The 2026 Social Media Trends You Can't Afford To Ignore

Written By Katie Martin

2026 is already shaping up to be a defining year for digital marketing and social media trends. Audiences are changing, platforms are shifting, and the brands that thrive will be the ones willing to evolve. The strategies that worked in 2024 (and even 2025) likely won’t cut it on their own anymore. 

Sound overwhelming? Don’t stress. We’ve rounded up the biggest trends shaping the year ahead. And we’re dropping real examples from brands that we love (and study), who are already leading the charge. 

2026 SOCIAL MEDIA TREND #1: AI TRANSITIONS FROM TOOL TO TEAM MEMBER

As we forecast 2026 social media trends, it’s clear that AI won’t be used simply as a productivity booster. It’s becoming a built-in collaborator. From predicting what your audience wants to see next to speeding up content production, AI is becoming essential to SMM workflows and practically invisible to the outside. 

Forward-thinking brands that we just can’t get enough of are already integrating AI across their marketing strategies. 

Our team uses AI to…

  • ♻️ Build reusable task templates so our team doesn’t rewrite the same workflows over and over

  • 🎨 Draft graphics, hooks, and design copy when the creative spark needs a jumpstart

  • 📦 Categorize content using our 4-Quadrant communication method and identify gaps in strategy

  • 🤔 Break down design elements from inspo graphics so we can recreate them intentionally

  • 📅 Generate client-specific holiday calendars grounded in relevance, not guesswork

  • 🎙️ Write UGC scripts that feel on-brand and ready to record

If AI isn’t integrated in your workflow by now (whether it inspires your ideation or streamlines your reporting), you should definitely incorporate it in 2026. 

2026 SOCIAL MEDIA TREND #2: THE RISE OF UNDERPRODUCED CONTENT

We saw the early seeds of UGC taking over being planted in 2024, and its growth only continued into 2025. For 2026, we’re more than confident that this imperfect style of content will continue to outperform over-polished professional photography on social media. 

Frankly, audiences are burnt out from content that feels too perfect. What’s performing best on social is content that feels relatable, purposeful, and human. When your audience can picture themselves right there with your product or service, it makes them all the more likely to engage, and (better yet) convert! 

We saw HUNDREDS show up in the UGC space in 2025, and this number is only going to grow. We’ve been obsessed with the way Merit creates content that feels like it’s an authentic part of their ideal customer’s life. Their bathroom sink and vanity shots are uber relatable, feeling like they were candid snaps taken directly from your own camera roll. 
This relatable feel is exactly why UGC will continue to grow in popularity through 2026. It’s not just a trend… It’s a creative pillar that is essential to your social media success. 

Looking to outsource your content creation? Our social media experts have what it takes to create content that feels authentic and relatable to your audience. Inquire to work with us today!

2026 SOCIAL MEDIA TREND #3: SEARCH IS BEING REWRITTEN; SOCIAL IS TAKING OVER  

The platforms people use to search for solutions, inspiration, and more continues to change and shift in 2026. While Google has established a strong reputation as everyone’s go-to search engine, social media platforms are the new go-to. 

For an increasingly larger number of younger audiences, TikTok and Instagram have become primary search tools… often being preferred over traditional search engines! As of 2025, social search behavior is no longer a “niche” trend or a life hack. It’s more common for consumers to start their discovery journey inside social apps, especially when searching for lifestyle content, recommendations, or products. 

While this might lead you to believe that SEO as we know it is dying, it’s far from the truth. It’s now splitting into multiple discovery paths: social feeds, AI-powered assistants, and short-form videos being fed to you before a classic web SERP. This only further proves that your web content should have a home beyond just your website or you’ll miss out on a large opportunity for discovery. 

Want to stay visible in 2026? Here are best search engine optimization practices for social media: 

  • ⌨️ Think of social platforms as search engines, not just engagement tools 

  • 🤳 Build content that is as optimized for “search intent” as it is for the classic social scroll. 

  • ✍️ Use captions, hooks, subtitles, and even hashtags strategically. The more keywords you can incorporate while maintaining the organic feel, the better! 

  • 🤝 Publish content where your audience *already* is. If your audience is majority on TikTok or Instagram, prioritize those platforms. 

In 2026, our social media audiences aren’t just scrolling; they’re searching. If you don’t meet them where they search, you just might be invisible. 

2026 SOCIAL MEDIA TREND #4: VALUE-DRIVEN STORYTELLING OVER VANITY METRICS

A key way for brands to win in 2026 on social media is by inviting their audiences inside their process. BTS peeks into a brand means everything to an audience when building loyalty. 

Social media audiences want to feel like the brands they follow are run by humans… not machines or bots. Right along with being relatable through UGC, they want to know what’s happening behind the scenes and what it took to get there. 

This plays a huge role in why founder-facing brands are so successful. When we think founder-facing brands, we instantly think Rhode. They continue to outperform audiences because their audience is deeply invested in the people behind the brand, AKA Hailey Bieber. 

When a brand (and founder) so openly shares candid leaks about the process and creative direction, it builds trust, transparency, and emotional connection. Her heavy involvement in their campaigns, launches, and major announcements make it a sure-fire success story each and every time. 

BTS-heavy brands are also majorly successful on social, and will continue to skyrocket in 2026. Take the iconic Summer Fridays for example.  They heavily lean into behind-the-scenes vibes with Reels like “Behind the Scenes of the Blush Butter Balm Photo Shoot.” The vintage home-video feel of this Reel makes the audience feel like they’ve been along the way the entire time, building hype for the new product *and* a deeper loyalty to the brand. 

Is your social media strategy ready to keep up with 2026? Our team can help you curate the ideal marketing mix where your content can make the biggest impact. Book a discovery call with our team today to get started! 

Keep up with the latest marketing news and trends by following us on Instagram and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. Chat soon!

Xx, 

The Homies 

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Katie Martin
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