Savannah is a content marketer with editorial experience spanning several businesses. Specializing in social media and marketing trends, she loves talking about the latest developments in online marketing. When she’s not writing, Savannah loves traveling, hoarding books and coffee mugs, and adoring her cat. Please don’t ask her about famous true crime cases, or else she’ll tell you all about her theories and get absolutely no work done.
What is Reddit advertising and why is it important in 2026? Reddit advertising has become crucial since Google’s “forum” tab introduction and their partnership in early 2024, with “+Reddit” added to Google searches over 32 billion times as users seek authentic opinions from real people during their product research phases.
How does first-party data improve social media advertising? First-party data enables businesses to understand customer behaviors at each sales funnel stage, personalize ad content, identify new audiences, prioritize high-performing content, and optimize campaigns for maximum ROI rather than relying on generic targeting.
What is social SEO and why does it matter? Social SEO involves optimizing social media profiles for search since 24% of consumers (and 46% of Gen Z) now use platforms like TikTok and Instagram as primary search engines — requiring brands to use relevant hashtags, alt text, keywords in captions, and video subtitles.
How should businesses use AI ethically in social media? AI tools should serve as creative assistants rather than content replacements, with businesses using AI for ideation and suggestions while maintaining transparency, checking accuracy, adding disclaimers for AI-generated images, and preserving authentic human creativity.
What is edutainment content and why is it effective? Edutainment content combines entertainment with education through skits, scenarios, trending memes, or interactive stories to present industry information in easily digestible, engaging formats that don’t interrupt users’ scrolling experience like traditional educational posts would.
72% of U.S. adults use at least one social media platform. That’s a massive audience, and the brands that understand what’s working right now will reach more of them.
But social media changes fast. What worked last year might not work today. Algorithms shift. New platforms emerge. Audience expectations evolve.
If you want to stay ahead, you need to know what’s trending and why it matters.
Here are 9 social media trends for 2026 that are shaping how brands connect with audiences:
Since Google introduced its “forum” tab at the top of search results, Reddit has become extremely helpful for brands looking to get their products in front of active social media users.
Expert insights from
Katie H.Social Media Team Lead
“Reddit is a great place to advertise because users rely on Reddit to hear opinions before they buy products.”
Since the Google and Reddit deal in early 2024, it’s been reported that “+Reddit” was added to Google searches over 32 billion times. Especially when they’re shopping, people want real answers and opinions from real people, and Reddit offers that. As a result, it’s a great place to start advertising your products during people’s research phases.
2. In-app shopping via product ads
Reddit isn’t the only social platform great for advertising. TikTok and Instagram are extremely influential platforms that are great places to run shoppable social media ads.
Expert insights from
Katie H.Social Media Team Lead
“TikTok and Instagram continue to have a serious influence over people (especially younger demographics) and continue to evolve and innovate their on-platform shopping experiences. Product ads drive great ROI, and we can expect to see that continue into 2026.”
Interactive product ads offer a more engaging customer experience in which users can explore products more in-depth (and even make purchases) all without leaving the app. It’s incredibly convenient for users and can yield a significant return on investment (ROI) for brands.
3. First-party data for targeted social ads
Maximizing revenue in 2026 starts with leveraging first-party data for social ads. Through high-quality first-party social media data, you can understand customer behaviors at each stage of the sales funnel and better optimize your campaigns to make a big impact on people at crucial stages.
Expert insights from
Katie H.Social Media Team Lead
“The more dialed-in your first-party data lists are, the higher quality and better performing any lookalike audiences based on that data are!”
First-party data usage isn’t limited to ad targeting. You can also use it to:
Personalize ad content
Identify new advertising opportunities
Locate new audiences
Prioritize high-performing content
Optimize your campaigns
4. Forum marketing
Along with Reddit advertising, another 2026 social media marketing trend to follow is forum marketing. Places like Reddit and Quora are incredibly useful for tapping into communities of users who actively engage with others to talk about topics of interest, no matter how broad or niche.
Especially with the recent Reddit Google AI deal, extending your organic social media marketing efforts to Reddit can help you increase your search engine visibility. When engaging in forum marketing, keep these helpful tips in mind:
Find your audience: Don’t just jump onto any forum. Research where your audience spends their time and prioritize places where they’re active. Reddit is ripe with thousands of communities, but you also may find some industry-specific forum sites.
Be transparent and authentic: Be genuine about who you are on forums. Deception doesn’t go over well with forum users, so whether you create a profile for your brand or just yourself, be honest, because trust goes a long way!
Be helpful, not salesy: Forums aren’t places to be salesy. People go there to avoid being marketed to. Instead, offer helpful, valuable insights to conversations related to your industry to establish your expertise. They’ll see who you are, or represent, through your profile. Leave it at that!
5. Playful, authentic content
Authenticity is a major social media marketing trend for that all brands should be aware of. Users are tired of “staged” content that’s clearly built to sell them something. They’re looking for genuine content that resonates with them.
Expert insights from
Anna L.Social Learning & Development Lead
“Users want to know who your brand truly is. At the same time, your audience doesn’t want you to dominate conversations — they want you to participate in them.”
Your company has a brand and a brand voice — embrace and showcase yours in your content! If you have a humorous and silly brand, integrate that feeling into your content. If your business is direct and serious, that should be reflected in your content, too. Your brand doesn’t need to be a “certain way” to appeal to people. You’ll appeal to people solely by your brand being its authentic self.
6. Community over follower count
When businesses build their presence on social media platforms, there’s the misconception that they need to focus on building their follower count. While building a following is a good start, an important social media trend for businesses to remember is prioritizing building an active online community around your brand.
Build your social media community in 2026 by being authentic and engaging with your followers. Help them feel connected to your brand by responding to comments and DMs, joining in conversations, and sharing user-generated content.
People don’t want to be just another number to your business — they want to feel valued and connected. Creating a sense of community enables your audience to feel that connection and encourages them to continue engaging with your brand.
7. Social SEO
It’s time to start looking at social media platforms as search engines. In 2026, a key social media trend will be an increased emphasis on social search engine optimization (SEO). People have always searched for things on social media, from specific users and brands to trending topics and products. But now, more people are using social media to research products, get recommendations, and get to know brands.
A Forbes study found that 24% of consumers prefer to use social media to search and find answers to questions. This number is even higher among Gen Z (46%) users, who say they use platforms like TikTok and Instagram as their primary search engines.
In 2026, take advantage of this social media marketing trend and start optimizing your brand’s social profiles for SEO. Do things like:
Using relevant hashtags
Include alt text in your images
Integrating keywords into your captions
Utilizing subtitles and captions in your videos for accessibility
Above all, continue to maintain an active, engaging presence online to generate better brand awareness and draw users in!
8. Transparency and ethical AI use
From creating captions to generating content ideas, artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and Meta AI are integrating themselves into all facets of marketing, including social media. But as AI becomes more applicable, it’s important to remember that AI is meant to be used as a creative assistant, not a replacement for content creators.
Recently, there’s been a growing audience demand for transparency when it comes to AI use, and we’ve seen the negative effects of increased reliance on AI:
Expert insights from
Anna L.Social Learning & Development Lead
“AI has been a buzzword all throughout the past year, and we’re seeing the practical uses of it roll out into the social sphere more and more. One risk of AI, though, is that as more companies rely on it, we can see brand voices being lost or diluted, and audiences feeling disconnected from social accounts that previously felt more relatable and authentic. At the end of the day, social media needs to feel real to resonate.”
There’s a big difference between using AI suggestions to create your own content and copying what AI platforms spit out. Be transparent and ethical with your social media AI usage. Use AI to ideate, not completely create.
Always check AI responses for accuracy and consistency (because they’re not always correct). If you’re using it for image generation, add a disclaimer so your audience knows. This way, you can continue being authentic and real with your audience, all while still leveraging the benefits of AI technology.
9. Creating “edutainment” content
One of the biggest social media trends to emerge during the TikTok era is “edutainment” content. Edutainment content is entertaining, educational content that uses scenarios, skits, and trending memes or topics to share critical industry information with audiences.
This type of content continues to appeal to people and produce results for brands because it helps audiences learn things in an easily digestible way. Plus, it doesn’t interrupt people’s scrolling the way a traditional educational post or video would.
To capitalize on this 2026 social media trend, brainstorm creative ways to present industry information to your followers. The most common formats for edutainment posts are skits and scenarios, but you can take any approach to presenting your information in a fun, educational way. This could be in the form of a popular meme or an interactive story.
The biggest social media trends for 2026 include Reddit advertising, in-app shopping via TikTok and Instagram, first-party data for ad targeting, forum marketing, authentic content, community building, social SEO, ethical AI use, and edutainment content.
Reddit advertising is trending because users trust the platform for authentic opinions. With “+Reddit” added to over 32 billion Google searches, people are actively seeking real reviews and recommendations before making purchases, making Reddit a valuable advertising channel.
Social SEO is the practice of optimizing your social media profiles and content for search within platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This includes using relevant hashtags, keywords in captions, alt text for images, and subtitles in videos to increase discoverability.
Audiences are tired of staged, sales-focused content. They want to connect with genuine brand personalities. Authentic content builds trust, encourages engagement, and helps brands stand out in crowded feeds.
Edutainment is educational content presented in an entertaining format, such as skits, scenarios, or trending memes. It helps audiences learn in an easily digestible way without interrupting their scrolling experience, making it highly effective on platforms like TikTok.
Brands should use AI as a creative assistant, not a replacement for human content creators. Use AI to ideate and assist, but always review outputs for accuracy and brand voice consistency. Be transparent with your audience when AI is used, especially for image generation.
Follower count matters less than community engagement. An active, engaged community that comments, shares, and interacts with your content is more valuable than a large but passive follower base. Focus on building genuine connections over vanity metrics.
The right social media platforms depend on your audience. TikTok and Instagram are essential for reaching younger demographics. LinkedIn is valuable for B2B. Reddit and Quora are increasingly important for brands wanting to tap into engaged communities and influence purchase decisions.
74% of people use social media when making a purchasing decision.
Make their decision easy with a stellar social media presence. See how your brand can level up by requesting a no-obligation proposal today.
One of our experts will be in touch within 24 hours!
Stay ahead of social media trends with WebFX
Social media moves fast. What’s working today might not work tomorrow. If you want to keep driving results, you need to stay on top of trends and adapt your strategy accordingly.
That’s where WebFX comes in.
Our team of 750+ digital marketing experts stays ahead of every algorithm change, platform update, and emerging trend. We’ve generated over $10 billion in revenue for our clients, and we know what it takes to create content that actually engages and converts.
Savannah is a content marketer with editorial experience spanning several businesses. Specializing in social media and marketing trends, she loves talking about the latest developments in online marketing. When she’s not writing, Savannah loves traveling, hoarding books and coffee mugs, and adoring her cat. Please don’t ask her about famous true crime cases, or else she’ll tell you all about her theories and get absolutely no work done.
