The social media marketing professionals are keen to understand how new technologies will influence the future of social media trends. Consider that it is critical for the organizations to take advantage of the new trends while targeting potential customers. Basically, we have seen new social media trends coming up, powered by the technological advancements. Well, the fact is that social media came about as a result of technology. Therefore, as technology evolves things will change.
Basically, we have seen new social media trends coming up, powered by technological advancements. Well, the fact is that social media came about as a result of technology. Therefore, as technology, including AI in digital marketing, evolves, things will change.
Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the new technologies that will affect the future social media trends. Check out the latest social media apps developments and enhancements done on the existing ones. It is clear that AR will play a role in shaping the future social media trends. Augmented Reality experiences can be felt and witnessed by users of Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and also Tinder among several other platforms.
However, we can state that AR is still a fairly speculative field as most of the projects are still at the kickoff stage. Google Glass tried to change your world but failed after the initial trials. We have seen technology companies like Microsoft and Apple invest heavily in AR developments. Different industry players are tapping into the potential vested in AR. Thus, we can speculate that AR will become integrated with the platforms, on which we consume content (World Economic Forum). In this article, we evaluate how AR will influence the future social media trends.
Augmented Reality Will Bring in New Content Delivery Approach to Social Media
We have seen different social media application developers coming up with AR-based advertising. The AR powered content delivery approach will be more of interactive content. We are moving into an era, where social media content will totally move from 2D to 3D powered by AR. In addition, use of interactive AR content will take shape on social media (Smart Insights).
Snapchat was among the leading social media platforms to explore the AR integrations. Already, we have seen the users of Snapchat exploring the latest AR integrations offered by the platform. The users of Snapchat are able to develop their own AR lens. This is after the launch of Lens Studio in 2017. This move was worth so that Snapchat could accommodate the vast number of active users willing to take up the new technologies. This did not go well with Snapchat competitors. We have seen other players coming in to offer a new approach for the users to access the content delivered through the apps.
Facebook has partnered with over 700 brands to achieve the companies AR plan. The partnership aims at developing an enhanced advertising platform, which is driven by Augmented Reality technology. This is through a new suite of AR tools developed for the Facebook Messenger. This technology builds on the existing advertising features available on Facebook.
What this means for the future of social media trends is that users will prefer the new and exciting content delivery approach. Therefore, the content developers should focus on how to come up with content that will suit this new audience.
Augmented Reality Will Create a new Market on Social Media
New markets will open up shaping the future social media trends. The existing market is more than eager to see what this technology has in store for them. The millennials and Gen Zers will be amongst the fast adopters as they seem to recognize the value attached to trying new products.
Therefore, businesses should be ready to link up with the technology and focus on achieving their sales goals. Targeting the new markets and ensuring they take advantage or AR to offer great UX is of great advantage to the companies. There is no better place for them to do this other than on the social media platforms. In addition, to succeed and reap the most from their investments, the key players should make sure they develop appropriate content for the markets.
We have highlighted that in the future, advertisers will have to adopt interactive content. While developing the interactive content, they should continue targeting the social media users by developing appropriate content.
The social media users are no longer interested in TV-style ads that try to touch their emotions. This could be keeping organizations that advocate for human rights from advertising their course on social media. However, the AR-based adverts on social media have a bigger potential of touching the viewers and making them contribute towards a course. Therefore, one of the future social media trends to watch is that companies will use VR adverts as the basis for reinforcing customer loyalty.
Extension of Live Experiences on Social Media Will Increase Impulse Buying
Another future social media trend will be impulse buying driven by attractive VR-adverts that social media users will be presented with. This is based on the phrase “seeing is believing”. The users of social media will gain more trust on AR ads attracting them to make more purchases.
We already know the huge potential that lies in social media advertising. This is because users are able to see images and watch videos on social media. This type of content is influencing them to purchase new products. Now, think of what it will be like when they can try the product, even without knowing where the store is. AR has the potential of bridging the line between an imagined world and presenting the real world to the viewer. Basically, social media adverts will attract a huge attention once AR advert starts running on social media.
The social media users are no longer showing interest in edited video adverts. With AR, advertisers will take the social media users to the real environment. What does this mean for the social media users?
Basically, we expect that social media users will continue making impulse purchases because of the huge impact created by the high-quality AR based adverts. Shoppers are fascinated by the appearance of unprecedented objects in their own reality. It is this kind of fascination that would drive brand sales if the tech was to reach a wider audience (AdWeek). Therefore, the social media sales will increase courtesy of the use of augmented reality to develop ads.
Example
See AR adverts like the one below can attract more sales compared to images and edited videos.
A Cheaper Headset Weill See More Time Spent on Social Platforms
We can’t talk about the future trends in social media without mentioning Gaming industry. Gamers will find more entertainment on social media platforms. A good example is Pokémon go, which is one of the recent applications that apply augmented reality. The application allows users to overlay a map of their unique physical world.
In addition, social media users will have the ability to learn through the platforms. For instance, if you want to learn about a new product, you just log on to your social media platform and follow the company that develops the product. Therefore, in the future, we will see more shoppers begin their shopping journey from the social media. Ultimately, the Augmented Reality technology will lead to spending of more time on the social media platform.
Remember that AR and VR have the potential to connect people from different continents. You can use the technology to watch the World cup match from the comfort of your home. As more social media applications incorporate the technology on their platforms, it is clear that we will have more time spent on social media.
Social media marketers, therefore, will have another reason to develop AR-based content. This is because through the technology, they will be able to target more customers as they enjoy AR content. In other worlds, more time spent by social media users exploring the AR content is an opportunity for marketers to achieve conversions by targeting these users.
Social Media Will Become a Tool for Empathy and Cognitive Enhancement
The rise of digital media presents a good platform for spreading information. We have several organizations championing for change through the social media platforms. With AR, the social media will become a platform for addressing global issues. It is expected that humanitarian crises will be highlighted through the social media platforms. The augmented reality will evoke levels of empathy from social media audience all over the world. This is contrary to the expectations of many people, who think that digital media will lead to a decline in empathy.
The developers of AR are convinced that it can help drive empathy for the global crisis. Therefore, more organizations and change agents can take advantage of the social media to raise their issues. The AR-based platforms will encourage people to take time to see what others are going through. Therefore AR will offer a new channel for telling stories from around the world.
Example
UN Development commonly uses social media to communicate sensitive topics affecting humanity. For instance, in the screenshot below, we see the organization sharing a photo that is intended to help end food wastage. If AR is applied, it can be easier to communicate the message effectively. For instance, they can show real situation of hungry people versus the food wasters. This ends up touching more people. Therefore, with AR and VR, we will see the social media become a tool for empathy and cognitive enhancement.
We Will See Users Sharing on the Go and Improving their Memory
AR on Social media platforms will mean that users will have the ability to share social media content on the go. This is through the use of smart glasses, live social media features and the phone camera. Therefore, creators of content have an opportunity to develop engaging online tutorials while videographers can come up with more user attractive content.
Another future social media trend is the ability to enable users to share their reviews and ratings with their social circles. Imagine a scenario where as you shop for the best hotel you drive in front of one of the options and even before you park your vehicle, you see the ratings and reviews of the hotel on your phone screen.
The Augmented Reality will also enable social media users to be able to remember their friends next time they meet. Imagine a scenario where you meet a college friend, and suddenly the name is gone. This is usually embarrassing but soon will not be an issue. You will be able to keep a good memory of your social media friends as you can identify them using Augmented Reality. When you meet your friend, you just refer to the social media profile, and you will be able to know who you met.
To Sum Up
Augmented Reality offers a good future for social media users and businesses. The future social media trends that we have just mentioned is a good illustration of what lies ahead for these groups. Social media marketers can take full advantage of this technology to target new markets.
Therefore, we can arguably mention that AR will help improve sales. For instance, 3D thinking is an essential strategy that businesses should move towards while developing content for future social media trends. Adding content creative’s, animations and interactive content are essential to keep with these future social media tends. Remember that consumers will want to learn about the product and try it out before spending money on it.
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