Consumer intelligence platform, Talkwalker, released its Social Media Trends 2023 Global Report in partnership with Khoros. The eighth edition of the report looks at the ten biggest trends for 2023 and how they are driven by the needs of consumers.

First off, customers are exploring new shopping channels as the cost of living crisis drives the need for affordability. There’s a particular surge of social commerce in China where almost half (49.5 per cent) of social media users have made a social purchase. The UK is predicted to follow in 2023.

A whopping 75 per cent of respondents said that the pandemic has permanently changed their shopping experiences. The year ahead will see businesses and brands prioritise customer experience through social media, enabling a prompt and efficient response in real-time, building customers for life.  

What’s more, the report predicts that the Metaverse is something ‘everyone will want to be a part of’ in 2023. Immersive reality, web3 – including digital assets via NFTs and Blockchain – will see consumers in 3D worlds, represented by avatars in bespoke clothing using virtual currency.

Consumers are also scrutinising eco claims from companies, pushing back against greenwashing attempts. A substantial 82 per cent want businesses and brands to put planet before profit.

David Low, global CMO at Talkwalker says: “In this new environment, marketers must focus on forging symbiotic relationships through a better understanding of online conversations and taking quicker action. It’s this new understanding that will help brands create meaningful experiences and become closer to their consumers.”

Top 10 Social Media Trends 2023

So, here are the top 10 social media trends of 2023.

1. The cookie finally gets debunked – the beginning of the end for third-party cookies, consumers are increasingly frustrated by the lack of privacy
2. Social media meets a new social standard – fake news maybe getting cleverer, but consumers are wising up to
3. Decentralised networks – the future of social media run by consumers, not big business
4. Multi-sensory social media – brands will invest in bringing sensory elements to digital experience from gamification to full immersive digital malls
5. Social commerce – consumer will be willing to explore new shopping channels
6. The Metaverse – immersive reality, Web3 and blockchain will see consumers in a 3D world
7. Predictive analytics – AI-powered predictive analytics integrated at scale to accurately forecast the next big industry trend
8. The environment, no longer an afterthought – consumers and brands will come together for impactful environmental change
9. Customer experience gets even more social – social media will be the go-to place for brands to connect with customers
10. Personas are over, think communities – brands will move further away from personas and target their broader brand communities

Read more

What do I do if my business’ social media account is hacked?