Having ushered in a new year, now is an exciting time to think about what we’re looking forward to and what trends we’ll see crop up across the next 12 months. 

Coming off the back of two very unpredictable years, one thing that we can rely on is that social media is here to stay. If anything, we’ll be seeing a lot more of it (thanks, Metaverse !!). 

So what trends do we think we’ll be seeing in 2022? We’re so glad you asked.

Unfiltered Content

Audiences are looking to their favourite accounts to keep it real, with more authentic content they can relate to. That’s not to say you shouldn’t be posting high quality imagery and videos - you should still maintain a theme. Breaking up your carefully curated grid with more natural content will be a major trend in 2022.

Shoppable Influencers

With the introduction of partnered posts earlier this year, we’re sure to see more creators joining forces with their favourite brands to share shoppable looks on their grids. Instagram is fast becoming the one-stop online store and the feed is turning into a venerable catalogue featuring a curated list of users’ favourite people.

Short-form Video continues to dominate

Thanks to the TikTok effect, video content is only going from strength to strength, and Reels, IGTV and Stories will continue to support this. Think days in the life from your favourite influencers, viral trends from brands and even the potential for shoppable videos 👀 which leads us to our final point…

Live Shopping

Instagram live shopping has been dominating the east Asian market for a few years now, and we’re likely to see it pick up locally in 2022. How does it work? A bit like the Home Shopping Channels but in your pocket. Live commerce works by engaging influencers or sales reps to go live on social media and talk about specific products, and depending on the platform, viewers have the ability to pin the products mentioned and shop them at their convenience. 

Want to get ahead of the pack where 2022 trends are concerned? The time is now! Download the Simply Social App to start planning your social strategy for next year.