Where is Social Media Going Today? An Opinion.

Social media has come a long way from the early days of Facebook and MySpace. Today there are many different platforms that fit the criteria for social media, with some of the most popular and well-known ones being Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter. But where is social media going to be in the future?

Augmented reality is a reality that has taken social media by the storm. Augmented reality adds elements to our normal world digitally. This is a trend that has especially come out during the pandemic. Google, for example, used augmented reality during Easter to virtually superimpose bunnies and other animals into homes through the screen. Pokémon Go is another perfect example of augmented reality. SnapChat is the main model for augmented reality in social media. Bitmojis and SnapChat filters superimpose your characters and features onto things already in your reality. 

Although augmented reality is creating quite a presence on social media, I do not think it will take over social media. Even though augmented reality is making strides in the industry, so is the public’s predilection for a more “human” approach online. This is the direction I see social media to be going these days. People are getting sick of lies, impossible standards, and things that should only be seen as fantasy. People want to see other people, in their natural habitats and as real. So, while augmented reality may seem cool, being human is more popular. 

There is another way that social media is going, and that is as a domain dominated by advertising. Before, you could scroll through your Instagram and Facebook feed without seeing a single ad. Now, it’s almost as if you see an ad after every single post. Advertisers continue to dominate the media industry and make sure the brands they represent are on every single platform they can get eyes on. Check the infographic below on how social media and advertising work together. 

Infographic by MDG Advertising