social Media and Advertising
A few years ago, we came across the term ‘influencer’ that changed the way of social media marketing. Remember the days when we used to watch the commercials of the actors on television promoting brands? Well, that was a good way of converting sales. But today, with influencers, the audience is more convinced about using a product when shown by someone among them and not a celebrity. These influencers put up-conversion sites for their followers who use these sites and buy the products.
Increase in the use of Mobile Devices
Today we all are constantly connected with the world through our mobile devices, which means that with the mobile devices being with us for most of the day, the marketing strategy of the entrepreneurs is more persuasive. If we keep on looking at the same product about 3-5 times a day, it is most natural that our brain tries to feed us to think if we need this product.
The future of social media and entrepreneurs of the social network should avoid symmetries of power and knowledge at all costs. Holding hostage the data of the creators and consumers and using these data to manipulate their attention psychologically is not an ethical way. This strategy is also not a very long-term one.
Evolving roles
The original idea of social media was to restore friendships and relationships. We have come past that stage long back. Small businesses and local vendors can term social media a boon they never asked but got blessed with anyway. One can now form a personal brand using social media, and with positive feedbacks and word-of-mouth publicity, the engagement grows and hence the business.
New Features
Years from today, you could have only posted a photo, then you could post a video. Today you have a whole set of editing tools right in your palms. Social media has evolved not only in the way it functions but also in how it lets you function. Instagram enables you to put stories, add a link to your content or business, create a reel of your content, and much more. The advertising world got more creative with these features.
Wanting a more straightforward User Interface
In around 2018, the order in which these social media platforms present the newsfeed changed. They adapted a complex or, better put it, a mysterious algorithm. Have you noticed that you might have about 2000 connections on a social media platform but can only view the same ten people each time you scroll? Yes, this is because of the strange algorithm. This was adapted as clickbait, as some whistle-blower admitted. User Interface should be simple to owing it to the users.
Creating communities with values
We signed up for the world of social media for only one reason: to connect and connect with the world. But we got some additional substance which is hatred and division. The future of social media should be mindful of the human values they are endorsing.
Therefore, social media plays a crucial role in shaping the virtual world. Businesses and individuals put effort to make the best use of it for all the right reasons.
