9 Trends for Social Media Marketing in 2026

Whether you are a business owner, an author, or a personal brand with a need for social media marketing, I’ve laid out some ideas for you as you continue to prepare your 2026 marketing calendar.

Here are some key social media trends going into 2026- if you’re still doing it all yourself.

Included are some actionable recommendations and what to watch out for.

Table of Contents:

1. AI-Driven Content Creation & Personalization

2. Rise of Community-Centric and Private Spaces

3. Social Commerce Becomes Even More Native

4. Micro-Influencers & Authentic Partnerships

5. Unpolished, Real Content Over Studio Production

6. Immersive & Interactive Experiences (AR/VR)

7. Social Search Optimization (“Social SEO”)

8. Decentralized Platforms & Privacy-Focused Networks

9. New Metrics Beyond Likes

Key Social Media Trends for 2026

1. AI-Driven Content Creation & Personalization

1. Generative AI is becoming a *strategic co-pilot*, not just a tool: content creation, variation testing, and personalization will increasingly leverage AI. (The Social Watermark)

2. Meta plans to fully automate ad campaigns by 2026: advertisers will be able to supply a product image and budget, and the AI will generate ad copy, visuals, target audiences, and optimize in real time. (Reuters)

3. As a result, personalization at scale via AI will be more accessible — but creative strategy will be critical to make that automation feel “on brand.” (linkedin.com)

2. Rise of Community-Centric and Private Spaces

1. Okay I love this one. Micro-communities (e.g., on Discord, WhatsApp Channels, Threads) will become more central. Why? Public feeds are saturated, so brands that build smaller, tight-knit communities will win deeper loyalty. (The Social Watermark)

2. These communities also double as content engines: UGC (user-generated content) from community members becomes a major source of authentic content. (Knack)

3. Join my community- The Faith & Business community right here! We encourage each other to pursue Jesus with all we are and desire to use all of our gifts and talents for Him in whatever facets our businesses develop.

3. Social Commerce Becomes Even More Native

1. In-platform shopping (e.g., TikTok Shop, Instagram Checkout, YouTube Shopping) is expected to continue growing, powered by AI recommendations and seamless checkout flows. (Little Media Agency) (Think buttons on computer and TV screens, send-to-phone, etc.)

2. Livestream shoppable events (“live shopping 2.0”) are projected to increase in influence, with real-time interactions, influencer takeovers, gamified discounts, and in-stream checkout. (Global Social Media Awards) Woah, baby. This is Augmented Reality, folks.

4. Micro-Influencers & Authentic Partnerships

1. The “creator middle class” continues to grow — creators with smaller, niche audiences (5,000–50,000 followers) are increasingly valuable because of their engagement and trust. (APSense)

2. Brands will lean into long-term, authentic partnerships instead of one-off influencer campaigns. (Knack)

5. Unpolished, Real Content Over Studio Production

1. Audiences are increasingly drawn to raw, behind-the-scenes, unfiltered content. “High production” is losing some of its impact. (Little Media Agency)

2. This is especially appealing in short-form formats (Reels, TikToks, etc.) — content that feels real often performs better than overly polished ads. (socialstarage.com)

3. My thoughts? This is really interesting, given the AI video creation and editing apps on the scene. People still want real and raw. We are human, afterall. 

6. Immersive & Interactive Experiences (AR/VR)

1. AR (augmented reality) is becoming more central: brands will use AR filters, try-ons, virtual experiences to engage users. (linkedin.com)

2. Social “worlds” — VR or social metaverse experiences — may also emerge as ways to build deeper, more emotional connections. (socialstarage.com)

7. Social Search Optimization (“Social SEO”)

1. As users rely more on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube for discovery, “social search” is replacing traditional search for many consumer decisions. (APSense)

2. Marketers need to optimize captions, hashtags, video content, and even comment metadata as part of a “search everywhere” strategy. (youtube.com)

8. Decentralized Platforms & Privacy-Focused Networks

1. Blockchain-based and decentralized social networks (e.g., using Lens Protocol) are gaining attention — appealing to users who want more control over data and less algorithmic “noise.” (Cyberclick)

2. This could create new, more private or semi-private marketing channels. (blog.bskygrowth.com)

9. New Metrics Beyond Likes

1. Engagement depth (comments, saves, DMs, repeat interactions) will matter more than vanity metrics like likes or impressions. (Knack)

2. Social media as a customer service channel: social DMs, chatbots, and AI reps will be part of the retention playbook. (digigrowthlab.com)

Social media trends are ever shifting. Subscribe to the blog here for your weekly dose of Faith chats and business tea.

Keep going, friend.

Best,

Bizzy