What’s in Store for Social Media in 2026?
2025 was quite the year, ESPECIALLY on social media.
In a nutshell, 2025 social media brought us Justin Bieber standing on business, an Astronomer scandal, lots of commentary on an unfortunate jeans ad, way too many memes about Kendrick Lamar’s jeans (they were cute though!), and everyone claiming to be the Louvre robbers, passionately picking if they’re team Conrad or team Jeremiah, and finding out Joe Jonas can’t park his car.
Oh, and unfortunately, 6-7.
But now, we’ve somehow found ourselves in 2026, and while we’re excited to see what viral moments emerge this year, we’re taking a step back to break down what the actual state of social media is shaping up to be and how your brand can strategically show up.
As the influencers say, let’s get into it:
1. Radical Honesty is the New Competitive Edge
The “Deinfluencing” movement isn’t just a trend; it’s a takeover. Mentions of the term increased by 79% last year. Not to mention, conversations about hidden fees rose by 40%. Consumers are actively discouraging others from purchasing products that fail to meet expectations or have unexpected costs. If your brand isn’t being real about pricing, process, and everything in between, well, your customers will be honest with you. Consumers are actively discouraging others from purchasing products that fail to meet expectations or have unexpected costs.
The opportunity: Brands that embrace radical honesty are the ones winning genuine advocacy.
2. Authenticity Drives Value
Ad fatigue has officially hit a breaking point. More than half of all ad-related online conversations are categorized as “angry.” People are tired of clickbait and intrusive interruptions. Meanwhile, mentions of “authenticity” in influencer spaces have increased by 66%. The lesson? Peer-to-peer recommendations and genuine content always win out.
Opportunity: Create creative, relevant campaigns that add value rather than interrupt their experience. Additionally, brands that collaborate with authentic influencers can benefit from positive customer interactions and perceptions.
3. Prioritize Customer Well-Being
Your customers are tired. Digital detox conversations are up 10%, as people seek mindful alternatives to the constant noise. Instead of chasing engagement metrics at 2 AM, try acknowledging screen fatigue. Design campaigns that respect their boundaries and value their mental health.
Opportunity: Create genuine opportunities for customers to step back from digital noise. Show that you value their mental health and digital boundaries over constant engagement metrics.
4. Good Customer Service Never Goes Out of Style
Unreliability and poor service are major sticking points. For example, calls to boycott (often stemming from bad shopping experiences) surged 95% in the first half of 2025. Interestingly, positive mentions of chatbots increased by 63%, indicating that technology-driven solutions can deliver positive experiences when they are thoughtful and provide quick, stress-free support.
Opportunity: Brands that prioritize making the customer feel valued are shining. Going the extra mile pays off.
5. And of course… AI
AI adoption is creating consumer anxiety about privacy, job displacement, and the loss of human connection. Yet, sentiment is pulling in both directions, revealing the high stakes that brands face when implementing AI. There is also optimism about the potential of AI. (For example, autonomous vehicles and smarter safety features are receiving significant online praise, showing that when AI delivers genuine value, public sentiment follows.)
Opportunity: Brands that position AI as empowering and transparent will reap rewards from their customers. and relevance.
TLDR: 2026 is the year of transparency. The brands that win at social strategy may not be the loudest, but rather those that are honest and genuine with their customers. And by the way, it’s social media, so have some fun with it!
Think you might be in need of a new social strategy? Let’s chat!
Want the bigger picture? Check out our 2026 Digital Marketing Trends for a broader look at how these shifts are shaping brand strategy beyond social.
Source: Brandwatch, State of Social Media 2026
